To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia
My bike and I are in
and we’d like to be in
.
We show what transit connections accept bikes. Check with the operator for prices, schedules, and reservations.
Same place twice. You’re already there, so enjoy the ride.
Good news: buses, ferries, trains, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Sooke to Shearwater.
For scale
As the crow flies521 km
Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.
By car694 km ยท 13 h 48 m
We found three ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.
๐ Riding a coach? Most BC coach operators want your bike bagged or boxed. Our field note walks through packing it, including an inexpensive packable bike bag we like: How to bike-and-bus in BC ›
Note: Most carriers carry only a handful of bikes, and summer weekends fill up fast. Reserve where you can. Where you can't, go early or have a backup plan.
Option one · six legs📅 seasonal
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐BC Transit61 Sooke / Langford / Downtownor the 65 Sooke / Downtown via Westhills (doesn't run every day)Sooke Rd at Brownsey Blvd โDouglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria)30 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Douglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria) to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 3.2 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
๐BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) โDuncan54 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan โBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
๐BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒTravel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.
โด๏ธBC FerriesPort Hardy โ Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) โShearwater (Denny Island)168 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop โ check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.
๐ฒYou arrive at Shearwater (Denny Island).
Option two · six legs📅 seasonal
The same idea as Option one, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐BC Transit61 Sooke / Langford / Downtownor the 65 Sooke / Downtown via Westhills (doesn't run every day)Sooke Rd at Brownsey Blvd โDouglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria)30 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Douglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.9 km.
๐BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) โDuncan46 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan โBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
๐BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒTravel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km.
โด๏ธBC FerriesPort Hardy โ Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) โShearwater (Denny Island)168 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop โ check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.
๐ฒYou arrive at Shearwater (Denny Island).
Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal
Coach bus to Nanaimo, rental car to Port Hardy, then a ferry into Shearwater.
🚫 This chain exists, but West Coast Trail Express does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐West Coast Trail ExpressJuan de Fuca Trail routeor West Coast Trail Express (West Coast Trail route) (seasonal)Sooke โDowntown Nanaimo Exchange130 kmDoes not carry bikes
Runs May 1 to September 30.
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Downtown Nanaimo, about 0.6 km.
๐BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy โ NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches โ bookable onlineBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒTravel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km.
โด๏ธBC FerriesPort Hardy โ Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) โShearwater (Denny Island)168 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop โ check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.
๐ฒYou arrive at Shearwater (Denny Island).
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal
Two city buses, a coach bus, a rental car, and a ferry.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐BC Transit61 Sooke / Langford / Downtownor the 65 Sooke / Downtown via Westhills (doesn't run every day)Sooke Rd at Brownsey Blvd โDouglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria)30 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Douglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.9 km.
๐Island LinkVictoria Express BusDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) โDowntown Nanaimo Exchange92 kmDoes not carry bikes
๐BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒTravel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km.
โด๏ธBC FerriesPort Hardy โ Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) โShearwater (Denny Island)168 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop โ check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.
๐ฒYou arrive at Shearwater (Denny Island).
Option five · five legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐BC Transit61 Sooke / Langford / DowntownSooke Rd at Brownsey Blvd โDouglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria)30 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Douglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria) to Victoria Belleville Terminal, about 2.6 km.
๐ฉ๏ธHarbour AirVancouver Harbour โ Victoria HarbourVictoria Belleville Terminal โCXH (Vancouver)98 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee โ bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter โ other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
๐ฒTravel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
๐SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free โ 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
โ๏ธPacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver โ Bella BellaVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โZEL (Bella Bella)480 kmRides in the hold โ small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
๐ฒTravel the short hop from ZEL (Bella Bella) to McLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella), about 0.9 km.
โด๏ธBC FerriesCentral Coast ConnectorMcLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella) โShearwater (Denny Island)3.7 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
About one run a week: Wednesday out from Bella Coola, Thursday or Friday back from Shearwater.
๐ฒYou arrive at Shearwater (Denny Island).
Route facts last checked August 2026. We check that every leg here carries bikes, but policies and seasons change. Check times and book with the operator. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Explore more
Heading back: Shearwater to Sooke (best: ferry + rental car + bus)
Connections from Sooke: Brentwood Bay (best: bus) · West Vancouver (best: bus + ferry) · Kelowna (best: bus + ferry + train) · New Hazelton (best: bus + ferry + train)
Connections from Shearwater: Ocean Falls (best: ferry) · Ucluelet (best: ferry + rental car + carpool) · Port Coquitlam (best: ferry + rental car + train) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + rental car + bus)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Sooke