Terrace to Lake Cowichan with a bike

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 Terrace to Lake Cowichan.

For scale

As the crow flies706 km

Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.

By car1,510 km · 17 h 55 m

We found eight ways to get you there.

🎒 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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A little bit of everything.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Lakelse at Skeena Mall (Terrace) →Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)114 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in

Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Prince Rupert (Inside Passage)Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St) →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)445 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)YZT (Port Hardy) →Downtown Nanaimo295 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit7 Cowichan LakeDuncan →South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan)27 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan).

Option two · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the train.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌BC Bus North (Tahltan NST Busing Ltd.)Prince George – Prince Rupert (Hwy 16 West)Lakelse at Skeena Mall (Terrace) →Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)125 kmRides in the hold — boxed, bagged, or wrappedReserve bike spot

Twice a week: Monday and Thursday westbound, Tuesday and Friday eastbound.

Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km.

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit7 Cowichan LakeDuncan →South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan)27 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan).

Option three · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A beautiful ferry ride with transit on both sides.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Lakelse at Skeena Mall (Terrace) →Jasper AB808 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in

Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).

🚆VIA RailThe Canadian (Vancouver – Kamloops North – Jasper)Jasper AB →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)541 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in

Two departures a week in season; bikes can be checked on and off at Vancouver and Jasper only.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.

⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) →Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead — 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way — $25 in personNo e-bikes — no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max

🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.4 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit7 Cowichan LakeDuncan →South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan)27 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan).

Option four · eight legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).

Two departures a week in season; bikes can be checked on and off at Vancouver and Jasper only.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryBridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Swartz BayTsawwassen (Delta) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)41 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Swartz Bay (North Saanich) →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) →Duncan54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit7 Cowichan LakeDuncan →South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan)27 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan).

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Option five · seven legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A proper expedition.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Lakelse at Skeena Mall (Terrace) →Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)477 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in

Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).

🚌EbusKamloops – Prince GeorgeDowntown Exch Bay B (Prince George) →Kamloops456 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

Runs Wed/Fri/Sun toward Prince George and Mon/Thu/Sat toward Kamloops; no service on Tuesdays.

🚌EbusVancouver – Kamloopsor Ebus (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)) or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary)Kamloops →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)301 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.4 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit7 Cowichan LakeDuncan →South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan)27 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at South Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan).

Option six · seven legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

Same as Option five, but a coach bus instead of the train.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌BC Bus North (Tahltan NST Busing Ltd.)Prince George – Prince Rupert (Hwy 16 West)Lakelse at Skeena Mall (Terrace) →Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)494 kmRides in the hold — boxed, bagged, or wrappedReserve bike spot