Thetis Island to Ocean Falls 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 Thetis Island to Ocean Falls.

For scale

As the crow flies470 km

Biking whole way682 km · 37 h 27 m

By car668 km · 15 h 11 m

We found four ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

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

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusChemainus →Duncan20 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚲Travel 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.

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

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

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo →YZT (Port Hardy)295 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 YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) →Ocean Falls204 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲You arrive at Ocean Falls.

Option two · seven legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A proper expedition.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Chemainus to Pine & Daniel (Chemainus), about 0.9 km.

🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (Chemainus) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚎BC Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

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

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

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

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) →Ocean Falls204 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲You arrive at Ocean Falls.

Option three · six legs📅 seasonal📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option one, but a carpool instead of the city bus.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚗PoparideHwy 1 rideshare (Victoria - Duncan - Nanaimo)Duncan →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange47 kmOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

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

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

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) →Ocean Falls204 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲You arrive at Ocean Falls.

Option four · seven legs✈ the splurge📅 seasonal

Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Victoria Belleville Terminal, about 0.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Victoria HarbourVictoria Belleville Terminal →CXH (Vancouver)98 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking

🚲Travel 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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Bella BellaVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →ZEL (Bella Bella)480 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

🚲Travel the short hop from ZEL (Bella Bella) to McLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella), about 0.9 km.

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaMcLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella) →Ocean Falls39 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲You arrive at Ocean Falls.

Route facts last checked October 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: Ocean Falls to Thetis Island (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

Connections from Thetis Island: Mayne Island (best: ferry + bus) · Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Coquitlam (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus + rental car)

Connections from Ocean Falls: Shearwater (best: ferry) · Sechelt (best: ferry + rental car + bus) · Clearwater (best: ferry + train + bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain)

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia