Salt Spring Island is the largest and most visited of the Southern Gulf Islands in British Columbia. Artists, farmers and a busy harbour town give it a character of its own, and its parks and viewpoints are easy to reach by car or bike.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
Late spring to early fall is the best time, when the market and studios are open.
How long
Allow two or three days, or a long day trip from Victoria.
Getting there
Take a BC Ferries sailing, and book a vehicle reservation in summer.
Why visit Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island lies between Vancouver Island and the mainland in the Strait of Georgia. It was the first of the Gulf Islands to be settled, with pioneers arriving in 1859, and it takes its name from the salt springs in the north of the island.
Since the 1970s it has attracted a large number of artists, and farms and studios are a big part of the island experience.
The island has several small centers rather than one big town. Ganges sits in the middle, Fulford Harbour is in the south, Vesuvius is to the northwest and the Long Harbour ferry dock is on the east.
Ganges and the north
Ganges
Ganges is the main town, in the center of the island, and most of the shops and restaurants are within a few hundred meters of the tourist information centre.
Saturday Market
From April to October the community market takes over Centennial Park near the harbour. You will find clothing, jewelry, art and food vendors.
The Studio Tour
The self-guided Salt Spring Studio Tour covers more than thirty artist studios, from painters and potters to specialty cheese makers. Most are open from May to September, with hours that vary by artist.
Vesuvius
Vesuvius is a small cluster on the northwest side of the island with a ferry terminal for sailings to Crofton. It is a pleasant place to stop on a drive around the island.
The south end
Fulford Harbour
Fulford Harbour is a small community at the southern end of the island, with a ferry terminal to Swartz Bay near Victoria. A few shops and cafes cluster here.
Sacred Mountain Lavender
This lavender farm on the foothills of Mount Tuam, about five minutes from Fulford Harbour, offers a self-guided walk through two acres of organic lavender. It blooms from June to September, and the farm is open on set days in season, so check ahead.
Russell Island
You can kayak to Russell Island in the mouth of Fulford Harbour. It is part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, with Douglas fir, arbutus and Garry oak and a gentle shoreline loop trail.
Parks and viewpoints
Ruckle Provincial Park
Ruckle is on the southeast coast and has the largest provincial campground on the Gulf Islands. Part of the park protects the historic sheep farm founded by the Ruckle family.
Mount Maxwell Park
Mount Maxwell contains one of the highest points on the island and has excellent views of Vancouver Island, the other Southern Gulf Islands and the Lower Mainland.
Fall Fair
If your visit lands on the last weekend of summer or the first weekend of fall, the traditional Fall Fair is worth a stop.
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Food and local flavors
Salt Spring is known for small farms, and the studio tour includes specialty cheese makers, so look for farmstead cheese at the Saturday Market and local shops. Seafood is a staple of the region.
For a sweet snack, look for Nanaimo bars, the no-bake chocolate and custard treat named after Nanaimo on nearby Vancouver Island. Embe Bakery in Ganges is known for sweet buns, cookies and pies.
Popular dishes to try in Salt Spring Island
Where to stay
Salt Spring has bed and breakfasts across the island, along with vacation homes, cottages and campgrounds. Book early for summer weekends.
Ganges is the easiest choice for most visitors.
Fulford Harbour suits travelers arriving from Victoria and those who want to be near the lavender farm and Russell Island. It is quieter than Ganges.
Vesuvius, on the northwest coast, is a calm option close to the ferry to Crofton.
Where to stay in Salt Spring Island
Best time to visit
The Gulf Islands have a Mediterranean-type climate, with dry, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. For most visitors, late spring to early fall is the best time, because the Saturday Market runs from April to October and most artist studios are open from May to September.
Lavender blooms from June to September. The Russell Island host program runs from early June to early September, and the Fall Fair takes place around the last weekend of summer or the first weekend of fall.
Getting there and getting around
There is no airport on Salt Spring Island. Most visitors arrive by BC Ferries, which serves three terminals. The Fulford Harbour route from Swartz Bay near Victoria takes about 35 minutes.
A car is usually the easiest way to explore, and roads are narrow, hilly and twisty. Bicycles are popular but need care. BC Transit buses connect Ganges with the three ferry terminals, but they do not reach outlying attractions such as Ruckle Provincial Park, Mount Maxwell or the lavender farm.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Arrive by ferry and stop at the visitor centre in Ganges. Walk the waterfront, browse the shops and, if it is Saturday, spend the morning at the market.
Second day
Head south to Fulford Harbour, visit the lavender farm and kayak to Russell Island. In the afternoon, drive to Ruckle Provincial Park for a shoreline walk.
Third day
Follow the Studio Tour map to a few studios, then drive up Mount Maxwell for the view before your ferry home.
Practical tips
- Reserve your BC Ferries sailing early in summer and on long weekends.
- Cell phone coverage is spotty on the island, so download maps before you arrive.
- Pick up the Studio Tour brochure on the ferry, since it doubles as a good island map.
- Confirm hours at studios, farms and parks, as they vary by season.
- Take care on narrow, twisty roads, particularly if you are cycling.
