10 Best Things to Do on Salt Spring Island, BC
Salt Spring Island is a charming small island between Vancouver and Vancouver island. As the largest of the Southern Gulf Islands in British Columbia, Salt Spring Island is one of the most popular day trips and weekend getaways from Vancouver. The island is mainly known for its Saturday Market, artisan shops, hiking trails as well as local food & drinks variety.
Planning a trip to Salt Spring Island? This guide covers everything: how to get there by ferry or floatplane, where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do, whether you have one day or a full weekend.
Overview: Salt Spring Island Activities
How to Get to Salt Spring Island
There are primarily two main ways to get to Salt Spring Island: by ferry or seaplane. Although the ferry is the most accessible option, taking a plane offers some incredible views of the Gulf Islands.
On a ferry, you can also board as foot passenger and rely on public transportation, to make it a cheaper trip. Alternatively, if you don’t mind spending something extra, the seaplane is a fantastic option with memorable photo opportunities of the Strait of Georgia.
Explore Salt Spring Island Activities By Ferry
You can reach Salt Spring Island by ferry from Vancouver, Vancouver Island or the other Gulf Islands. If you’re traveling as a foot passenger or take a bike on board, you won’t need to stress out much about reservations. Otherwise, the information I provide below is mainly directed to those planning a trip to Salt Spring Island by car.
- From Vancouver:
- Option 1: The most popular route is from Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Vancouver Island). From Swartz Bay you’ll need to request a thru fare to get to Fulford (Salt Spring Island). Read the section below for more information on the thru fare ticket. The total distance is approximately 1.5 hours to Swartz Bay and another 35 minutes to Fulford, for a total of around 2 hours.
- Option 2: from Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Long Harbour (Salt Spring Island). In my opinion, this route does not always have the best times though. The total distance is approximately 2.5 hours.
- From Vancouver Island:
- Option 1: if you’re planning a weekend getaway from Victoria, the most popular route is from Swartz Bay to Fulford. The total distance is approximately 35 minutes.
- Option 2: if you’re on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, you can also take a ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius Bay. The total distance is approximately 25 minutes.
- From other Gulf Islands: if you’re hoping around different Gulf Islands, such as Galiano, you’ll also be able to book short ferry rides to Salt Spring Island. The total distance ranges between 15 and 30 minutes.
How does the Thru Fare work
If you’re planning a trip to Salt Spring Island by car and are traveling from Vancouver, you should get a thru fare ticket for the second ferry to Fulford Harbour.
In order to receive a thru fare ticket on the route Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, make sure you ask the terminal ticket agent for one. You will receive a thru fare voucher and a hanger to display to the ticket agent when you arrive in Swartz Bay. Here, follow the sign that says “Thru Fare” and the directions on the back of your hanger. This way you’ll do an U-turn over the bridge on top of the highway and return to the terminal. When you arrive, you will need to show your thru fare voucher at the Swartz Bay ticket booth.
On the return route from Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) to Swartz Bay, things are a little bit trickier. Here, you won’t find an agent to validate your ticket as you enter the terminal. Also, there are no obvious signs mentioning where you can get a thru fare ticket. As a result, you need to know in advance where the ticket machine is located. To get a thru fare ticket, you’ll need to walk to the passenger lounge and purchase one at the kiosk inside.
Explore Salt Spring Island Activities By Plane
Another way of reaching Salt Spring Island is by floatplane. Harbour Air and Seair Seaplanes both operate routes from downtown Vancouver and YVR South. It’s a more scenic option over the Gulf Islands and the aerial views of the islands make it worth the extra cost.
✨Are you looking for more coastal itineraries in BC? Check out the stunning Sunshine Coast and the surf town of Tofino!
Getting Around Salt Spring Island
Obviously, the easiest way to get around Salt Spring Island is by car. But if you’d rather do a day trip without a car, BC Transit offers some bus connections between the ferry terminals to Ganges.
If you’re visiting in summer, one of the best things to do in Salt Spring Island is cycling. This is also an easier way of getting on the ferry from Vancouver.
Where to Stay on Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island has some amazing accommodations to stay at, from rustic cabins and cottages in the forest or by the lake to adorable B&Bs in Ganges and luxury country inns like Hastings House.
Another alternative is camping at Ruckle Provincial Park. After pitching down your tent in the grassy meadows, you can spend the day watching for sea lions and killer whales out in the sea.
The park has a total of 78 walk-in campsites spread around the edge of the forest and overlooking the Swanson Channel. Of this, 20 have a tent pad, but only 10 can be reserved. The rest is filled on a first-come-first-served basis.
💡If you’d like to go backcountry camping, two of my favorite spots in BC are Flora Peak in Chilliwack and the remote Tin Hat Hut on the Sunshine Coast.
Best Time to Visit Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island can be visited year-round due to its mild temperatures. But the best time to visit is May to September, when temperatures range around 18°C – 25°C.
Summer is ideal for kayaking and catching the Saturday Market every week. Spring is perfect for fewer crowds and exploring the hiking trails. Fall brings harvest season at the wineries and cideries. Even winter has its charm when the island is quiet and accommodation prices drop significantly.
Check out for the local festivals on Salt Spring Island before you visit: Maple Syrup Festival (in February), Ruckle Farm Day (in May), Lavender Festival (in July), Fall Fair (in September), Apple Festival (in September) and the Harvest Grape Stop (in October).
10 Best Things to Do on Salt Spring Island
1. Stop for a Meal at Rock Salt Restaurant
If you’re taking the ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour, a stop at the Rock Salt Restaurant is mandatory. It’s also a perfect break to avoid the traffic from the ferry. If you can choose, opt for the table tucked in the right corner next to the window. It gives some privacy and you’ll enjoy the coastal views to yourself.
I like to think that if I’d be a writer, I’d be sitting at this table while letting myself get inspired by the views.
2. Visit Salt Spring Island Cheese Farm
One of the top things to do on Salt Spring Island is visiting Salt Spring Island Cheese Farm, located between Fulford Harbour and Ruckle Park. You get to see how they handcraft the artisanal goat cheese, which you can also taste at their shop. Additionally, you can grab a bite to eat at their cafe and sit in the backyard garden.
We visited end of March and the goats were temporary re-homed at a different location for the winter months. The cafe is also usually only open in the summer months. So, if you want to experience these treats, plan accordingly.
3. Snorkel or Hike around Ruckle Park
Ruckle Park is one of the most stunning areas in the southern Gulf Islands. It’s a very popular spot for cyclists and for snorkels in the summer. Additionally, you can do easy hikes around the coastline and even spend the night at the campsite. In fact, Ruckle Park is a perfect nature escape for a weekend getaway from Vancouver and one of my favorite Salt Spring Island activities.
The rocky shores around Ruckle Park reminded me a lot about Juan de Fuca trail on Vancouver Island, with way less elevation gain but similar coastal views.
🥾 More Hiking Tips: Check out these hiking trails in Canada!
4. Sip on Home Brewed Beers at Salt Spring Brewing
Tucked away from the main road and surrounded by the green forest, Salt Spring Brewing is by far one of my favorite places on the island. The brewery has a sitting area indoors as well as outdoors and allows guests to pick one of the board games part of their collection.
5. Try Local Wines at one of the 4 Wineries
Due to its temperate climate, Salt Spring Island is ideal for growing grapes. The island has a total of 4 wineries: Garry Oaks, Salt Spring Vineyards, Kutatas Wines and Vivezza Vineyard. When we visited, we didn’t get a chance to try them ourselves as they were closed. However, I’m eager to get back soon and try their local wines firsthand.
If wine tasting is high on your list, Oliver and Osoyoos in South Okanagan or Kelowna wine region are some of the best in Canada. Even better, you can combine both on a great road trip from Vancouver.
6. Hike Mount Maxwell Provincial Park (Baynes Peak)
The hike to Baynes Peak in Mount Maxwell Provincial Park is one of the best hikes on Salt Spring Island, with amazing 260 views over the Gulf Islands, Fulford Harbour and Vancouver Island.
Overall, the hike takes about 2 hours to complete and has around 260 m of elevation gain. Allow for some extra time to enjoy the views at the top.
7. Stop at the Tree House Cafe in Ganges for Lunch
The Tree House Cafe is one of the most iconic spots in Ganges. This outdoor cafe is built literally around a plum tree in the middle of the village.
The menu includes fresh, local ingredients with wraps, bowls and daily specials. In summer, they host live music on the patio most evenings, making it a great spot to linger after the Saturday Market. It can get busy at peak hours, so arrive early or expect a short wait.
8. Taste Ciders at Salt Spring Wild Cider
I wouldn’t usually drink ciders but Salt Spring Wild Cider proved me wrong. I really loved the outdoor sitting space on a sunny summer day and the indoor bright atmosphere. To top it up, we each tried a different cider and they were all amazing. Let’s just say that if you should just choose the top Salt Spring Island activities, this would be in the top 3.
9. Drive the Northern Loop of Salt Spring Island
To explore further Salt Spring Island activities, head to the northern side of the island. Here, take the loop that stops at Sunset Farms as well as Lavender & Black, a local lavender farm.
If you have some additional time, don’t miss the Fernwood Dock in the north of Salt Spring Island. The red pier is one of the island’s landmarks and even has a cafe next door.
10. Get a Local Coffee before Continuing your Road Trip
We stopped at Switch Board Cafe in Ganges before continuing our road trip back to Fulford Harbour. This cafe has a cozy atmosphere with a sitting area inside and a patio outside.
🚗 Planning a road trip in Canada? Don’t miss these epic itineraries for the Sea to Sky Highway and the Icefields Parkway, two of the most scenic drives in the world!
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