The Best Salt Spring Island Activities For A Weekend Getaway
Salt Spring Island is a charming bohemian island nested between Vancouver and Vancouver island. As the largest of the Gulf Islands in British Columbia (BC), Salt Spring Island is the ideal nature escape for those seeking tranquility and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a weekend away from the city, the wide variety of Salt Spring Island activities has you covered.
From cycling and hiking scenic trails to exploring local markets, the island offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Over the years, Salt Spring Island has gained a reputation as a serene retreat for nature lovers and creatives alike. Are you planning a trip to Salt Spring Island? Read below to find all the essential information on how to get to the island and where to stay. You’ll also discover which Salt Spring Island activities you can enjoy during your visit.
Overview: Salt Spring Island Activities
- Location: Strait of Georgia, nestled between Vancouver Island and Vancouver.
- Ferry: from Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Vancouver Island) and then to Fulford Harbour; or from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour.
- Local transportation: if you prefer to travel without a car, Salt Spring island has local public buses; alternatively another great alternative is visiting the island by bike in summer.
- Outdoor activities: hiking, kayaking, cycling, or simply wandering around. Some popular spots include Mount Maxwell Provincial Park and Ruckle Provincial Park.
- Dining scene: there are many delicious restaurants that serve farm-to-table produce. My favorites are Rock Salt Restaurant, Tree House Cafe and the Feast.
- Tastings: you cannot miss the Cider House and if you like beer I recommend Salt Spring Brewing. Alternatively, Salt Spring Island has 4 main wineries where you can experience wine tasting.
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.
Local Tip: if you’re planning a trip to Salt Spring Island by car, I highly recommend booking a reservation between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. Since it’s a popular route, it gets a lot of traffic especially around long weekends and summer months.
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.
Note: if you have a reservation from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen and you don’t get a thru fare ticket in Salt Spring Island, you might be put in the standby line. This is likely if you arrive at the terminal within the 30 minutes of your next ferry. Especially during peak months, if this happens to you, it can be particularly annoying. So, don’t forget to get your thru fare ticket!
Explore Salt Spring Island Activities By Plane
Another way of traveling to Salt Spring Island is by plane. This is a more scenic itinerary over the Gulf Islands but also costlier.
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 established Airbnbs and guesthouses.
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.
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 between spring and early fall. If you’re planning a trip to Salt Spring Island for its outdoors activities, then summer is the ideal time to visit. From hiking to cycling around the island, Salt Spring Island will welcome you with an endless list of adventure opportunities.
10 Salt Spring Island Activities You Should Try
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.
Discover Unique Salt Spring Island Activities at the Cheese Farm
Located between Fulford Harbour and Ruckle Park, the Salt Spring Island Cheese Farm is a must when visiting the island. 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 re-homed at a different location for the winter months. Also, keep in mind that the cafe is usually open only in the summer months. So, if you want to experience these treats, plan accordingly.
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 away from the city and one of my favorite Salt Spring Island activities.
While walking along the rocky shores and wandering around the forest, I kept reminiscing about the Juan de Fuca trail on Vancouver Island.
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.
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.
Hike to Baynes Peak in Mount Maxwell Provincial Park
A hike up Baynes Peak in Mount Maxwell Provincial Park offers the perfect nature escape, with sweeping views, quiet trails, and the refreshing scent of coastal forest all around. 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. You can see the ferry departing from Fulford Harbour, the Gulf Island as well as Vancouver Island.
Stop at the Tree House Cafe in Ganges for Lunch
This iconic cafe is built around a tree (therefore the name) in one of the squares in Ganges. We stopped here for lunch and had a delicious meal.
Taste some 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 on the top 3.
Drive Around the Northern end 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.
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 vibe with a sitting area inside and on the patio.
