Salt Spring Island
The largest of the Southern Gulf Islands, known for artists' studios, organic farms and the Saturday Market in Ganges, with island-hopping to neighbors such as Galiano.
Salt Spring Island lies in the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest and most populous of the Southern Gulf Islands (about 11,000 residents), covering roughly 180 km². Since the 1960s and '70s, waves of artists, artisans and organic farmers have settled here, creating a pastoral arts community famous across Canada. There are no chain fast-food restaurants on the island; instead you'll find open studios, farm stands and handmade-goods shops everywhere.
Areas to explore: the village of Ganges on the east side is the hub, home to the Saturday Market, galleries, restaurants and harbour kayaking; in the middle of the island, Baynes Peak on Mount Maxwell is the best lookout over the Gulf Islands, with Burgoyne Bay park at its foot; Fulford Harbour at the south end is the ferry terminal for Victoria, near the coastal trails and heritage farm of Ruckle Provincial Park as well as cheese farms and wineries; Vesuvius Bay on the northwest shore is the place for sunsets, and St. Mary Lake is good for swimming. You can also island-hop by ferry from Long Harbour to Montague Harbour on Galiano Island.
The climate is mild and Mediterranean-like, with dry, sunny summers (about 20–25°C), the best time to visit; the Saturday Market runs April–October, autumn brings arts and apple festivals, and winters are rainy but mild. Getting there: BC Ferries from Swartz Bay near Victoria to Fulford Harbour takes about 35 minutes; from Tsawwassen in Vancouver to Long Harbour takes about 1.5–3 hours (often with a transfer); and from Crofton on Vancouver Island to Vesuvius Bay takes about 20 minutes. Floatplanes fly from Vancouver Harbour directly to Ganges in about 35 minutes. Island buses are infrequent, so bring or rent a car. Allow 1–2 days; ferries and accommodation get busy on summer weekends, so book ahead.
Top sights
- Salt Spring Saturday Market – One of Canada's best-known outdoor handmade markets, selling only island-made art, crafts, and produce, and the soul of Salt Spring Island.
- Mount Maxwell Provincial Park – A cliff-edge viewpoint about 590 m above sea level on Bains Peak, overlooking Burgoyne Bay, Fulford Harbour, and the Gulf Islands; the isla…
- Ganges – The central village of Salt Spring Island, with harbourside galleries, cafés and a dock boardwalk, and the starting point for kayaks and si…
- Ruckle Provincial Park – A coastal park at the island's southeastern corner, with a 7 km rocky shoreline trail, old orchards and the century-old working Ruckle Farm.
- Salt Spring Island Cheese – A goat cheese farm in the south of the island where you can wander through the production room and pens, and taste the signature soft chees…
- Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park – A marine provincial park on neighbouring Galiano Island, with white shell beaches, tidal lagoons and giant bayberry trees, a top pick for a…
- Fulford Harbour – A ferry village at the southern tip of Salt Spring Island, with a few colourful shops and cafés, and a 19th-century stone St. Paul's Church…
- Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park – A bay and valley at the foot of Maxwell Mountain, with meadows, old orchards and trails through oak woodland that climb to the cliffs.
- Mount Erskine Provincial Park – A hiking peak in the northwest of the island, reached in about 1 to 1.5 hours, passing through mossy forest to a rocky summit with views of…
- Vesuvius Bay – A small ferry bay on the northwest coast with a little beach and a west-facing bar terrace for sunsets, and ferries to Crofton on Vancouver…
- St. Mary Lake – The largest freshwater lake on Salt Spring Island, with warm summer water that locals enjoy for swimming, paddling and fishing.
- Salt Spring Vineyards – A family winery on the hillside in the middle of the island, offering tastings of Pinot Noir and sparkling wine made in the cool island cli…
Where to eat
- Tree House Café – A popular Ganges café built around a large plum tree, with live music on summer evenings at no charge.
- Moby's Pub – A waterfront pub overlooking Ganges Harbour, where the signature duck wings take the place of chicken wings and the fis…
- Barb's Bakery Bistro – A longtime island bakery that began at the Saturday market. Its cinnamon buns, known locally as Barb's Buns, often sell…
Itineraries
- Vancouver Island Island-Hopping & West Coast – From Victoria via Salt Spring Island to Tofino, returning to Vancouver via the East Coast.