We ended up spending four days on Salt Spring Island, after we finished the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, we had no plans and a desire to explore somewhere we hadn’t been before. We settled on heading to Salt Spring Island for the September long weekend. We didn’t know what to expect but we ended up having an absolute blast. So if you are thinking of heading to Salt Spring Island, we have you covered below with how to spend four days on Salt Spring Island.
With its relaxed vibe, great food and drink and gorgeous scenery, you may find four days isn’t enough, in fact you may find, you never want to leave, but isn’t that always the risk with exploring new places!
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Getting To Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island is a short 30 minute ferry ride from the Victoria Swartz Bay terminal and the ferries run very regularly. They aren’t reservable though, so make sure to get to the ferry terminal with plenty of time to spare if you need to be on the Island for a specific time.
For those coming from the mainland, ferries from Vancouver Tsawwassen ferry terminal will get you to Salt Spring Island, these only run one or two times a day and can be reserved ahead of time.
There are other options which involve stopping at some of the other Gulf Islands on the way to Salt Spring Island, however these take much longer to get you to your destination.
How To Spend Four Days On Salt Spring Island
Day 1: Arrive on Salt Spring Island, take a drive around the Island
One of the great things about spending four days on Salt Spring Island is how much you can cover. The island itself isn’t all that large. So when you arrive, after you’ve checked in to your accommodation, (see below for some great options!) take a drive around Salt Spring Island itself. This is the perfect way to start your four days on Salt Spring Island, so you can understand the layout.
If you need to get some supplies, there are plenty of shops in the main town, Ganges. From some great grocery stores, a hardware store and other fun stores. Other highlights when driving around the island are the random pull outs which offer beach access, we checked out a few of these and found super quiet spots for a relax. We also really enjoyed checking out Fernwood Point and the boardwalk there.
Day 2: Check Out The Farmers Market and hike
If you are lucky enough for one of your four days on Salt Spring Island to be a Saturday, make sure to check out the market in Ganges. This is quite a large market, packed with some awesome locally produced items, great for picking up some gifts for you or loved ones. From artwork, to jewellery to foods, the market has it all. We smelt Buzzy’s Luncheonette and knew we had to grab a sandwich each from this local eatery in Ganges. It was incredible and well worth a stop.
After the market in the morning, it’s a short drive to access the trailhead for the Mount Maxwell hike, this is a must during a visit to Salt Spring Island. On a beautiful day the views are expansive, looking back to Vancouver Island. Make sure to pack plenty of water, it’s a steady and at times steep, hike to the summit.
Day 3: Tasting Day!
One of my favourite things during our four days on Salt Spring Island was, what I refer to as tasting day! Salt Spring Island is full of vendors making local products. We spent an entire day sampling what the Island had to offer. We started at the Ciderworks, an awesome spot with a lot of different ciders to taste, as well as a beautiful view from the deck. This is a beautiful spot to enjoy a refreshing cider.
Next we headed to the Salt Spring Island brewery. This small spot has limited parking, so if you can’t get in at first, try again later. Head up the stairs to grab your tasting flight or pint and enjoy it in the forested beer garden. A sweet, busy spot, with incredible beers.
We rounded out our tasting day with a visit to the Salt Spring Cheese Company. Check out the goats and see how the cheese is made before heading to the tasting room to try out some of their delicious cheese. There is a snack shop which offers gelato made from the goat’s milk as well as homemade pizza!
If you want to keep tasting there are plenty of other options, a second cider spot called Salt Spring Wild Cider is another option, we heard from some locals that this spot has a phenomenal food offering onsite. There are also a number of wineries on Salt Spring Island which offer tasting rooms.
For those who want to cram it all in and not worry about driving, check out the hop on hop off bus which services a lot of these awesome spots!
Day 4: Hike around Ruckle Park before heading home
You absolutely can’t spend four days on Salt Spring Island and not visit Ruckle Provincial Park. We were camping during our trip and there is a great walk-in campground in the park which we stayed at. On the drive into the park, stop and take in the farm buildings and see some of the old equipment which used to be used to work the land. A highlight for lots of visitors also seem to be the turkeys which roam free on the grass beside the road into the park.
Along with the working farm, there are plenty of hiking trails in Ruckle Provincial Park, most of these follow the shoreline and offer beautiful views. We really enjoyed visiting Grandma’s Bay, a nice beach area which we had all to ourselves and even managed to get in a swim. There is also a great day use area, a short walk for the furthest day use parking area, with picnic benches right on the ocean. This is a great final spot to check out before heading home. For anyone getting the ferry from Vancouver Tsawwassen to Victoria Swartz Bay, you’ll pass right by the Ruckle Provincial Park and can even see the campground from the ferry.
Where To Stay On Salt Spring Island
We decided to camp at the Ruckle Provincial Park, most of the sites are walk-in sites with no services, however the views from your camping spot more than make it worth the walk in. Looking out over the water, you get to watch the ferries floating past all day and if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of some wildlife too. If you are looking for a fantastic lower cost option, camping at Ruckle Provincial Park is an excellent option while spending four days on Salt Spring Island.
For those looking for a more comfortable base check out the Harbour House Hotel on the outskirts of the main town, Ganges. The location alone makes this an incredible option for spending four days on Salt Spring Island.
There are lots of B&B’s as well as private homes and apartments to rent, to suit a spectrum of budgets and needs. Check out the cute cabin at Westovers Bed and Breakfast as a quirky alternative, offering plenty of privacy and a more unique stay. For a larger property, check out this three bedroom waterfront rental, complete with complimentary kayak and paddleboard use.
Things You Might Need To Explore Salt Spring Island
We spent a lot of time walking around during our four days on Salt Spring Island. I loved wearing my On Cloudventure trail runners, they are light and comfortable, perfect for wearing for long periods of time and light enough my feet did not overheat. If I wasn’t wearing my running shoes, I was living in my Chaco sandals, the perfect item to wear around camp and to and from the car while we were camping.
If you plan on completing the Mount Maxwell hike, I’d suggest wearing some hiking boots, I wore my La Sportiva Raptor 2 boots and really appreciated the grip, especially on the way down the steep sections.
Camping at Ruckle Provincial Park is mostly walk-in camping, so you’ll need a tent. We used our queen air mattress and double sleeping bag. If you want to inflate your air mattress you’ll also need an battery powered air pump since there are no services. There are wheelbarrows to use to get your gear from your car to the sites, so you don’t need a backcountry set up.