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Salt Spring Island is known for four things: art, nature, peace and quiet. Art lovers will enjoy the Salt Spring Island Tour, happenings at ArtSpring and the many galleries clustered around the Village of Ganges. Nature lovers can hike, camp, kayak, canoe and view wildlife in the provincial parks and marine parks. Those in need of a little self- care can choose from a wealth of spas, yoga retreats and wellness centres. Other popular activities include cycling, horseback riding, rock climbing, hand gliding, visits to museums and heritage sites, salmon fishing and golf.
Hiking is one of the best ways to explore Salt Spring's beautiful natural landscape. You'll find an extensive network of inland and shoreline trails in Ruckle Provincial Park. The shoreline trail from the heritage farm to Yeo Point is particularly scenic. Walk-in, vehicle-accessible and group campsites are available in that park. There are trails for all skill levels in Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, but the best known and most challenging is Baynes Peak trail, which leads to the highest point on the island to reveal a stunning view over Burgoyne Bay to Vancouver Island. The Mount Erskine trail passes through groves of fir, arbutus and Garry oak. Experience it in spring to see the manzanita shrubs in bloom.
Other popular outdoor activities include cycling (be prepared for hills), horseback riding (tours are available), rock climbing, hang gliding and golfing on one of two, nine-hole courses.
The colourful histories of St. Paul's Church, Alfred Ruckle House and Beaver Point Hall make them some of the most interesting buildings on Salt Spring Island. Tiny St. Paul's is the oldest church on the island. It was built between 1880 and 1885 using stone and other materials salvaged from the Butter Church in Vancouver and ferried over Sansum Narrows in Aboriginal war canoes. Alfred Ruckle built his farmhouse in 1906It was donated to the province in 1974 along with most of his property. The Ruckle family still farm on the remaining land. Beaver Point Hall was built in 1937 after the first hall on that site burned down and is still used as a community gathering place. Other historic buildings on Salt Spring include Burgoyne United Church, built in 1887, and St. Mary's Anglican Church, built in 1894.
One-hour historical walking tours of Ganges are available five days a week in summer and by appointment during the off-season.
The self-guided Salt Spring Island Tour showcases the live/work spaces of more than 40 artists and artisans working in a variety of media. Visitors can also delve into Salt Spring's history with a visit to the Akerman Museum or the Old Vesuvius Burial Ground. The museum houses thousands of artifacts from local Aboriginal peoples and early settlers. The burial ground is the oldest cemetery on the island and the final resting place of many early settlers and leading pioneer families.
Community events like ArtSpring and the Saturday Market are at the core of Salt Spring Island culture. ArtSpring is the island's premier, year-round concert, theatre, exhibition and special event venue. It contains a 259-seat theatre and three exhibition rooms. Live musical performances by local and visiting musicians can be enjoyed in many smaller venues as well. The Saturday Market reflects the Salt Spring community in microcosm: artists, artisans, writers, farmers, bakers, musicians and regular folk plying their trades, selling their wares or engaging in spirited debates on the issues of the day. It runs from the end of March to mid October in Centennial Park.
Beautiful views draw hikers and picnickers to Mount Maxwell Provincial Park every year. The day-use-only park is home to Baynes Peak, the highest point on Salt Spring Island, and an abundance of wildlife: Black-tailed Deer, Black Bears, feral sheep and goats, as well as Turkey Vultures, Peregrine Falcons and several bat species. Hiking along its trails, you'll come across stands of old-growth Douglas Fir, Garry Oak meadows, salmon streams and the largest undeveloped estuary in the Gulf Islands.
Ruckle Provincial Park also offers incredible views. Walk-in campers can pitch a tent in a grassy meadow overlooking Swanson Channel. Many wildlife species thrive in its forest, field and shore habitats, including sea lions, Killer Whales, Minks, River Otters, crabs, mussels, limpets, oysters, sculpins, starfish, cormorants, grebes, guillemots, eagles, grouse or quail.
Wallace Marine Provincial Park is located in the Trincomali Channel. Numerous beaches, coves, offshore islets and glimpses of the folded rock from which the island is formed have made it a favourite paddling destination. Facilities on the island include an information centre, water, pit toilets, 18 walk-in campsites, a small dock at Conover Cove, an octagonal dingy dock at Princess Bay. Conover Cove and Princess Bay both offer sheltered anchorage and stern tie rings.
Land and sea interpretive tours of Salt Spring Island are available from a number of local operators.
Serene natural beauty and a laid-back lifestyle are two of the main reasons Salt Spring Island is so popular with vacationers and retirees. Walk on quiet beaches or take in views of the Pacific from a mountain viewpoint. Soothe your spirit with activities like yoga, massage therapy, reflexology or ayurveda therapy. Or experience a wide range of relaxing treatments, some of which incorporate local ingredients such as seaweed or mineral water, at spas on the island.
Salt Spring's coastline is perfect for paddling. Calm and protected, it's punctuated by scenic inlets, and tiny islands. Popular routes include the 33 km (20.5 mi) from Drummond Park to Musgrave Landing; the 18.5 km (11.5 mi) from Southey Point to the Secretary Islands, where wilderness camping is available; and the 14.8 km (9.2 mi) from Arbutus Beach to Vesuvius Bay. Most canoeists stick to the island's freshwater lakes but a few choose to navigate ocean waters in closed-deck canoes. A number of local operators offer paddling rentals, lessons and tours. Guided motor and sailboat cruises are also available.
Salmon tops the list of prized catches on the island. Sockeye, Pink and Chinook are all plentiful. Other sought-after saltwater species include cod, halibut and sole. A number of Salt Spring Island's freshwater lakes are also stocked annually. Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout and Steelhead are just a few of the fish found in lakes on the island.
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