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Salt Spring
Visitor Guide
Where fast lives slow down to the pace of the tides.
An island centered around
a different pace of life.
Just a short flight or ferry away, Salt Spring Island offers a creative sanctuary overflowing with vibrant produce and a deep reverence for the natural environment. Arriving here is like going analogue — it is where fast lives slow down to take in the stories of what it means to live between the forest and the coast.
In our communities, you will find that a product is never just a product — it is the "light bulb moment," the grit, and the passion of the family behind it, told through a market stall, a studio tour, or a farm-table meal. We invite you to find your ground here. If you get lost, you'll find a stranger quickly becomes a friend.
Salt Spring sits upon the unceded territories of the Quw'utsun, Malahat, Ts'uubaa-asatx, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz'uminus, Lyackson, Pauquachin, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht Peoples, who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial.
121 Lower Ganges Rd · Ganges
250-537-5252 · Toll-free: 1-866-216-2936
Your essential first stop — maps, tips, and the full island guide.
Stay on marked paths · Honour traditional territories · Give wildlife space · Share sensitive locations thoughtfully online · Support local makers · Bring reusables.
Arriving on
Salt Spring
Getting to Salt Spring Island is part of the experience — arrive by ferry, floatplane, private boat, or kayak.
BC Ferries
bcferries.com ↗Three terminals serve Salt Spring:
- Long Harbour — from Tsawwassen / Vancouver
- Fulford Harbour — from Swartz Bay / Victoria
- Vesuvius — from Crofton / Vancouver Island
The Tsawwassen route is reservable — book ahead in summer. The other routes are first-come, first-served. Check live ferry cams at saltspringexchange.com.
Harbour Air
harbourair.com ↗Fast and scenic floatplane service from downtown Vancouver, YVR, or Victoria Harbour. On Salt Spring in just 30 minutes!
Ganges Harbour
Main boating hub — transient moorage, water, power, washrooms, laundry. Close to shops and restaurants.
Salt Spring Marina: Full-service slips, ~10-min walk to village.
Public Docks (HASSI): Moorage in Ganges, Fulford, Vesuvius, Burgoyne Bay.
On-demand 10am–6pm · Text/call 250-538-2398
Seats 7 · Pet-friendly
Exploring the
island
Salt Spring Hop-On Hop-Off
The most delicious way to explore car-free. Full day Artisan Trail from $55. Stops: Salt Spring Cheese · Sacred Mountain Lavender · Salt Spring Brewing · Garry Oaks Winery · Ciderworks · Ganges Village.
saltspringhopon.com ↗Tour Salt Spring
Guided island tours, winery and cidery excursions, and private charters.
toursaltspring.com ↗Cycling the Island
Scenic roads ideal for cycling — expect hills, winding routes, and rewarding views. Rentals at Outspokin. Route guidance from Island Pathways. Public bike repair stand at Salt Spring Inn.
Without a Car
BC Transit operates 6 routes connecting Ganges, key communities, and all three ferry terminals. Check with the Visitor Info Centre for seasonal schedules.
Car & Scooter rentals: Salt Spring Car Rental
Market Parking & Shuttle
Seasonal parking + shuttle at the south end of town for $10, supporting local charities. Includes shuttle to/from the market. Sponsored by Country Grocer.
Art, artisans &
creative culture
Salt Spring has become a haven for artists — wild natural beauty, a deeply rooted maker culture, and a slower, more intentional way of life.
The Saturday Market
BC's most famous made/baked/grown market. 100+ vendors every Saturday at Centennial Park, Ganges — April to late October. Artwork · ceramics · soaps · glasswork · jewellery · cider · wine · local treats.
saltspringmarket.com ↗ArtCraft Gallery + Shop
BC's largest and longest-running juried art exhibit. 100+ local artists. Open June–September (Artcraft) + November–December (Wintercraft). A MUST SEE.
artcraft.saltspringarts.com ↗Makers Market
Salt Spring's newest destination for handcrafted goods. 100% of every sale goes directly to the maker. Directly across from the Saturday Market — open all week.
makersmarket.ca ↗Waterfront Gallery
Artist-run showcase of 100+ local makers. Ceramics, jewellery, textiles, woodwork, glass, and fine art in a charming waterfront setting.
waterfrontgallery.ca ↗Galleries, Studios & Exhibition Spaces
Galleries
Gallery 8 ↗ Coast Gallery ↗ Jill Louise Campbell Art Gallery ↗ Pod Gallery ↗ Salt Spring Gallery ↗ Steffich Fine Art Waterfront Gallery ↗Also Exhibit
Dragonfly Art Supplies ↗ Salt Spring Library ↗ Salt Spring Coffee ↗ Artspring ↗ Harvest Moon Cannabis Island SavingsStudios
Quail Run Pottery & Fused Glass ↗ Salt Spring Studio Tour — self-guided, 30+ studios ↗ The Glass Foundry ↗Murals & Sculpture
Rise Up — David Camisa · Glad's Gelateria, 101 Purvis Ln SEALS — Paige Bowman · Lam's Lane Island Hopping — Damian John · Salt Spring Coffee, 109 McPhillips Ave Sculpture Garden — outside Mahon Hall ↗Live Music & Performance
Salt Spring's live music scene features resident artists including Tom Hooper, Harry Manx, Valdy, and even Raffi. Touring performances through Artspring + Mateada. Live music at Woodley's Kitchen + Bar, the Legion, Waterfront Country Café, and Treehouse Café. Every summer, Pitchfork Social hosts world-class Americana and Roots concerts at the Jam Factory.
gulfislandevents.com ↗
artspring.ca ↗
saltyhappenings.com ↗
Salt Spring Music Events (Facebook) ↗
Woodley's Kitchen + Bar hosts regular live shows every week.
facebook.com/WoodleysKitchenSSI ↗
Restaurants, farms,
wineries & more
From farm-to-table restaurants and waterfront dining to food trucks, bakeries, and farmers' markets — the island celebrates fresh, locally sourced ingredients at every turn.
Must-Try Restaurants
Coffee + Cafés
Also: Barb's Bakery + Café · Café Flora · TJ Beans
Local Wine, Cider, Beer & Spirits
Salt Spring's craft producers create small-batch wine, cider, beer, and spirits that reflect the island's unique terroir and vibrant artisanal culture.
Garry Oaks Estate Winery
Award-winning estate wines beneath Mount Maxwell. Tasting patio overlooking rolling vineyards and Burgoyne Valley. Sustainable farming.
garryoakswinery.com ↗Ciderworks at Salt Spring Apple Co.
Cider tasting + food + one of Salt Spring's best patios!
ciderworks.ca ↗Salt Spring Wild Cider
Wild apple cider + restaurant.
Sweetwater Distilling Co.
Craft gin, vodka & spirits made on island.
sweetwaterdistilling.ca ↗Salt Spring Shine
Vodka, gin & liqueurs, crafted on Salt Spring.
SSI Mead Co.
Honey wines with tastings.
Liquor Stores: BC Liquor Store · Salt Spring Mercantile · Voyage Liquor (GVM + Ganges)
Adventures, farms
& natural beauty
Sync with the pulse of Salt Spring — from adrenaline-fueled adventures to restorative forest spa retreats.
Walks + Hikes
Duck Creek Park
Pleasant wooded walk
Burgoyne Bay
Meadows, forest, coastal views
Ruckle Park
Rocky coastline, arbutus groves
Daffodil Point
Wildflowers, sweeping vistas
Channel Ridge
Forest walks with lookouts
Yeo Point
Longer coastal route
Reginald Hill
Panoramic Gulf Island views
Mount Erskine
Summit views, mature forest
Mount Maxwell
Drive-up or hike — iconic sunset panorama
Beaches
Ocean Beaches
Beddis Beach Burgoyne Bay Fernwood Dock & Shoreline Baker Beach Ruckle Park shorelineFreshwater Favourites
St. Mary Lake Cusheon Lake Stowell Lake Blackburn LakeSunrise: Beddis Beach, Drummond Park + Fulford | Sunsets: Daffodil Point, Vesuvius, Southey Point
Experiences & Activities
Salt Spring Adventure Co.
Get out on the water, into the wild, and face-to-face with the raw beauty of the Salish Sea.
saltspringadventures.com ↗Sacred Mountain Lavender
Organic lavender fields, self-guided tours, handcrafted essential oil and spa products.
sacredmountainlavender.com ↗Ruckle Heritage Farm
150+ years welcoming guests. Farm tours, livestock, accommodations, farm-direct meat sales, and a beloved farm stand.
ruckleheritagefarm.com ↗Salt Spring Island Golf Club
Historic (1928) 9-hole par 36 course in mature forests. Disc golf, driving range, restaurant, club rentals.
saltspringgolf.com ↗Original Nature Acupuncture
Holistic acupuncture supporting balance, wellness, and natural healing.
originalnatureacupuncture.org ↗Conscious Equine Connections
Horse-based coaching and retreats for self-mastery, communication, and emotional growth.
consciousequineconnections.com ↗Island Communities to Explore
North End & Fernwood Dock
Winding rural roads, rocky shorelines, tidal pools, sweeping views toward Galiano Island.
Fulford Harbour
Charming ferry gateway with quaint village feel — perfect for arriving, departing, or lingering.
Vesuvius
Beach, ferry terminal, and spectacular sunsets over the Salish Sea.
The South End
Rich with farms, freshwater lakes, and Ruckle Provincial Park's rugged coastal trails.
Ganges — shops, boutiques,
galleries & studios
Ganges Village is the vibrant heart of Salt Spring Island — waterfront views, lively shops, cafés, galleries, and community life. Some buildings are over 100 years old, including Mouat's Home Hardware, still operating in its original historic general store.
Must-Stop Shops
Salt Spring Chocolate
Small-batch chocolates inspired by local places and stories. Plus the island's best gelato and ice cream.
saltspringchocolate.ca ↗Osisi Boutique
Afro-inspired home, lifestyle and fashion. Contemporary global design, craftsmanship, and culture.
osisiboutique.com ↗Foxes Board Game Shop
Modern board games, trading card games, and RPGs. Regular game nights + annual board game conference.
@foxesboardgameshop ↗Salt String Yarn & Fibre
Premium Canadian-made yarns, embroidery and felting kits. Drop in for the knit + crochet circle.
saltstring.com ↗Twang + Pearl Boutique
Contemporary fashion with relaxed island charm — clothing, accessories, and lifestyle goods.
twangandpearl.com ↗Blacksheep Books
New, used & rare books. Cozy, eclectic, and thoughtfully curated — a favourite for curious readers.
blacksheepbooks.ca ↗The Village Hive
Handmade sustainable goods designed in Canada. Home décor, art prints, gifts and clothing for adults and kids.
villagehive.ca ↗Ganges Yoga Studio
10+ weekly classes — Iyengar, Yin, Kundalini, Pilates Fusion, sound baths, Community Acupuncture every Sunday.
gangesyogastudio.com ↗Rogers Upholstery
"Salt Spring's Big Little Furniture Store." Custom sofas, sectionals & chairs. BC-made with free delivery to Vancouver + Victoria.
rogersupholstery.ca ↗Full Village Directory
Clothing & Fashion
Abara Designs · Axe + Reel · Choices Too · Folk Stock + Trade · Mondo + Company · Mouat's Clothing · Old Salty · Osisi Boutique · OMG Boutique · Pod Contemporary · Rhubarb Designs · Salt Spring Goods · The Village Hive · Twang + Pearl · Woven Curated
Specialty & Gifts
The Balm Shelter · Dragonfly Art Supplies · Foxes Board Game Shop · Ganges Stationery & Tech · Glad's Ice Cream + Candy · Outspokin Bike Shop · Salt Spring Chocolate · Salt Spring Soapworks · Spring Skin · Salt String Yarn & Fibre Crafts · West of the Moon Toy Store · Whiskers Pet Store
Second Hand
Bohemia Consignment · Axe + Reel · Transitions Thrift · Lady Minto Thrift · Kozy's Kloset · Emmi's Treasures (kids)
Health & Wellness
Madrona Integrative Health · Original Nature Acupuncture · Spa by Lenice · Ganges Yoga Studio
Food Trucks
Indian Curry Express · Kitchen Kodama · Omja · PV Patate · Pure Vida · Taco Gorilla · Ox Eats Grass
Essentials
Gas: Cango Gas · Mid Island Co-op
EV Charging: Artspring · Salt Spring Library
Grocery: Country Grocer — 374 Lower Ganges Rd · 150+ local items
Hotels, B&Bs
& campgrounds
Harbour House Hotel
Waterfront retreat in the heart of Ganges Village. Harbour views, thoughtfully designed spaces, on-site dining.
harbourhousessi.com ↗Hastings House
Relais & Châteaux country house hotel. Renowned fine dining, luxurious suites, harbour views.
hastingshouse.com ↗Mariner's Loft
Seven 2 & 3 bedroom condos above Ganges Harbour. Full kitchens, gas fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling ocean views.
marinersloftsaltspring.ca ↗Quarrystone House
Five acres overlooking the ocean. Fireplaces, jacuzzi tubs, ocean-view patios. Farm-fresh breakfasts.
quarrystone.com ↗Cusheon Lake Resort
16 lake view cabins — fireplaces, kitchens, hot tub, sauna, canoes, SUPs, and kayaks.
cusheonlake.com ↗Ruckle Heritage Farm
Heritage farmhouse to off-grid cabin within Ruckle Provincial Park. Farm tours, livestock, farm-direct sales.
ruckleheritagefarm.com ↗All Accommodations
10 Things to Do
on Salt Spring
Start at the Visitor Info Centre
121 Lower Ganges Rd · 250-537-5252 · Maps, tips, and inspiration for your island adventure.
Experience the Saturday Market
100+ vendors, live music, local crafts. Centennial Park, April–October. saltspringmarket.com ↗
Visit the Tuesday Farmers' Market
Fresh produce, flowers, baking. June–October. ssituesdaymarket.com ↗
Wander Around Ganges
Galleries, boutiques, cafés, and the lively waterfront boardwalk.
Visit a Farm
Lavender farms, working farms, and seasonal farm experiences across the island.
Stop at a Farm Stand
200+ honour-system roadside stands — fresh eggs, produce, flowers, preserves. ssifarmstands.com ↗
Explore Ruckle Park & the South End
Scenic coastal trails, secluded beaches, and Ruckle Heritage Farm.
Explore Fernwood & the North End
Seaside cafés, beaches, tidal pools, and artisan studios.
Visit Fulford Harbour
Waterfront, local shops, and laid-back village charm.
Take in the Views
Panoramic vistas from Mount Maxwell, Mount Erskine, or any of the beautiful beaches.
Must-See Farm Stands
- Stowel Lake Farm
- Salt Spring Centre for Yoga
- Duck Creek Farm
- North End Farm
- Woodshed Provisions
Read the Full Guide
Flip through the complete 2026/27 Visitor Guide as a digital edition.
Read the Full GuideExplore Car-Free
Salt Spring Hop-On Hop-Off Tours — visit the island's favourite artisan stops from $55.
saltspringhopon.com ↗Salt Spring Info Centre infocentre@saltspringchamber.com HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 2pm Monday: 10am - 4pm 250-537-5252 | Salt Spring Chamber Office chamber@saltspringchamber.com Our Office is in remote mode + only Questions? See who to contact HERE  We are grateful and humbled to do business on the unceded Coast Salish territories of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. | 121 Lower Ganges Rd Big Thanks to Our Sponsors!
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