Planning a Bike Trip to Salt Spring Island? Start here
Salt Spring Island has become a destination for cyclists, bikepackers, and day-trippers. Easily accessible from both the mainland and Vancouver Island, in just a short ferry ride, you’ll find yourself pedalling some of BC’s most beautiful cycling routes, past rocky shorelines, bucolic fields with fuzzy sheep, and plenty of locally made roadside treats.
If you’re planning a Salt Spring cycling trip, you’ll want to start here. We spoke with Rosie Schinners, a longtime local cyclist, and Lizi McLoughlin, a frequent bikepacking visitor, about their experiences and recommendations for your next bike trip to Salt Spring Island.
You’ll find everything you need about how to get here, the local terrain and road safety, and bike-friendly campgrounds, as well as our favourite cycling routes, with great insights from people with real road experience here.
Salt Spring Island Bike Trip Highlights
- Wake up overlooking the Salish Sea while camping at Ruckle Provincial Park.
- Fuel up on carbs at Francis Bread, True Love Pizza, and Jane’s Dough (GF).
- Take a slow food tour to Salt Spring Island Cheese and the dozens of secret farm stands on the way.
- Enjoy stops with libations from Gary Oaks, Ciderworks, and Salt Spring Brewing Co.
- Relish in an ocean dip all to yourself on uncrowded beaches overlooking Galiano.
Getting to Salt Spring on Your Bike
Even if you’re planning to bike here, your journey is going to start on a ferry.
The good news? Travelling on BC Ferries is extremely bike-friendly. Here are the basics of navigating the ferry system with your bike.
Salt Spring is serviced by three ferry terminals, each offering a different access point depending on where you’re coming from:
- Crofton (Central Vancouver Island): The quickest route, with frequent 25-minute sailings all day, every day to Vesuvius Bay, which is located on the Northern end of the island.
- Swartz Bay (near Victoria): Connects to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring with frequent sailings all day, every day, taking roughly 35 minutes. Fulford is on the south end.
- Tsawwassen (near Vancouver): Longer routes ranging from 1.5 to over three hours, depending on the schedule, docking at Long Harbour. Some routes include stops at other Gulf Islands. Long Harbour is about a 20-minute bike ride from Ganges.
If you’re planning to explore multiple islands, BC Ferries also offers inter-island sailings, though these are typically indirect and less frequent. It’s best to check the current schedule for these.
Unlike when you travel by car, you won’t need to make a reservation in advance. Bikes count as foot passengers, so you can skip the pre-booking stress, even during the summer rush. Roll up to the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure, buy your ticket, and head to the designated cyclist boarding area.
Fares vary by route and season but typically cost $20 or less, and there’s no extra charge for your bike.
All major ferry terminals (Crofton, Swartz Bay, and Tsawwassen) offer long-term parking for those leaving a vehicle behind. If you’re coming by public transit, all terminals are accessible by bike-friendly buses, making it easy to connect from nearby towns and cities.
Find out more about how to get to Salt Spring, and check the BC Ferries schedule to plan your route.
Where to Stay
If you’re bikepacking, chances are you’ll be looking for a place to pitch a tent after a long day of riding. Here are your options for bike-friendly campgrounds on Salt Spring:
Ruckle Provincial Park
The campground is legendary for the views, as it’s set on an iconic location that slopes down to the rocky coastline of the Salish Sea. The ocean is on one side, the forest behind you, and all around is the unique ecosystem of the Southern Gulf Islands.
This is Lizi’s favourite place to stay when she’s biking around Salt Spring. “I always remember just the views and waking up looking at the ocean and being really special.”
Most sites are walk- or bike-in with simple rustic facilities. Advance reservations are recommended. And a quick note for those arriving via Long Harbour or Vesuvius: It’s a long ride to Ruckle (~1 hour or more), so plan accordingly.
Mowhinna Creek Campground
Just one kilometre outside of Ganges, you’ll find yourself setting up your camp in a quiet location enveloped by forest. This is the perfect place to be close to the action, with great staff to answer any questions you might have. Reservations are recommended in the summer months.
Garden Faire Gallery Nursery & Campground
One part cute fairy garden and plant nursery, one part campground, this is another camping option that’s located just outside of Ganges. It’s got all the basics and more, and you’ll be centrally located for day trips.
For all those looking for a plushier accommodation, with a roof over your head and a few more luxuries, the island is rich in cozy B&Bs, bougie vacation rentals, cute hotels, and other quaint options. Check them out here.
Where to Get Supplies
When you need to resupply, all roads lead to Ganges, the island’s main village. Located roughly in the center of the island, it’s where you’ll find the most amenities concentrated, including groceries, specialty foods, pharmacies, alcohol, and more.
If you’re arriving via the Fulford ferry terminal, an honourable mention goes to the Salt Spring Mercantile Ltd. They’re your first stop right off the ferry, and while small, they are mighty! Stocked with everything you’d need, from basic groceries and tasty snacks to beer, wine, and cider. They also get bonus points for offering specialty and locally made goodies.
The terrain: What to Expect
- Paved roads in good condition
- Many steep hills
- Quiet, windy roads
- Traffic congestion around ferries
It’s easy to assume that island cycling means leisurely pedalling, coasting along quiet rural roads. But then you’ll hit your first Salt Spring hill.
While the roads here are paved and generally in good condition, they’re often narrow, winding, and completely shoulderless. Did we mention the blind corners? Add in a few steep inclines, a less-than-patient driver, and suddenly your “relaxing ride” feels more like a personal fitness challenge.
Lizi advises, “Be prepared for the hills.” She said, “I may have sandbagged my friends … said it was quite flat, and that was not the feedback that I got from the group.”
While much of the island’s roads aren’t heavily trafficked and allow for a more leisurely pace, you do want to be prepared for the uphill sections with traffic, especially on routes like the one leaving Ganges.
With those caveats out of the way, Lizi confirms that “you don’t need all the super fancy gear or bike … It’s all on paved roads.” Just bring a well-maintained bike (with gears!) and a good sense of adventure.
In return for your sweat equity, cycling Salt Spring will reward you with unforgettable memories and breathtaking landscapes. In Lizi’s experience, “You bike past so many little farm shops or artisan stands that you would just completely miss it if you were going in a car.”
Plan your route, give yourself extra time, and don’t be afraid to “Slow the Folk Down,” as the local saying goes. Because on Salt Spring, the ride is half the reward.
Salt Spring Cycling Safety Trips
Speaking of the roads, for the uninitiated planning to cycle in the Southern Gulf Islands, it’s worth going over a few additional safety recommendations that apply here:
- Have working front and rear lights.
- Wear bright hi-vis gear.
- Use caution around corners.
- Pull over when safe to allow traffic to pass.
- Make eye contact with drivers to be sure you’re aware of each other.
- Take extra care in wet, slippery conditions.
Rosie, a Salt Spring resident, has been relying on her bike for year-round transportation on the island for seven years, so who better to ask about safety tips for getting around by bike?
Let’s start with gear. She emphasized the need for having charged-up working lights at all times, both front and back. She says, “Many parts of the island get very dark.” Which means there are only a handful of street lights here, mostly concentrated around Ganges. If you end up biking at dusk or later, you will just become a roadside hazard to vehicle traffic.
Rosie also recommends grabbing a rear-view mirror, because “it really helps with being aware of what’s happening with cars around you at all times.”
Which leads us to her next point: Don’t expect to ride safely on shoulders. Most roads simply don’t have any. When they do, they can be narrow, potholed, or covered in loose gravel.
In a final recommendation on road safety, Rosie advises taking up road space when needed to avoid these hazards. Then, as space allows, you can pull over to allow traffic to pass.
Recommended Cycling Routes
As soon as you start pedalling after the ferry ride, your adventure begins. No matter your first route, whether it’s from ferry to campground or ferry to lunch, you won’t be disappointed with the landscape or the ride.
But considering you’ll likely be here for a few days, you may want to explore further afield than just Ganges or the road to Ruckle Park. Here are a few additional cycling routes on Salt Spring to explore more of the island, from beaches to cider to goat cheese and back again.
Northern Loop
Total Kilometres: ~ 27 KM
Route:
Ganges → Vesuvius → Sunset Drive → North Beach Road → Walkers Hook Rd → Robinson Road →Ganges
“I would say my favourite bike ride was always my commute from Walkers Hook to Ganges. There is not much traffic, you can stop to say hi to the deer, and the ‘big dip’ on Robinson Rd feels amazing whizzing down on a hot summer day!”
~ Rosie
The Northern Loop takes you from the bumping Ganges core to the warm(er) waters of Vesuvius beach to the picturesque farmland along Sunset Drive and yet another shoreline pit stop: Sunset Beach.
From here, you’ll head to the northern edge of Salt Spring for one of the island’s quietest roadways and longest accessible shorelines along North Beach and Walkers Hook Road.
This is the road less travelled, with plenty of opportunities for rest stops to sit beside the ocean, and tasty seasonal farmstands (special shout-out to North End Farm). The route then loops back south towards Ganges for one of the island’s steepest (and most fun!) hills, known as “The Big Dip.”
Before you make it all the way back into Ganges, make an extended stop at Merchant Mews, a foodie haven filled with the island’s best: Frances Bread, South End Sausage, The WoodShed, and Mavericks Coffee and Ice Cream.
The Southern Loop
Total Kilometres: ~ 19 KM
Route:
Ganges → Beddis Beach Rd → Stewart Rd →Salt Spring Island Cheese→ FulFord Harbour → Fulford Ganges Rd → Ganges
Head south from Ganges and you’ll pedal towards some of the island’s big hitters, with plenty of opportunities for a few worthy detours. First, you’ll pedal your way up the big hill leading south from the village. Lizi recommends a refresher at Ciderworks, where her crew had “an emergency stop to sort of revive ourselves and pick up some sign up for the campsite later.”
Turn down Beddis Road to get off the main thoroughfare, then meander along through the rural Salt Spring landscape that feels a lot as it did decades ago, with farmers’ fields, Douglas firs, and kooky cottages peaking through the trees.
Take a quick detour to Beddis Beach (one of the island’s most spectacular) and then kick off towards Salt Spring Cheese to lose yourself in a cheese-lover’s fantasy. By the time you make your way to Fulford, it’s time for lunch, and nothing beats the ocean views and rock-solid menu at Rock Salt.
Take your time heading back along Fulford-Ganges Rd. There’s plenty of time to explore local wines, beers, and quick side quests for art and treats at farmstands just off the main road.
Cycling Salt Spring Island Map
Service isn’t always reliable in some areas, so if you don’t want to rely on Google Maps for cycling on Salt Spring, there is an excellent Salt Spring Island Bike Map created by Island Pathways. Grab the Salt Spring Island on Wheels Map at the Visitor Centre in Ganges.
For anyone looking for a libation-driven cycling trip around Salt Spring and a few other Gulf Islands, you can also follow the route taken by Joe Wiebe for The BC Ale Trail. Their guide, with an interactive map, includes essential pit stops for local beer, cider, and mead.
Rentals, Gear, and Repairs
Outspokin’ Bike Shop (102 Seaview Ave, behind OMG Boutique and Treasures of the Heart) is open year-round (with reduced seasonal hours in the winter months). Offering a huge fleet of e-bike rentals, sales, gear, and repairs, this is your go-to for all your cycling needs.
They also offer e-bike tours in the summer months. Over 4–5 hours, explore farm stands, cozy cafes, and gourmet food shops.
Contact:
250-931-2453 or outspokinbikeshop@gmail.com
