SALT SPRING ISLAND
Outdoor Adventures
Kayaking
Currently the most popular activity and there are four organizations offering equipment and instructions.
Salt Spring Island and the surrounding islands offer kayakers a paradise to explore! Waters here are crystal clear and the ocean floor harbours a myriad of colourful sea life. The rugged shoreline is
spectacular. The small islets nearby provide viewing of stellar sea lions, seals, and river otters. Out on the water, you may even spot dolphins and Orcas. Day trips or half day trips to provincial parks or to marine viewing areas are well worth the effort. The most requested kayak trips include the sunset paddle and those that include a salmon barbeque.
Andale Kayaking
Your north end kayaking connection. Located two kilometers north of the Fernwood Dock on North Beach Road. Rentals, lessons, tours, kids boats. Wallace Island Marine Park is one mile away. Nearby St. Mary Lake is ideal for beginner and kids lessons. A variety of drop off and pick up sites available. 537-0700.
Island Escapades
Eleven years of eclectic coastal adventures. Kayak to marine parks rich in bird and wildlife. Sunset, full moon, and day tours including picnic and gourmet dinner paddles. Sailing excursions, hiking, climbing, wilderness youth camps, and outdoor education programs. 537-2537
Saltspring Kayaking and Cycling
Visit them on the wharf at Fulford Harbour. They offer a full program of daily lessons, tours and rentals of kayaks and bikes. Sunset harbour tours under the full moon too! 653-4222
Sea Otter Kayaking
Sea Otter Kayaking offers guided kayak tours ranging from two to six hours. They offer top quality kayaks for rental to experienced kayakers. They provide unique, fully catered multi-day adventure kayaking tours for three to seven days. They are also offering three and five day sailing/kayaking packages, as well as day and half-day sailing charters. 537-5678
Salt Spring Island Golf and Country Club
Their nine-hole, 3000+ yard, par 36 course with small greens and undulating fairways provides a challenge for all. Their club offers driving range, club and power-cart rentals, pre shop, and the 19th Hole Restaurant and Bar. The club operates on a first-come first-serve basis, so please phone prior to your game. 537-2121
Boating
The magnificent scenery here makes the Gulf Islands a major destination for boaters all over the Pacific Northwest. Salt Spring Island has several locations for docking and moorage. You’ll need to make advance arrangements in the summer with one of the local marinas because of the areas popularity. Details on marinas are available on VHF Channel 68. If you are an experienced boater, rentals are available on Salt Spring on a daily or weekly basis (Saltspring Marine Rentals).
Saltspring Island Marina offers permanent and guest moorage, air fills, showers, and laundry. Boat and kayak rentals, fishing charters, marina sales and service. Chandlery and tackle. Car and scooter rentals. Contact info: Harbours End (Moby’s Pub), 1-800-334-6629
Fishing
Fishing in, around and on Salt Spring is excellent. Salt Spring Island offers
opportunities for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. Three to five pound
bass and even larger trout are not uncommon in our lakes, and salmon fishing is available offshore all year round. Several charter outfitters are available .
Saltspring Marine Rentals 250-537-5464
South Saltspring Salmon Charters 250-653-4902
Ropn and Reeln Charters 250-537-9509
Beaches
There are eight lakes, although only five have public beaches, plus 22 ocean beaches with four designated for swimming.
Tennis Courts
Three locations on the island with a total of five public courts. The main tennis courts are at Portlock park and are covered in the winter. Please call to reserve 250-537-9917
Cycling
Popular but most roads are narrow and none have shoulders. Expect beautiful scenery. There is a 100 km circuit route that pretty much goes around the island, or many shorter alternatives. Salt Spring is connected to other nearby islands by an excellent ferry system as well as water taxis, so you can use the bikes to explore them as well. Rentals are available in Ganges at Saltspring Kayaking and Cycling 250-653-4222. The bike shop on McPhillips in Ganges 250-537-1544.
Hiking
A major activity with many mountain, beach and park trails. Check out the map in our information center for detail trails and locations or you can purchase one at the Visitor Information Centre phone 537-5252.
Scooter Rentals
SeaBreeze Inn and Saltspring Marine Rentals (Moby’s 537-5464).
Disk or Frisbee Golf
This has become a major activity in Mouat Park in Ganges with tournaments every Sunday. Call SSI Disc Golf Association at 250-538-1965.
Diving
While most of us think of diving only in the warm waters of the Gulf or Caribbean, diving in the Gulf Islands is exceptional. Many consider the area to offer some of the best diving in the world. The crystal clear waters, the abundance of life forms, shipwrecks, and cool-water coral reefs, provide special reasons to don a dry suit and try an area you didn’t originally consider. There are several dive shops on Salt Spring Island (www.saltspring.com/rentals).
Bird Watching
Salt Spring Island is home to over a hundred species of birds. Several sites on the island are favorite spots for bird watchers. We can even make arrangements for a local ornithologist to spend some time with you to make sure your time spent birding is rewarding.
Tours
Western Splendour Tours and Charters specializes in giving you a unique experience of Salt Spring Island by sharing our local knowledge of the island’s history, culture, politics, and hidden gems. Our guides are knowledgeable and professional, with a down-to-earth friendliness that Salt-Springers are known for. You can expect a very full experience! Contact Jason Griffin 250-538-7307 www.toursaltspring.com