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Salt Spring Island is the largest of the Southern Gulf Islands.
BC Ferries has
scheduled service from Tsawwassen on the mainland to Long Harbour on
Salt Spring Island. There are also two ferry routes from Vancouver Island.
There is also scheduled air service by float plane with service provided
Harbour Air and
Seair Seaplanes.
There is taxi service
on the island, and as of January 2008, there has been
regularly scheduled bus service.
In summer, many people bring bikes over on the ferry. Plan ahead, as much
of Salt Spring is rolling hills. From Long Harbour to Ganges would be about
5.5 km and an easy ride. From Vesuvius, it is about 6 km and also an easy
ride, but with it being a narrower road for most of the way. From Fulford
Harbour, one could take the Fulford-Ganges Road. Those on bikes will notice
when they get to Lee's Hill - the only really steep hill along the way.
The total distance is about 13 km. There is a slightly shorter route over
Steward Road and then either past Cusheon Lake or along Beddis Road.
Traveling on
BC Ferries
from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour, the trip can be anywhere between
an hour and a half for a direct sailing and up to three hours if
the ferry stops at Galiano, Mayne and Pender Islands as it does on
most sailings. From Long Harbour, it is about a ten minute drive to Ganges.
For access from Duncan or anywhere north of the Malahat Highway
head to Crofton for the 20 minute sailing to Vesuvius which runs
usually about every hour. From Nanaimo, allow 45 minutes to an hour
for a leisurely drive down to Crofton, crossing the 49th parallel on
the way at Ladysmith. The 49th parallel forms the border between most
of Canada and the USA.
From Victoria, the capital of BC, departure is from Swartz Bay.
This is a major ferry terminal handling traffic from Tsawwassen on
the mainland as well as to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island
and the other Southern Gulf Islands. Visitors coming from the
mainland can transfer at Swartz to the Fulford ferry.
Sailings from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour are about every
hour and a half, with a 35 minute ride. Check the
B.C. Ferries
web site for information and updated schedules.
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