Southern Gulf Islands by Bike and Ferry

Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia · Canada

Moderate5 daysNorth America~£650 est.

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Overview

Between Vancouver and Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf Islands scatter across the Salish Sea like a decommissioned mountain range, and BC Ferries functions as your sag wagon between them. The classic five-day hop links Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne and Galiano: short, punchy island roads (nothing here is flat), farm-gate honesty stands, and ferry decks where you stand with your bike watching for orcas in Active Pass. Salt Spring is the hub — ride from Fulford Harbour up to Ganges for the Saturday market, and grind the 25% ramps of Mount Maxwell if your gearing allows. On South Pender, the short hike up Mount Norman buys you the whole archipelago in one view. Galiano saves the best evening: Montague Harbour's shell beach at sunset, cider in hand. Start from Swartz Bay near Victoria via the Fulford crossing. The variable that catches people out is the ferry schedule — inter-island sailings can be three hours apart, so build each day around the timetable. Budget around £650 with B&Bs and all ferry fares; camping at Ruckle Park and Montague Harbour cuts that sharply. May to September is prime.