With everything from craggy, glacier-covered mountains to meandering valleys, gigantic lakes to sheltered coastal nooks and crannies, British Columbia is spectacularly beautiful. And one of the most exceptional parts of this beautiful land is the Gulf Islands area.

Salt Spring Island gives you the best of all worlds - spectacular natural beauty, but with all the basic amenities right there, a diverse and stimulating local culture with large areas of 'get-away' solitude.

You can hike through the forests, kayak past gorgeous sculptured sandstone shores, watch eagles and hummingbirds, or simply sit and enjoy a spectacular view.

Deservedly renowned- the rock, water, forests and wildlife provide an environment to remember.

 

A moderate and beautiful climate
Salt Spring is sheltered from the extremes of Pacific weather by the 300 mile long bulk of Vancouver Island. Although the region is lush, we receive considerably less rain than nearby Vancouver. The highest year-round temperatures in Canada actually occur here. The seasons are distinct and are equal in length - no five month winters or summers here. Because of the small mountains dotting the island, climate varies over short distances.

The special microclimate in this area is referred to as "cool Mediterranean". If you live where the summers give you either searing heat or sauna-like humidity, you'll love Salt Spring. It's warm enough to sun-bathe, but not so hot or humid that you can't enjoy it!

 

There are about two dozen humming birds around that feeder!

A wealth of wildlife
Wild mink, humming birds, bald-eagles, deer, sea lions, seals, river otters, porpoises, owls, hawks, woodpeckers, swans, starfish, sea cucumbers. No large predators and no poisonous insects. One visitor to Salt Spring spotted 86 species of birds in three mornings, just sitting on the deck at Lavender Hill B&B ! Over 120 species of birds have been spotted.

 

A mix of everything
17 miles (27 km.) long and 9 miles (14 km.) wide, with 83 miles (133 km.) of shoreline.

Several small mountains: Hope Hill 648m (2,126 ft.), Mount Tuam, Mount Sulivan 630m (2,067 ft.), Baynes Peak in Mount Maxwell Park 605m (1,985 ft.) Mount Erskine 440m (1,444 ft.).

Population 10.000. Located between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Part of a chain of islands extending from north-west Washington north along the coast of British Columbia.

Secluded forests, lakes, beaches, rocky shores, pastoral farmland. Sheltered waters that are popular with yatchers, kayakers and divers. Freshwater and ocean swimming.

 

YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING ON SALT SPRING ISLAND!