Salt Spring Island

Markus standing by the sand and pebble beach off the Chris Hatfield Trail by Yeo Point in the Ruckle Provincial Park

Last weekend, we took our first official trip with Markus to Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. We wanted to share some of the things we got to experience while we were on the island, places we stayed and the trip getting there, which requires a ferry. Here are some of our highlights in no particular order.

Mariner’s Loft

Type: Airbnb/Vacation Rental
Pet Fee: $25/night per pet

We stayed at a beautiful space called the Mariner's Loft. The location was amazing because it's walking distance from downtown Salt Spring Island and the building itself was incredible. The space had great rooms with a full kitchen and living room area that I would love to have at home. We mentioned to the owners that we had a dog with us and they prepared a room for us with a doggie bed and a bowl for food and water. This was unexpected, but a very nice touch!

Usually, one of the main concerns for the places we stay is the noise level. If there are voices or footsteps in the middle of the night, Markus' guard dog instincts kick in and he'll bark at the noise. We didn't have this issue whatsoever and were able to sleep quietly throughout the night, but this could also be because we were on the top floor. The area around Mariner's Loft is also good for a quick walk with the dog. There's a school nearby, so there's plenty of grassy areas and a small park to bring the dog.

In general, we recommend the Mariner's Loft to people who are staying in Salt Spring Island. They made us feel very much at home and we would definitely check them out again when we go back.

Our Recommendation For Reactive Dogs

It’s easy to recommend this space for reactive dogs because you essentially have your own house or space to yourself. That said, we did have the privilege of staying at the top level of the building. I would imagine that it would’ve been a little noisier if we had been on the lower levels. There were a few rooms that were next to the main pathway/staircase that led people onto the main street. This staircase gets fairly busy, so if your dog’s not good with sounds immediately outside the door, you might want to request to not be in these exact rooms.

Riding on the BC Ferries

Markus waiting on the BC Ferries on the way to Salt Spring Island

The ferry ride from Vancouver to Salt Spring Island was different from the ferry rides that we're used to taking here in BC. Certain ferries to Salt Spring Island have multiple stops on the other Gulf Islands, so it's worth checking which ferry you're taking. Because the one we took was direct and bypassed the other islands, it was smaller than what we were used to.

Pro Tip: On the bigger ferries that have two decks, we often make reservations because we want to be on the upper deck. This is because passengers (and dogs) aren't allowed to stay in their cars on the lower deck. For a dog like Markus who isn't great with other dogs in confined spaces, the pet area on the ferry doesn't work for him. If we don't have the option of staying in the car, it means we end up having to sit somewhere on the upper deck, often the floor.

This ferry going to Salt Spring Island only had one level, which meant that we were allowed to stay in the car if we wanted to. We're also allowed to wander through the parking area where the cars are, but keep in mind that there are other dog owners possibly wandering around as well, in case your dog is reactive. Most, if not all, the dogs will be leashed though.

The ride over was great for us and Markus. It was the first time that we've brought Markus on a boat and we think he enjoyed the experience. It just so happened we were the last car to get on the ferry, so we got to see the water behind us. One thing to keep in mind is that during busy seasons (like summer weekends or long weekends), the ferries get booked up really quickly. The worst thing that could happen is making plans to Salt Spring Island, but getting the trip delayed because the ferry is full. Make reservations!

Ruckle Provincial Park

Type: Trail
Length: 1 km (from Chris Hatfield Trail - there is a rock with a sign for the trail)
Traffic: Low
Type: Out & Back/Multiple Trails

Markus smiling with the wind in his face at Yeo Point in Chris Hatfield Trail

One of the places we loved to explore with Markus was the Ruckle Provincial Park, which is also a camp ground. We took the Chris Hatfield Trail that leads to some great views at the end. The trail itself was fairly quiet and it was easy to do and we went towards Yeo Point and the sand and pebble beach near it where we got some amazing shots with Markus. It is said that there's a trail of stone and fairy sculptures created by people in the community, but we never saw these ourselves.

This trail also connects with a few other trails in the greater Ruckle Provincial Park, but these trails and hikes are a lot longer. If you're taking a dog out, we recommend sticking to the Chris Hatfield Trail specifically.

My Recommendation for Reactive Dogs

We had a good time doing the trail here with Markus and it’s easy for us to recommend. We didn't come across many other dogs throughout the trail and it's also leash-required in many areas sicne there are active farms. That said, not every owner will leash their dog just for that reason. The park and the paths are wide enough to let other dogs pass.

Mount Maxwell Provincial Park

The biggest thing that I remember the most from the Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, quite honestly, was the drive. It was the bumpiest drive I've ever taken in my life and that's not an exaggeration. If you plan on making this trip, you really need to drive carefully. We had an SUV so it was okay, but a regular car might struggle to get up. I do recall seeing some smaller cars on the way up, but I'd research it a little more before taking this road with a small car.

At the top, there's a nice view of other islands in BC with water surrounding it. This is a view that we're familiar to seeing in British Columbia and it really never gets old. For dogs, the cliff area is fenced off, but we recommend leashing your dog. The viewpoint area isn't too big, so there's not much room for the dog to explore, but it sure makes for a great photo with the pup!

Other Things to Do on Salt Spring Island

The island itself isn't too big, so you can definitely explore it in a two or three days (depending on your pace and if you're exploring the outdoors as well). In general, the town is fairly dog-friendly in the sense that we were able to tie Markus up at patios while we had lunch or dinner. The outdoors are a great place to explore and enjoy the beauty of British Columbia.

Downtown Salt Spring Island

Markus resting outside the Oystercatcher Seafood Bar & Grill patio while we enjoyed lunch

The downtown of Salt Spring Island consists of a lot of quaint shops. The area itself is not very large, so you can walk through it fairly quickly even with a dog. We stopped for lunch at the Oystercatcher Seafood Bar & Grill where we sat outside on patios and had Markus tied up on the outside (technically outside of the restaurant). I also enjoy my coffee, so we stopped at TJ Beans and Salt Spring Coffee (though this one was closed when we were there).

On Saturdays, they have their Salt Spring Saturday Market at the end of Lower Ganges Rd. It's a neat little market to check out local arts and crafts and to enjoy the food and snacks, but note that dogs aren't allowed into the market. They do have a puppy/dog watching service which is a nice touch, but since Markus is reactive and wouldn't have gotten along with the dogs inside, we ended up taking turns going into the market while the other one of us walked with Markus along the perimeter.

Salt Spring Wild Cider House

The Salt Spring Wild Cider House is farther up from the downtown. It is walkable (we walked over from Mariner's Loft), but it is a longer walk and if it's hot out, it might not be the best walk with your dog and it's better to just drive it. Let's just say that after that long and hot walk, of all the places to end up, I'm glad it was a cider house.

The ciders here were great. We had a flight with some of their snacks and it was a lot of fun. Since many of the tables are outside, dogs are allowed in the area and they had a bowls of water for dogs. There were a few dogs there, but the dogs mostly kept to their owners who were sitting at their own tables.

As a whole, we enjoyed our trip to Salt Spring Island. It's a quiet getaway that's not too far if you're in the Vancouver area and it's a good way to spend the weekend (or the long weekend, in our case). My wife and I are city people who enjoy the outdoors, so Salt Spring Island was good for relaxing and a great combination of the island life and the great outdoors for Markus!

Disclaimer

Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.

Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.