This Tiny Island In BC Has 7 Freshwater Lakes & Is Surrounded By The Sparkling Ocean

This place is filled with surprises!

​A woman looking out to the ocean from Salt Spring Island. Right: Salt Spring Island.

A woman looking out to the ocean from Salt Spring Island. Right: Salt Spring Island.

Contributing Writer

There is a tiny island just off the coast of Vancouver that has seven freshwater lakes and is surrounded by the ocean.

Salt Spring Island in B.C. is a place you'll want to visit this summer and it's just a quick BC Ferries ride away from the mainland. It should take roughly two-and-a-half hours in total to get to this island from Vancouver, and there's so much to explore once you're there.

The seven lakes on the island include Blackburn Lake, Cusheon Lake, St. Mary Lake, Stowell Lake, Weston Lake, Roberts Lake, and Maxwell Lake.

The largest lake on the island is St. Mary and it is actually also "the major source of drinking water for the North end of Salt Spring Island," according to the Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society.

Whether you are looking to take a dip in the salty ocean or a refreshing lake, this island has all the options you could ever ask for.

Plus, if you were thinking about taking up some kayaking or other water sports, there are plenty of options.

From the island, you can kayak in the surrounding ocean and maybe even see some whales, or opt for one of the calming freshwater lakes.

Salt Spring Island also has tons of different restaurants, boutiques, and a huge art scene if you're looking to take a break from the outdoors.

This tiny island is worth making a weekend trip out of, especially in the summertime.

The island is also home to a handful beautiful provincial parks including Ruckle Provincial Park, Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park, Mount Erskine Provincial Park and Mount Maxwell Provincial Park.

You will often see scuba divers roaming around the shoreline of Ruckle Provincial Park because it has a ton of amazing sea life to discover, according to the BC Parks website.

If there's one thing for sure, it's that you will not get bored while exploring this island because there are just so many different things to do while you're visiting.

  • Ashley Harris (she/her) is a writer from Vancouver, Canada, who is passionate about discovering the best restaurants and activities in the city. A huge foodie, she has written for multiple print and digital magazines and is also a local foodie influencer.

A burst of snow will bring up to 20 cm to Ontario this week before the cold snap ends

Temperatures will warm up but still be cold enough for "lingering" snow.

CSIS is hiring for these jobs and you can get paid up to $120,000 a year to be nosy

You'll help investigate threats to national security. 🔍

Costco is hiring for jobs that pay $20 to $25 an hour and some don't require any experience

Positions are available at a new unique warehouse that's opening in Canada soon.

6 cheap and safe Caribbean destinations to visit in 2026 if you're skipping Cuba

Turquoise waters, white sands, and no travel warnings. 😌🏝️

U of T is the only Canadian school in the top 10 of this new best universities ranking

It beat every Canadian university in all of these subject areas! 📚

Lotto 6/49 winners split a $5M jackpot with another ticket and didn't believe it was real

They checked the ticket online and at a store to make sure they really won the jackpot. 💸

Canada's 'most romantic town' is near Toronto and it's filled with European charm

It's the perfect place to visit with your favourite person.