Salt Spring Isl - Mayne IsL.- Gabriola Isl - Pender Isl. - Galiano Isl.- Saturna Isl
Thetis Island - Gabriola Island - Other Islands

All about the Gulf Islands - These Islands are known as the Southern Gulf Islands and they are a group of small islands just off the coast of Southern Vancouver Island near Victoria British Columbia. The gulf islands are jewels that should not be missed. Plan a visit to at least one of these islands. Salt Spring Island is the most populated and has the most amenities and accommodations. Saturna is the least populated and has the least accommodations. If you want to be busy and find lots to see and do go to Salt Spring. If you want to get away from it all go to Saturna. The other Gulf Islands are somewhere in between and each is well worth a visit. There is so much to do outdoors and when you travel to them on BC Ferries you never know what you will see along the way. Sea lions, Orca Whales, bald eagles and more are common sites. The beauty of these islands will blow you away.

Galiano Island

Galiano is the most northerly of all of the Gulf Islands. It is approximately 57 square kilometers in size and has a population of approximately 1000. It was named after Galiano was the commander of the Spanish vessel, Sutil's, a schooner exploring the Strait of Georgia in 1792.

Long before Galiano arrived, however, the Coast Salish had summer camps here, as evidenced by the extensive shell middens at Montague Harbour - over 3000 years old!

Camping is available at Montague Harbour a very popular Marine Park. Dionisio Park, a rugged natural park at the north end is only accessible by boat. Check out the hiking trails of Bodega Ridge and Mount Galiano. Visit Bluff Park for great views and Bellhouse Park for spectacular shorelines and views of Active Pass.

Mayne Island

Mayne Island, the smallest of the Gulf Islands is approximately 21 square kilometers in size. Mayne Island has a population of approximately 900. Mayne was named in honour of Lieut. Richard Charles Mayne aboard the surveying vessel H.M.S. Plumper, in 1857. First Nations people settled at Helen's Point in Active Pass thousands of years ago, and some of their descendants are still living here. Around three hundred years ago, Captain George Vancouver's crew arrived, leaving behind a coin and knife at Georgina Point to be found by British settlers two hundred years later.

Springwater Lodge, built in the 1890's, still entertains travelers. The very small nearby jailhouse is now a museum. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, built in 1898, has a large, heavy sandstone baptismal font, made even more impressive by the fact that it was brought over from the Saturna quarry by rowboat. Miners Bay was named in honor of miner pioneers heading from Victoria to the Caribou during the gold rush.

Saturna

Saturna is approximately 31 square kilometers in size and has approximately 300 residents. In 1791 a Spanish schooner, the Saturina gave its name to this Island.
The first inhabitants were First Nations, followed by British Settlers in 1869. The first settlers developed orchards and raised sheep.

After a ship went aground at Boiling Reef in 1886, land for the East Point lighthouse was purchased from well known Gulf Island pioneer, Warburton Pike. Mount Warburton Pike is the highest peak in the Gulf Islands with fantastic views of the San Juan Island, the Gulf Islands and Victoria. The first school was built in 1919.

Pender Island

The Pender Islands are approximately 24 square kilometers and have a population of approximately 2000 people. Pender Islands was named after Daniel Pender, master of the Plumper, in 1857. The Penders, were actually one island joined by an isthmus, which was dredged in 1902 to make a canal large enough for the steamship, the Iroquois, to travel Hope Bay on North Pender to Sidney, a far safer and shorter route than around the South end of Pender. In 1955, the islands were joined again by a one lane bridge over one of the most picturesque parts of the Penders. There is a campground at Prior Centennail Park just 10 minutes from the Driftwood Centre.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island is approximately 180 square kilometers and is the largest of the Gulf Islands. It has a population of approximately 10,000 people.
Salt Spring Island's was named after the natural mineral springs found in the northern part of the island on various private properties. In 1859, the first settlers arrived on the island from all parts of the world. Many were Blacks from California, escaping the harsh laws. Land was virtually free on Salt Spring and by the end of that year over 117 settlers had taken up land on Salt Spring Island.
A well preserved petroglyph at Drummond Park attests to the fact that the Coast Salish were here thousands of years earlier, as they were on all of the other Gulf Islands.