Jill Thomas is a rambler, traveler, and storyteller with a big laugh who lives part-time in Pensacola, USA and the rest of the time in Salt Spring Island, Canada.
Salt Spring Island is one of the Gulf Islands located on Canada's southern-west coast in the Strait of Georgia. It is accessible via float plane from Vancouver and ferries serving Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. It is the largest, most populous, and most frequently visited of the Southern Gulf Islands.
I like this particular ramble because it is quintessentially Gulf Islands in its natural beauty and is not overly steep and hilly (which is rare on Salt Spring). It has lots of lovely spots to rest, have a forest meditation, or do some trail yoga. It's also a loop and I love a good loop.
I start by parking near the bottom of Cranberry Road. You'll find Cranberry Road shortly after you drive out of Ganges, at the top of Ganges Hill, as you travel towards Fulford. There are a couple of spots to pull out soon after you turn onto Cranberry Road.
Start by walking up Cranberry Road until you reach Old Divide Road, and then turn left. Walk to the end of Old Divide Road, where the road turns to gravel and a dirt pathway. From Old Divide Road, you can enjoy spectacular glimpses of Ganges Harbour, the Three Sister Islands, and Chocolate Beach.
The Old Divide trail ends at Blackburn Road. When you reach Blackburn Road, turn right and walk until you see the Salt Spring Island Conservancy Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve on your left (265 Blackburn Road). There is also a small parking lot here, which you can access via Blackburn Road if you wish this walk to be shorter. You'll find the trailhead on the west side of the Conservancy offices.
Enjoy a leisurely ramble through pretty meadows in the reserve. The daisies blowing in the tall grass in the spring are next-level pretty.
This nature reserve surrounds about two-thirds of Blackburn Lake, which is at the center of Salt Spring Island. There are mowed walking trails and several benches for rest and contemplation. The nature reserve is a haven for waterfowl, herons, ground-nesting birds, small mammals, and frogs. These all need a safe habitat for feeding, migration, and breeding, so no dogs are allowed.
Blackburn Lake is one of the eight freshwater lakes on the island. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the Cusheon Lake watershed since over 70 percent of Cusheon Lake's water flows through it. If you're a bird enthusiast, remember to bring your binoculars, as the reserve houses around 100 bird species. Additionally, Blackburn Lake is home to juvenile Coho salmon and Cutthroat trout, making it a critical habitat for these species.
If you want to swim in the lake, there is a public access point off Fulford-Ganges Road (north of Horel Road). Note that there is no lake access from the nature reserve. Also, the dock is usually crowded with nude sunbathers on warm days.
The Conservancy bought this 32.6-acre parcel of land, previously used as a golf course, in 2013. Since then, the organization has been working on restoring and expanding the protected area. The land purchase was made possible by the contributions of over 400 donors.
To find the Salt Spring Yoga Center, look for a sign near the southern end of the reserve. This sign will guide you to the entrance to the back side of the property. Once there, you can explore the wooded trail that leads to the Pond Dome. The Yoga Center also boasts a beautiful garden perfect for meditation, rest, and stretching. When ready to leave, simply exit through the main front road entrance that leads back to Blackburn Road.
Then if you want to have a long ramble turn left on Blackburn Road, walk through the tunnel of trees, and then up the steep winding road until you pop back out on Cranberry Road. Note there are blind corners on this hilly part of Blackburn Road, so be aware of traffic. Then turn right and walk back down to your car.
Please let us know what you discover in the comments. Happy rambling!
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Hi Kesh,
Sorry it took me so long to answer. There is a trail at the end of Old Divide. It’s always been a dirt road but recently I think parks has made it an actual trail.
Maybe the folks that live there are trying to obscure it – that happens sometimes. But if you go to the end and just keep walking you will find it. Just ramble on by the stuff that looks like private driveways.
Happy Rambling. Jill
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