Ruckle Provincial Park — Attraction in Salt Spring Island Electoral Area

We did a family bikepacking trip here in April with really nice results! Although we did encounter some rain (which is typical for this area in the Spring), we had a nice 20hr period of sun and even got a little sweaty on the ride into Ganges for the weekend market. The forecast was not predictable, so you may need to pack all-season clothing if you plan on riding here.

We reserved a groupsite that was plenty large enough for our crew of 4 kids between 2-4 years old and 5 adults. There is a fairly convenient (3-500m from our site) charging station for ebikes at the sign before the park entrance. It has limited space, so you may want to bring a power bar if you are charging more than 2 batteries. We locked ours together and sent one rider to pick them up after a few hours of topping up to 80%. I was able to make it all the way back to Victoria (via Lochside) from Ruckle without charging on a 750wh battery. The hills are manageable but the drivers can be hit or miss on SSI, some drivers know how to pass and others get a bit too close with oncoming cars instead of waiting for an appropriate time to go around.

One nice thing about off season camping is the ability to have fires (which we took full advantage of) for both cooking and warmth/entertainment. Water for drinking/cooking is fairly conveniently located, the outhouses are a bit of a walk for kids. Nice trails surround the sites. One of the easier islands to get to, with frequent sailings. Recommended for beginner bikepackers, especially those carrying kids...

CAMP HERE. It is absolutely magical. Arrive early and sleep next to the ocean. Check out is between 10am-11am, my friend and I walked around and waited for someone to leave a good spot by the water. Staff are extremely friendly. The vast majority of camping sites are first come first serve and well worth it. They offer community fire pits in between the sites and they have a picnic table at every camp site. There is cold water taps on site. The out houses are very well kept and clean. We had no problems with raccoons, mosquitoes or any feral animals. This is the most amazing camp site I have ever stayed at. Walk in camp sites cost $20/night. There are 78 walk in sites available upon first come first serve as well as 10 reservable sites. We payed for the sites in cash although I believe they do take credit in a pinch. NOTE If you are arriving late at night and are worried about getting a camp site they do offer spots in their overflow camp area. They do not often turn people down, especially if you are biking in. We arrived late on our bikes, all the signs said the camp site was full enroute to the site however upon our arrival there was 3 spots left, they often put up the “FULL SITE” signs before the camp ground actually becomes full. One day we spoke to the staff at the camp ground and they said their was 10 walk in spots available but they were leaving the “FULL” signs up because the sites were guaranteed to be filled. This was in mid June...

Beautiful park with lots of wildlife– we saw a pod of three orcas and a momma deer with her fawn on the first night. The park operators were all extremely helpful and understanding, and the campers were friendly and respectful as well... exempt a select few individuals when the crowds started pouring in for the long weekend. The walk-in aspect of the park deters motorhomes, RVs, bus-sized trailers and their generators, which makes for a nicer camping experience. Wheelbarrows are provided at the parking lot to help campers lug their stuff to and from their campsites. There are a lot of hikes in the campground and a lack of heavily gravelled paths (which I like) and due to its close proximity to the town you can stay for a long time and regularly pick up supplies. I love how accessible this campground is for campers with small cars as it can be hard to find good quiet spots that can be accessed without an all-terrain vehicle. Remember to clean up after yourself and be respectful of the animals who's habitat we share when we camp in these...