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The distance from the parking lot to the group site is approx. This website does not encourage anyone to undertake activities in the backwoods without considering fully issues of safety, access and readiness. Any general advice for some (obvious) rookies would also be welcomed! The ride (~25kms) takes one through the town of Ganges where you can stop in a coffee shop or buy stuff. The big orchard barn has open access, with the schedule posted at the site. About 94% of British Columbia is designated as Crown Land which is available to Canadians for public use. Question: What is the difference between adult and youth rates? It can get windy and nasty on occasion, so less exposed is better in winter. Note that paying for a Backcountry Permit does not guarantee a camping spot. or older). As one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the Gulf Islands, Ruckle Provincial Park offers camping options that make it an RV campers paradise. This means that we may receive a small percentage sales made through these links at no extra cost to you. Youre covered with our custom protection packages. We started a wait list at 7am (when I arrived for work at the campground gatehouse) and then all interested parties had to return at 11am (check-out time). Only a few backcountry camping areas within BCs provincial park system require reservations they are Garibaldi, Joffre, Assiniboine, Bowron Lakes and Mount Robson. This means that anyone sleeping in a vehicle (such as an RV or van) cannot use the site. Onthe mapbelow you can see there aremultiple ferries & routes to get to Ruckle (red star) at the SE corner of Saltspring. About 45% of all individual campsites are actually available on a first come first serve system (FCFS). The walk-in campsites are accessible over level ground from the parking lot. Booking ahead only applies to the main campground. The best time to arrive at the park is Sunday Thursday, as Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days. Youll find northern alligator lizard and western screech owl at the park, among other animals. Slim to none. The forest habitats in the park serve as home to various birds and mammals, especially endangered species. There are no guarantees with any information provided in this website. For larger events, one or more of the group sites may be reserved on line at www.bcparks.ca. Tell us when, where, and how long you want to camp for. If someone on the list wasn't there in person, I would move on to the next person on the list. Its easy to understand why. If not reserved together, each half of the double site becomes available to book a week before the selected arrival date. Despite this, I still believe that most hopeful campers will be able to find something helpful in the following article. Working on a first come, first serve system, Recreation Sites are my top recommendation for anyone who doesnt want to (or didnt manage to) make a campground reservation. Welcome to r/VictoriaBC! It is a much better idea to get a site allocated to you first and then shop around. I'm wondering if it makes sense to drive to the campsite in the morning (i.e. Well text you when a suitable spot opens up! Beaver Point, with a rich subtidal fauna, is popular for scuba shore dives. Of course, it is important to also note operating dates as some campgrounds close after the first or second week of September. Back packers and outdoor enthusiasts who arrive on the island normally hike or cycle the route from the ferry terminal to the park. All other backcountry campgrounds operate on a first come, first serve basis. Tips to grow your RV rental business. Half of the campsites are reservable while the other half are available on first-come first-served basis. Campsites are mostly walk in, ideal for cycle tenters (not an RV in sight!). Following these simple steps ensures that the crown land remains clean, beautiful and accessible for everyone (wildlife too!). At the campground, there are also 78 walk-in/backcountry campsites which are equipped with pit toilets, cold water taps and group fire rings. Magdalen Islands Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do, See & Eat, 19+ Fun Things to Do in Lacombe: Your Guide to Central Albertas Most Happening Little City, Sayward Forest Canoe Circuit: Complete Paddling Guide, Backpacking Gear List: Packing Guide for Multi-Day Hikes, 19km of Wine: Running the Half Corked Marathon in Oliver, BC, Trophy Meadows Trail, Wells Gray, BC: Complete Hiking Guide. This has been the most organized and informative post that i have read so far. Answer: As of March 21st, 2022, you may reserve walk-in sites #1,2,3,6,7,8,16,17,18 & 19, plus RV sites #1,2,3 & 4, two months in advance of your arrival date. The old homestead was built by Henry Ruckle prior to bringing his bride and her son Alfred to the farm in 1877. Cycling is restricted to the main roads in the park and bicycle helmets are mandatory. If we get there and it's filled up, would we still likely be able to find another spot on the island to camp out on? And i've been reading ALOT! FarOut Wilderness offer fully kitted out 4X4 trucks with roof-top tents, ideal for finding reservation free campsites in BC. The park has a day-use picnic area. The double sites at the campground I worked at were even sometimes available on holiday weekends due to lack of interest. For cyclists, Ruckle Provincial Park is a popular destination because the park is a good place to begin exploring the Salt Spring Islands. The use of canoes in the park is however not recommended, since these boats are not designed for ocean travel. *Double sites worked a little differently during the 2020 and 2021 camping seasons (the entire double site had to be booked by the same party) but BC Parks has indicated that things should be back to normal in 2022)*. The date we're planning appears to be booked for that night but they mention there are always a set number of walk in sites available. In recent years, logging companies have been restricting access to more areas. Just show up early (on a weekday, saturday or sunday and you'll probably be SOL) and walk around and see if you can find anyone who is packing up. This subreddit is for residents of Victoria, BC, Canada and the Capital Regional District. 1998-2021 Shangaan Webservices Inc. All Rights Reserved. Question: How do I reserve a campsite at Montague and can I reserve a site on the same day that I arrive or arrive with no reservation? Continue straight on the main park road past the campground turnoff to the day-use parking lot. Other contractors may do it differently. There isn't a lot of division or spacing between the sites. Hesitation may cost you the possibility of havingacamping site at the more popular campgrounds. There are reservable sites at Montague Harbour Provincial Park on Galiano Island by calling BC Parks/Discover Camping at 1-800-689-9025 or to reserve on-line the web address is www.bcparks.ca. We'll finish the hike around 5pm and are struggling to figure out the best strategy for getting a campsite. Coming from Swartz Bay terminal near Victoria youcan take the ferry right to Fulford Harbour, quite close to Ruckle. The competition for spots in some parks is very high, with reservations for summer weekends in campgrounds like Rathtrevor and Miracle Beach being snapped up within minutes. The RV sites are nestled amongst trees and are comparable with those provided in all BC provincial parks, but they dont provide the open-air ambience, fresh breezes, and fabulous views available to the tents pitched along the rocky shoreline. Within the park, theres a road that leads to the RV campground, group sites and walk-in sites, as well as other places of interest. Not all campsites in frontcountry BC Provincial Park campgrounds are reservable. While provincial park campgrounds are wonderful, there are other places to go camping in British Columbia. It is absolutely crucial to be considerate of other crown land users as well as local residents and wildlife. Ruckle Park features beautiful ocean views from the day-use area and along the trails, as well as scenic pastoral views of the neighbouring farm. Ferries can get busy in the summer months, so it's a good idea to book ahead. Parks reservation service, but all reservable sites have been reserved. The walk from the edge of the nearest parking lot is about 200m. Saltspring isreachable by BC ferriesfrom Vancouver (Tsawassen), Victoria (Swartz Bay) & mid-Vancouver Island (Crofton). Fees for full services are charged from March to October. The wharf housed a general store, post office, and the residence of Mr. and Mrs. William Patterson from 1915 until the 1950s. If you make a purchase via one of these links, I may receive a small percentage at no extra cost to you. The tent space, as you can hopefully see in the photo, is pretty large. Scuba divers frequent the waters off Ruckle Park, drifting among the castle-like caves or floating above the bountiful ocean floor, where they will find a profusion of Plumose anemones, sponges, nudibranches, octopi, seastars and giant barnacles. Jordan River Regional Campground on the Juan de Fuca coast on Vancouver Island is one example of a FCFS campground as is nearby Spring Salmon Place (KWL-UCHUN) Campground in Sooke Potholes Regional Park. You may reserve 2 months in advance and 2 days prior to your arrival. I hope that helps! We love camping, and want to help you reserve the perfect campsite! If youre thinking of getting into backpacking, read my Backpacking 101 Guide, gear up and then choose an easy overnight hike to get started. Trailer length limit at the RV campground is 32 ft (10 m). Before the steamer service began in 1889, Salt Spring Islanders had to row to Vancouver Island for supplies. Group reservations can be made by calling BC Parks/Discover Camping at 1-800-689-9025 or you may reserve on-line at www.bcparks.ca. Walk-in sites do not feature in every BC Parks provincial campground. Salt Spring Island celebrates Ceramic Arts in BC, Artist in Residence Program on Salt Spring Island. There are no day use parking fees. The heritage farm features a number of old farm buildings, including a barn, a forge, the old pig sty, and the original homestead residence. of age or younger of: at least 3 youths per adult and no more than 8 youths per adult. Weekday I don't think there'd be an issue. Once spring rollsalong you can usually meet other cyclists there every weekend. Even more, scuba divers also get to enjoy drifting among the castle-like coves in the park. Amenities and facilities at the park include group camps, picnic areas, water taps, wheelchair accessible areas, winter camps, firewood, viewpoint, telephone, amphitheater, and parking lots. I tried reserving on line with the B.C. As all Provincial Parks are open to the public, we are not permitted to reserve areas from the general public. At Ruckle, one can sit along the seaside and watch the marine world (animal & human) pass by. So if youve been unlucky not to secure a BC Parks camping reservation or simply just dont want the stress of even trying, this post is for you! Note that the water system is shut down during the winter season. Along one of the excellent trails at Ruckle. I assume we had this system primarily because our campground had a gatehouse with staff on duty from 7am to 11pm. Other opportunities at the park include hiking and biking, kayaking, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, windsurfing, Interpretive Programs and many more. The vast majority of private and municipal campgrounds utilise reservations but there are the occasional instances of campgrounds having a small amount of first come first serve sites. Ruckle Provincial Parks waters are regularly visited by scuba divers because there are opportunities to float above the ocean floor and see nudibranches, sponges, anemones, sea stars, octopuses and giant barnacles. As a self employed person without children, I recognise that I have more flexibility than a lot of people. Copyright K2parks.ca. Continuous use of this land for farming purposes from the 1890s until today makes the Ruckle Farm the oldest continually operating farm in British Columbia. Do you mind explaining the wait list system a bit more? There are 8 vehicle accessible sites. This site features affiliate links for products and services. Question: Can we use a PWD (Persons with Disabilities) for group camping or marine camping? Campers who have the flexibility to use walk-ins are more likely to be able to score a last minute campsite. What is the procedure to reserve a date, time and location within the park and is there a fee? Answer:A campfire ban does not restrict cooking with portable campfire apparatus using gas, propane, or briquettes (briquettes cannot be used in a fire pit or ring and can only be used for cooking purposes). Kayaking is a popular activity at Ruckle Provincial Park as the park offers RV campers the opportunity to enjoy ocean kayaking. Government of BC Advisoryon Travel and Covid-19, Current Updates and Notices for Ruckle Provincial Park. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Rum runners were known to frequent the area in and around the park in the nineteen twenties to hide their contraband as they tried to smuggle it across the US border into the San Juan Islands. Opportunities for windsurfing are also available at Ruckle Provincial Park. Please set up your camp at one of these tables and a park operator will collect from you. A shoreline trail runs from the heritage farm area right through to Yeo Point, along with other inland trail routes that range from easy walks to more difficult hikes. A youth group means a k-12 school, recreation centre or not-for-profit youth organization located within BC, undertaking a camping or day-use trip. This includes provincial park camping as well as other locations. There is a group parking lot just before the main campground parking lot on the right and a trail that leads into the campground area from the main parking lot. At Ruckle Provincial Park, there are several camping options including eight RV campsites and 78 walk-in campsites available by reservation and on first-come first-served basis. Well notify you (via SMS) when a suitable spot opens up at that campgroundso you can nab that sold-out campsite reservation! In the evening, the BC ferries are lit up like passing carnivals. Most of the campgrounds are walk-in, perfect for cycle tenters. The distance from the group parking lot to the group sites is approx. Beautiful camp ground! And here's another fav ride in the south Gulf Islands, this one to neighbouring Galiano & Mayne Islands. They are usually reasonably priced too, averaging at a fixed price of around $20-$30/night. While youre camping at Ruckle Provincial Park, you are provided extended periods of enjoyable exploration of shorelines, tiny coves and bays, rocky headlands, and other amazing features at the park. You can get there Sunday - Thursday at 1 and likely get a spot but definitely not on Friday or Saturday. But securing a provincial park camping reservation can be tough. Salt Spring National Art Prize Award Winners 2017! I'm hoping to camp at Mermaid Cove (Saltery Bay) but we want to do a long hike that same day. Ruckle Provincial Park is located on Salt Spring Island in the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, 6 miles (10 km) west of Fulford Harbour at the end of Beaver Point Road. Tidal pools are filled with a brightly-coloured world of crab, mussel, limpet, oyster, sculpin, and starfish, and strong tidal currents create the environment for rich kelp forests offshore. At that point, we would know how many of the campers in the first come, first serve sites would be leaving. My wife and I are planning a one night camping stay on Salt Spring Island in June and we're totally new to camping in the BC area (we are BC residents though). or older). Arriving at 1 on a Friday has a good chance of one being available. BCs provincial park campgrounds are usually set in beautiful and convenient locations and feature large, private campsites surrounded by nature. Were planning for it being a Thursday night so thats good to know. This means that we may receive a small percentage sales made through these links at no extra cost to you. Question: Are campsites reservable in any of the backcountry marine parks that are only accessible by kayak or boat? Check out time for provincial campsites is 11am. Question: I would like to reserve a campsite at Ruckle Provincial Park. For many people in British Columbia, going camping is one of the essential hallmarks of the summer season. Question: We have a large group of 15 to 25 people, how do we reserve one of the group sites at Ruckle Provincial Park and is there vehicle access to the site? Edit: for holidays the day of might be fully booked as well as people arrive the day before. These campsites are not equipped with electric hookups, however, cold water taps, pit toilets, and fire rings are available. We can help! I'm wondering how that'd work! Their descendants have farmed the Salt Spring property for more than a century and, although they donated most of their property to the province for a park in 1974, the Ruckle family still raises sheep on private land near the entrance to the campground. Hi Gemma, Thank you so much for this helpful post! Their three children, Ella, Agnes, and Daniel Henry, were all born there. Other buildings are available for viewing from the outside only visitors are not permitted inside. From Vesuvius in the NW (ferry terminal from Crofton) to Ruckles is under 25 kms, but there are some sharp hills to make the ride memorable. Here's a fav ride with more riding info on getting to Ruckle Park. These florae decorate the park and make it a wonderful sight. Although closing parks and banning campfires may inconvenience backcountry users and/or frontcountry campers, the safety of park visitors and the need to protect park facilities and natural resources from wildfire have to take precedence. I would recommend checking Discover Camping regularly to see whether any bookings have been cancelled. Kelp forests are important feeding areas for fish and attract many birds and mammals. Question: My fianc and I would like to be married at Ruckle Provincial Park. At Ruckle Campground, there are eight campsites available for RVs and trailers. Winter Camping at the 8 vehicle accessible campsites is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Answer:A youth group camping or picnicking party must consist of a minimum of 12 people or more. Please take a moment to read the sidebar for our guidelines, related subreddits and helpful resources regarding housing, tourism and employment. Henry Ruckle emigrated from Ireland to Ontario, then California, before finally homesteading on Salt Spring Island in 1872, marrying Ella Anna Christensen in 1877. Reserved sites are held until 11 AM the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reservations are not accepted for individual campsites at Ruckle; all campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sometimes we make mistakes. I couldnt tell you the amount of times I had prospective campers tell me they wanted to look around and ended up spending over an hour choosing between sites before committing. In this post, Im going to share the techniques Ive been using to successfully (and repeatedly) go camping in BC without a reservation. Check out these other posts featuring camping in beautiful British Columbia: 25+ of the Best Vancouver Island Campgrounds, How to Reserve Backcountry Camping in BC: Essential Details and Dates, What To Do in Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Hiking the Della Falls Trail, Vancouver Island, BC, Wallace Island: An Idyllic Kayaking Destination in British Columbia, A Complete Adventure Guide to Valhalla Provincial Park. Three parking areas are available in Ruckle Provincial Park at different areas for RVs and trailers. One of the parking lots is located near the RV campground. Please read the FAQs, research further as appropriate, and use your judgement at all times. Thanks and nice blog btw. Read on for my top tips on how to secure a campsite in a BC Parks campground without a reservation. Ruckle has like 70+ sites and only 4 can be reserved online. In 1931, Gordon Ruckle, grandson of Henry and Ella, inherited the house and lived in it with his wife, Lotus, and their children, Gwen and Henry. mile) provincial park offers you the perfect setting to pitch your tent or park your RV in a grassy meadow that overlooks the Swanson Channel. There are great hiking trails around the parkand along the seaside. Not true. All the basic amenities are provided, some with wheelchair access. There are 6 pressurized drinking water stations throughout the campground and day-use areas. The park features an interesting blend of easily reached sites in a wooded setting, with North Pender Island on the far shore. A mixture of forest, field and shore habitats makes it one of the most productive wildlife viewing areas on Salt Spring Island. If you dont have a suitable vehicle of your own, youll need to rent one that can be driven on such roads. Elsewhere, youll need to use some kind of, If cooking on the fire is important to you, consider bringing your own, OK, its not strictly essential but why not camp in complete comfort with a two person hammock? Answer:Wedding ceremonies are permitted free of charge in the day use area only for groups of 25 or less. before the designated check out time) and put our name on a wait list? BC Ferries run several services throughout the year to Salt Spring Island from Vancouver (Tsawwassen), Victoria (Swartz Bay) and Crofton on Vancouver Island. All Rights Reserved - AdVision. Camping on crown land has a 14 day maximum in any one place. In-person support no matter where the road takes you. Answer:There are 28 walk-in sites & 15 drive-in sites that are reservable starting March 21st by calling BC Parks/Discover Camping at 1 800 689 9025. One of the most important things to keep in mind regarding Rec Sites is that they are typically reached via gravel roads, primarily built for industrial use (logging, mining etc). Just tell us when youd like to camp at Ruckle Provincial Park, and how long you want to camp for. Answer:During the summer season, BC Parks may impose campfire bans in provincial parks due to forest fire hazards or forest fires occurring in the area. Please check our Rates page or visit the B.C. Winter camp set back from the seaside at Ruckles. Hey all! Off Track Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As you can see, there are also roads and ferry connections on nearby islands (and some popular campgrounds), but nowhere as extensive as Saltspring. If youre interested in camping at a park that does have these type of sites, be sure to bring a tent along. The only real method for finding these exceptions is to research, research, research! Enjoy a 5% booking discount if you tell them I sent you (with the code FOW-OTT-5). Saturday probably not. The campsite policy allows 8 persons to a site but only 4 can be adults, with a maximum of two tents per site. Many campsite reservations are cancelled daily. There are no rental and boat launch facilities at the park, so if you're planning to do some boating, you'll need to bring your watercraft with you. Not only that, but all frontcountry provincial campgrounds start operating on a first come, first serve system after the Labour Day holiday in September. No extra services are provided by the Park Operators, other than ensuring that the day use picnic areas are kept free of litter, grass cut and other general maintenance duties. Age of the Farmer: Farming in the Pacific Northwest. With its seven kilometres of shoreline, rocky headlands and tiny coves and bays, 486-hectare Ruckle Park provides hours or even days of enjoyable exploration. Thank you. I've been going to saltspring every year for years in the summertime and we always try to get a spot at ruckle. Visit our Shop page to see more recommended items for camping and outdoor adventure. Campground availability may change more than you think. Want to help improve the Ruckle Provincial Park listing? Check out my Camping 101 guide for top first time tips! Talking with locals about access is always a good idea. They don't do reservations, and onholiday weekends, things can fill up, so try to get there early. Ruckle Provincial Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the southern Gulf Islands, with 7 kilometres of shoreline, rocky headlands and tiny coves and bays. The government purchased Mr. Ruckles wharf in 1904 for $400, rebuilt it in 1910, and then again in 1925. Securing a provincial park campsite without a reservation, Other places to go camping in British Columbia without a reservation, General tips and tricks to go camping in BC without a reservation, Essential items for camping in British Columbia, Pyramid Campground, Wells Gray Provincial Park, Coldspring and Mule Deer Campgrounds, E.C. But who knows what this year is like. The absence of a designated area and lifeguards on duty at the park calls for caution while swimming in the channel. 200 meters. Although there is no designated swimming at Ruckle Provincial Park, there are still opportunities for you to take a dip in the Swanson Channel and enjoy a swim. To enjoy fishing in the park, you are required to possess an appropriate fishing or angling license and comply with provincial and federal fishing regulations. It has the largest provincial campground on the Gulf Islands. There is a short trail from the main parking lot into the campground area where you will find numbered picnic tables. The park accepts cash, debit, visa and mastercard.