For those looking for some of the best things to do on Salt Spring Island, a visit to the top of Mount Bruce is a no-brainer. The hike up Mount Bruce leads to the highest point on Salt Spring Island, offering stunning panoramic views over the tiny-looking neighbouring Gulf and San Juan Islands. On a clear day it’s even possible to see the majestic mountains of the mainland running along the horizon.
Mount Bruce is nowhere near as popular as some other Salt Spring Island hikes, and that’s because it isn’t really a hike. Running all the way up Mount Bruce is an access road for the cell towers perched on top of the mountain, which in lieu of a formal walking trail makes for a perfectly suitable route up the mountain. Though not particularly scenic or exciting on the way up, the short easy hike and the exquisite views from the summit make the Mount Bruce hike a must-do if you’re spending time on Salt Spring Island.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Mount Bruce hike on Salt Spring Island for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
The summit of Salt Spring Island as seen from above. A cloud-filled Cowichan Valley is visible at left, and below it Mount Tzouhalem, with Stoney Hill just below that.
When hiking it’s generally important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. That said, I made sure to uproot and carry down some small scotch broom plants. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Mount Bruce as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
The nearest island right in the center of the photo is Prevost island, with Galiano Island rising behind it on the left. Its high point, Mount Galiano, is easy to find. Islands visible on the right side of the photo include Mayne and North Pender. On a clearer day the mainland mountains would be visible above the horizon.
Mount Bruce Round Trip Details
Distance: 4.3 KM / 2.7 MI
Elevation Gain: 170 M / 558 FT
Hiking Time: 1 HR
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. There are almost no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but black bears are still common. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are even actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also in many cases illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the hike up Mount Bruce a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to Mount Bruce Trailhead
The trailhead for Mount Bruce is located an 8.7 km drive from Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island. Fortunately most of Mount Bruce’s elevation is gained by driving up, but the road is rough gravel one , so depending on how slow and careful you need to drive, expect it to take anywhere between twenty and thirty minutes to reach. That said, the road is in good condition and as long as you drive carefully enough practically any car can make it. Drive around to the south side of Fulford Harbor along Isabella Point Road. Just after passing Drummond Park on the left side, the roard starts to gain a little elevation before forking. Keep right to get onto Musgrave Road, which you’ll stay on for about 6km as it climbs up the mountain. Eventually the road passes right next to Spirit Lake, which will be visible through the trees on the right. Soon after this point you will reach a fork, with signs for Mount Tuam Retreat on the left and 1372 on the right. Go right. After a minute you’ll see a turnoff on the left hand side with a grey gate. Park here and continue up the road on foot.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking Mount Bruce
Parked at the grey gate pulloff and continuing along the road by foot.
Continuing along the road and not heading down an obvious driveway.
After being mostly flat for about ten minutes the road curves up and begins climbing.
Heading up towards the top of Mount Bruce.
Brief views of distant islands tease the more extensive views from the summit.
Near the top the mountain begins to plateau. The road levels off and branches towards different pieces of infrastructure spread across the top of the mountain. keep right at the first fork.
And left at the second.
From here the road curvses up to the very summit of Mount Bruce.
I suggest exploring around the summit to find the best views in each direction. This helicopter pad had some of the best views looking north.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to hiking Mount Bruce on Salt Spring Island! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.