Crofton

A quiet Vancouver Island harbour town — gateway to Salt Spring Island and the southern Gulf Islands.

Crofton is a small waterfront community on the east coast of Vancouver Island, about 60 kilometres north of Victoria in the Cowichan Valley region. It sits on a sheltered harbour looking out toward Salt Spring Island and the southern Gulf Islands, and its primary claim to fame for most travellers is as the terminal for the BC Ferries service to Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island — the shortest and most frequent ferry crossing to the Gulf Islands. The town has a working-class character rooted in its history as a company town built around the Crofton pulp and paper mill, which has operated here since 1957 and remains one of the largest employers in the Cowichan Valley. The mill's presence gives Crofton a distinctive industrial edge that contrasts with the natural beauty of the surrounding harbour and islands. The waterfront at Crofton is pleasant for walking, with views across Sansum Narrows to Salt Spring Island and the opportunity to watch the ferry traffic and the occasional bald eagle fishing in the harbour. The Crofton Heritage Society maintains a small museum that tells the story of the town's development. The surrounding Cowichan Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions on Vancouver Island, with wineries, farms, and the famous Cowichan Valley Ale Trail drawing visitors throughout the year. The Cowichan River, just south of Crofton, is one of the finest fly fishing rivers on Vancouver Island.