Spawning season provides an opportunity to witness one of the truly great miracles of the natural world. In previous years, we compiled this list of some great places to view salmon spawning. So far, this year has been a mixed bag in terms of returns, so please, let us know what you see out there in your local rivers and streams.

Get involved!

You can help us build a better picture of how the salmon returns are faring across the province. If you head out to see salmon spawning in your area, use your phone to take photos or make a short video and post on social media with the date and location in the text of your post and the hashtag #salmonspawnwatch. Include any observations you make while you are there. If there are no salmon returning, and you expect them to, that is an important observation too!

As always, please feel free to suggest viewing spots that have not yet been added to this list!

Victoria and surrounds

Goldstream Provincial Park, Victoria

Goldstream is a beautiful park any time of the year, but especially when the chum, coho, and Chinook salmon are running in October and early November. There are plenty of walking trails, picnic areas with fire pits and an engaging nature house.

Ayum Creek Regional Park, Sooke

Visit Ayum Creek in the fall to observe spawning coho and chum salmon.

Vancouver Island

Stamp River Provincial Park, Port Alberni

Salmon runs begin in late August in Stamp River Provincial Park, running all the way into December. Full of walking trails and beautiful views, you can watch sockeye; coho, and Chinook circle the pool below Stamp Falls before climbing fish ladders to get to their spawning beds.

Campbell River, Campbell RiverSONY DSC

Campbell River calls itself the “Salmon Capital of the World” and is a great spot, not just for fishing, but for seeing spawning salmon. There are a lot of spots to see them running in the fall, pinks in September, and Chinook and coho in October and November.

Big Qualicum River, Qualicum Beach

A 10-kilometre trail runs along the river from the Big Qualicum Hatchery providing plenty of viewing opportunities.

Englishman River Regional Park, Parksville

Salmon typically begin to return to the Englishman River in September.

Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast

Chapman Creek, Sechelt

A 1.5- to 2-hour nature trail, for biking or walking, takes you to Chapman Creek, a spawning channel for chum and coho.

Capilano River Hatchery, North Vancouver

North Vancouver’s Capilano River Hatchery draws more than 225,000 visitors a year. Right up the road from the entrance to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, an information centre educates visitors on the spawning cycle and offers various viewing areas to see the fish. There are also trails to hike which give a fantastic view of the salmon spawning. You can see Chinook travelling upstream in October and November and other salmon species throughout the year.

Lower Mainland

Chehalis River, Agassiz

Spawning salmon can be observed between mid-October and November

Great Blue Heron Reserve, Chilliwack

Witness the return of pink, chum and coho salmon from October through mid-December.

Inch Creek, Dewdney

Observe coho and chum salmon in November.

Harrison RiverWeaver Creek Spawning Channel, Harrison Mills

Harrison River has all five species of salmon, with spawning times between late summer to mid-October. In the same area, you can also visit Weaver Creek Spawning Channel, a 3 km man-made spawning channel created in 1965. Chum, sockeye and pink all spawn there, with sockeye spawning in early to late October.

Thacker Regional Park, Hope

Visit Thacker Regional Park in October for a chance to see spawning coho, pink and chum salmon. The hike to a good viewing point is approximately 1 kilometre.

Williams Park, Langley

Mid-October to late November/December is a great time and place to watch coho, chum, and Chinook. 

Hyde Creek, Port Coquitlam

Chum and coho can be seen in Hyde Creek between mid-October and November. Visit Hyde Creek Nature Reserve and walk along the creekside trail for many opportunities to see salmon. A  great spot to watch from is a streamside platform located behind the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre. Hyde Creek Watershed Society runs a volunteer-run salmon hatchery here and hosts an annual salmon festival in the fall.

Mamquam Spawning Channel, Squamish

In the Mamquam River, you can see coho, chum and pink salmon spawning between August and November. Walk along the main trail head toward the river and you’ll find an interpretive sign and spawning channels. Keep walking to where the Mamquam meets the Squamish River for the best viewing.

Tynehead Park, Surrey

You can see steelhead, coho, chum and Chinook in the Serpentine River that runs through Tynehead Park. Take a walk on the Salmon Habitat loop or get a good view of spawning salmon from late August to November from one of the many bridges. The Serpentine Enhancement Society runs a volunteer-based hatchery here.

Interior

Tsútswecw Provincial Park (Roderick Haig-Brown), Salmon Arm

With one of the largest sockeye runs in North America, the Adams River between late September and late October is a great place to see spawning salmon. In Tsútswecw Provincial Park, trails lead to riverside viewing platforms with interpretive signage describing the salmon run and spawning process. 2026 will be the next dominant year, which means there will be larger runs for viewing. For information about the Salute to the Sockeye festival, and about guided tours, visit the Adams River Salmon Society website.

Some more sites suggested by our supporters include:

Stoney Creek, Burnaby

Stoney Creek, Abbotsford

Sooke Potholes Park, Sooke

Charters Creek Hatchery, Sooke

Coquihalla River, Hope

Morrison Creek, Comox Valley

Puntledge River, Comox Valley

Tsolum River, Comox Valley

Hoy Creek Hatchery, Coquitlam

Tenderfoot Creek, Squamish

Seton Creek Spawning Channels, Lillooet