It’s that time of year again when salmon in Ontario streams and rivers begin making their journey upstream, creating a phenomenal sight as they leap out of the water during the final trip of their lives.
From early September through late October is the best time to see countless Chinook, Atlantic, and Coho Salmon travelling to lay their eggs in shallow waters before the winter, when the water temperatures fall between 3 – 18 degrees Celsius.
Found in bodies of water throughout the province, you can see them right here in Toronto!
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority keeps an updated map of the city’s annual salmon run to help monitor fish communities and habitats to assess the aquatic health of regional watersheds and surrounding waterfront.
Indicating salmon observations and barriers to fish migration, you can help their monitoring team or keep an eye on the map as the season progresses to determine your optimal viewing date and location!
Within the city, some of the most popular destinations for observing the salmon run are Etienne Brulé Park, Lower Don River Weir, Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, Morningside Park, and Rouge National Urban Park.
If you’d like to learn more about the annual phenomenon, stop by the TCRA’s information session on September 22 before embarking on a tour to Highland Creek in hopes of seeing the salmon run in real life.