Seasons aren’t particularly dramatic on the Island—our summers and winters are mild, and you can find a plant with flowers blooming somewhere in the city year-round. But one way to remind us of yearly cycles is our proximity to nature. We get a front-row seat to some of the wild world’s most fascinating behaviours, all taking place during different times of the year—from being a hotspot for migratory seabirds to witnessing the changing water colours during spring herring spawning season, we easily can access what most people only get to see in a National Geographic documentary. 

One of nature’s most fascinating spectacles is the life cycle of salmon—particularly, salmon runs. Every fall, local salmon species return to the place they were born to lay and spawn eggs, leaving the ocean to swim upstream, fighting currents and jumping waterfalls to reach their destination. While they make the difficult journey, multiple predators—including bears and eagles—enjoy a hearty salmon buffet. After the fish mate, they die and the following spring, baby salmon will make their way back to sea.

The entire Island has locations for viewing this, with spots nestled in beautiful hiking spots and accessible parks. We’ve rounded up some of the busiest runs on the Island where you’re most likely to see nature doing its wonderful thing up close.

Goldstream Park

The best spot to see salmon runs near Victoria—and one of the most populous on the Island. Starting mid-October, you can see Chinook, Chum, and Coho spawn along the river. This spot is also easy to access from its parking lot, just off the Trans-Canada Highway. Head to the Nature House to get more information on the spawning process.

Stamp River

Found 30 minutes outside Port Alberni, Coho and Chinook gather in the thousands at the pool of this park’s waterfall before swimming up to the above stream. You can also catch them swimming upriver to their spawning locations. Both species can be seen spawning throughout the fall.  

Englishman River Falls

See Pacific salmon swim up the river’s strong currents and jump the waterfall throughout the fall season at this park near Parksville. 

Puntledge River

In Comox Valley, Coho, Pink, Chum, and Chinook bring this river to life each fall as they make their way to their destination—with multiple waterfall leaps to be seen. Morrison Creek is considered the best spot to see the action.

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Hatcheries rebuilding natural salmon runs

Some natural runs have dissipated over the years—rivers drying up, negative effects from human activity, and too many predators are all factors that have caused some run spots to disappear from the Island. Check out these hatcheries where you can see conservation efforts at work to rebuild salmon runs, with the hope that these will naturally take place once more.

Sooke River Hatchery

Cowichan River Hatchery

Nanaimo River Hatchery

Little Qualicum & Big Qualicum Fish Hatcheries