Ontario Fall Salmon Migration: Top Spots to Watch Salmon Run in Greater Toronto and Surrounding Regions

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Witness Ontario's Autumn Salmon Run

Ontario Fall Salmon Migration: Top Spots to Watch Salmon Run in Greater Toronto and Surrounding Regions

The annual fall salmon run is one of Ontario's most remarkable natural events. Every autumn, thousands of salmon journey from the Great Lakes, swimming up rivers and creeks to spawn. Hundreds of onlookers and photographers gather along riverbanks across the region to watch the fish leap over barriers and navigate rapids. The migration typically peaks between mid-September and mid-October, depending on rainfall and water temperatures.

Top Viewing Locations Near Toronto

Ontario Fall Salmon Migration: Top Spots to Watch Salmon Run in Greater Toronto and Surrounding Regions

Humber River (Toronto & Etobicoke): As the largest watershed in Toronto, the Humber River provides one of the most reliable viewing experiences in the Greater Toronto Area. From late September to mid-October, Chinook salmon fight their way upstream from Lake Ontario. Crowds often gather at Étienne Brûlé Park to watch the salmon attempt to leap over the 1.5-metre weir at Old Mill Dam (located at 10 Catherine Street, York). Further upstream at Raymore Park (93 Raymore Drive, Etobicoke), visitors can observe salmon utilizing a fish ladder designed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to bypass a second barrier. Sightseeing is best right after rainfall once the river clears up.

Ganaraska River (Port Hope): Located just over an hour's drive east of Toronto in Kawarthas and Northumberland County, Port Hope features one of Southern Ontario's most extensive salmon runs. The town even hosts the annual Run Salmon Run festival to celebrate the migration. A premier viewpoint is Corbett's Dam (4 McKibbon Street, Port Hope), home to the Ganaraska Fishway ladder where thousands of Chinook and coho salmon pass through. Visitors can track the fish along riverside walking paths, including the Waterfront Trail and the Ganaraska Hiking Trail. The migration in Port Hope generally runs from late August to early October. Note that a seasonal fishing sanctuary covers much of the river from early September to mid-October to protect migrating fish.

Ontario Fall Salmon Migration: Top Spots to Watch Salmon Run in Greater Toronto and Surrounding Regions

Environmental Management

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) actively manages and conserves land and water systems across the Greater Toronto Area. Their ongoing habitat stewardship and water quality monitoring help maintain the ecological conditions necessary for migrating salmon throughout the region's river corridors.