Where to see the salmon run in Mississauga and the GTA

By Andrea D'Souza

The salmon run is the breathtaking migration of Atlantic, Chinook, and coho salmon as they leave Lake Ontario and travel up river to lay their eggs. This event occurs every year, taking place in a time ranging from the end of summer to the early fall. Here at Riverwood in Central Mississauga, you may be able to see salmon running any time from late August to early November. Depending on weather conditions, particularly rainfall, you may be able to see more salmon on certain days.

These fish as a species are anadromous; they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers and then migrate to the saltwater ocean to feed and grow. But sometimes these fish adapt to living in these freshwater lakes for their entire life, such as the ones we see migrating from Lake Ontario.

Coho salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch

Chinook salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar

What happens during the salmon migration?

The whole point of the salmon migration is for the fish to lay their eggs. They travel to the exact location where they were born to do this. After swimming upstream, the salmon find a secure spot for their eggs. Female salmon dig two holes in the riverbed. Using her caudal fin, she digs the first hole and lays her eggs in it. After the eggs have been fertilized by a male, she digs another hole upstream from where her eggs are. When she digs this second hole, material from the riverbed covers the hole containing her eggs. This creates a hill structure on the riverbed known as a redd.

Why am I seeing so many dead salmon?

The migration is the end of the life cycle for coho and Chinook salmon. After laying their eggs, they die. Their carcasses can be found in rivers, streams, and on the banks of those waterways. While it’s a sad sight to see, it is also vital to the food chain. The carcasses are a great food source for predatory species, and when the carcasses decompose, they add essential nutrients to the water. 

Where should I go to see the salmon run?

There are plenty of places throughout the Greater Toronto Area to view this spectacular event. In Mississauga, these fish can be seen travelling up the Credit River. Here at Riverwood, you can walk along the Culham Trail to get closer to the river and see the salmon run. The Culham Trail extends south to Erindale Park, and there are plenty of spots along the way that will get you close enough to the river to see the salmon run.

Outside of Mississauga, there are a few other places in the GTA to view the salmon run:

• Étienne Brûlé Park – Humber River, 13 Crosby Avenue, York
• Charles Sauriol Conservation Area – Don River, 701 Don Mills Road, Toronto
• Morningside Park – Highland Creek, 390 Morningside Avenue, Scarborough
• Glen Rouge Campground – Rouge River, 7450 Kingston Road, Scarborough
• Whitevale Park – Duffins Creek, 371 Whitevale Road, Pickering
• Bowmanville Creek Fish Ladder – Bowmanville Creek, 35 Roenigk Drive, Bowmanville

Take a closer look at the Credit River and the waterways in the areas listed above in the upcoming weeks. You just might be able to witness this magnificent natural event!