Salmon Run: 4000 KM to Home
Bonnie Pryce
Each year, sockeye salmon make an incredible journey back to the waters where they were born to spawn. From birth to the ocean and back again, their round trip can cover more than 4,000 kilometres.
Returning from the Pacific Ocean, the salmon swim upstream through the Fraser River system, navigating rapids, waterfalls, and predators along the way. They complete this demanding final journey without eating, relying entirely on fat reserves built up over their lifetime.
Sockeye salmon are semelparous, meaning they die after spawning. For a few short weeks, visitors have the opportunity to witness this remarkable stage of their life cycle as vibrant red salmon gather in the river.
See the salmon at Tsútswecw Provincial Park
About 50 minutes east of Kamloops, Tsútswecw Provincial Park is one of the best places to experience the annual sockeye salmon run. Located along Squilax-Anglemont Road, the park surrounds 11 kilometres of the Adams River between Adams Lake and Shuswap Lake.
Tsútswecw, pronounced Choo-Chwek, means "many rivers" in Secwépemctsìn. The Adams River is well known for its sockeye salmon spawning grounds, drawing visitors each fall to experience this natural phenomenon.
Every four years, a dominant salmon run brings especially large numbers of sockeye back to the Adams River. During annual runs, visitors can still see salmon making their way through the South Thompson and Adams River systems, with viewing typically at its best during the first few weeks of October.
Make the salmon run part of a self-guided Wellness, Wildlife and Wine Road Trip from Kamloops.
Fernando Lessa
Ben Verwey
Explore Tsútswecw Provincial Park
The salmon may be the main attraction in autumn, but Tsútswecw Provincial Park is well worth exploring on its own. The changing leaves and crisp fall air create a beautiful backdrop for more than 26 kilometres of trails throughout the park.
Pack a picnic and a thermos of coffee or tea, and give yourself plenty of time to explore. Plan for up to four hours if you'd like to watch the salmon and enjoy some of the surrounding trails.
Fall temperatures can be cool, particularly when standing along the river for extended periods, so dress in warm layers and wear comfortable footwear.
Accessible salmon viewing
Tsútswecw Provincial Park offers an accessible viewing experience, with a large stationary viewing platform approximately 300 metres from the main parking lot. Accessible picnic tables and washrooms are also available along the short route. Dogs are permitted but must remain on a leash.
Learn more about accessible travel in Kamloops.
Respect the salmon and their habitat
Spawning season is an important and sensitive time for the salmon. Eggs and spawning habitat can easily be disturbed, so visitors should stay out of the river and observe the salmon from designated viewing areas and trails.
Give the salmon plenty of space, stay on marked paths, keep dogs leashed, and leave the river environment as you found it.
A connection thousands of years in the making
Salmon have long held deep cultural and nutritional importance for Secwépemc communities throughout the region. Archaeological evidence from historical village sites along the river demonstrates a longstanding tradition of salmon fishing dating back thousands of years.
A visit to the Adams River offers an opportunity to experience an extraordinary natural event while learning more about the landscapes, wildlife, and Indigenous history of the Kamloops region.
From the brilliant fall colours to the sight of thousands of salmon returning home, the annual sockeye salmon run is one of autumn's most memorable experiences near Kamloops.
