The salmon are back.

"Pacific salmon are returning home to rivers and streams in the Fraser Valley," according to the PSF's Oct. 8 release. "Thanks to the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF)’s interactive , you can witness one of nature’s most spectacular migrations and discover unique salmon spotting locations in your area to visit."

The Salmon Spotting map showcases the best spots in B.C. to see this spectacle in the wild with more than 75 family-friendly locations with clearly marked trails and public viewing areas across Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and across the province.

For example six of the spots are located in Chilliwack. Mid-October to early November is the ideal time of year to see returning coho, chum and pink salmon.

Salmon viewing in the Fraser Valley region at these locations:

Chilliwack

• Browne Creek Wetlands

• Chilliwack River - at the junction of Slesse Creek and the Chilliwack River

• Peach Creek Rotary Trail - Lickman Road, Vedder River Parking Lot

• Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve

• Chilliwack River Hatchery

• Thompson Regional Park, Chilliwack River

Abbotsford

• Bateman Park

• McKay Creek Park/Sumas Dyke - McKay Creek Trail

Harrison River Valley

• Harrison River - Walk the Eagle Trail at Sandpiper Resort to their Salmon Run Viewing area on the Harrison River

Mission

• Norrish Creek and Inch Creek Hatchery on Bell Road in Dewdney

• Ruskin Recreation Site at Terravista Place

According to the released State of Salmon, declines in Pacific salmon abundance have been widespread across British Columbia and the Yukon.

"In the Fraser region, but there have been signs of recovery for other populations, like Fraser coho."

Chinook, coho, and pink salmon are above average, while other species are below, according to the State of Salmon, with concerning recent declines

Coho are actually reaching levels "not seen since before the crash of the 1990s," suggesting that reductions in harvest implemented as part of recovery planning for Interior Fraser coho may be paying off. There was an exceptionally high return of Chinook to the Fraser in 2023, but time will tell if this was an anomaly or part of a positive trend."

A fun fact is that adults return to the same streams that their parents used.

"Scientists believe that ‘homing’ is accomplished by tracing ‘pheromones’ or chemical signatures of the home stream. Salmon have an extremely keen sense of smell – they can smell chemicals down to one part per million," according to the release.

Sometimes people near spawning areas can hear the telltale splash of the tail.

"Female spawners will build gravel nests called redds in the creek bed before laying their eggs."

Recently, PSF has funded restoration work for key sockeye spawning habitat at Harrison Lake and post-wildlife recovery action for salmon in the Nahatlatch Valley.

"Salmon enthusiasts can also follow along on social media with the hashtag #SalmonSpotting and enter a contest at psf.ca for a chance to win a two-night hotel stay, a helicopter trip, and a whale watching adventure."

With the return of the rains this fall, water levels are high, so visitors are asked to be careful around water.