Annual Salmon Come Home Event – Hoy Creek Hatchery

The name Coquitlam comes from the Coast Salish word “kwikwetlem,” which means “red fish up the river.” This is the time of year when salmon return to spawn in our local rivers – and one location to view this natural wonder is along the Hoy Creek trail, walking toward Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Most years, the City along with the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society celebrate the return of salmon to local creeks in the fall to watch the salmon battle their way back to their spawning grounds. Coquitlam has several salmon-viewing spots, with one of the best being Hoy Creek Linear Park.

Join us at the Hoy Creek Hatchery for Coquitlam’s beloved Salmon Come Home event, a family-friendly celebration of the annual salmon return!

Enjoy an exciting day outdoors with interactive exhibits, hands-on learning experiences, and the chance to see salmon up close. Activities include wood crafts, live entertainment, Indigenous storytelling, and the inflatable Nylon Zoo adventure for kids. Don’t miss this fun, educational event for all ages—there’s something for everyone!

Salmon Viewing Map and Nature Scavenger Hunt

Keep your eyes open all fall and visit other local creeks as well using our map of salmon-viewing locations. You can also enjoy a family-friendly scavenger hunt – seeking items such as a spider web or pinecone – as you are out-and-about in nature. Enjoy!

Please remember that during this time of the year, bears are foraging and filling up before they den for the winter and spawning salmon is one of their primary food sources. Respect nature and stay on the trails, be alert, listen and watch for bears.

The much-loved Salmon Come Home is a free event celebrating salmon returning to the creek, featuring live salmon demonstrations and other activities.