Watch the Salmon Running - Credit River, Erindale Park (10/5/2013)

9:20 AM Bus Departure

The salmon are running up river to spawn. Chinook Salmon regularly attain weights of 25 lbs and lengths of more than three feet. The largest Chinook Salmon caught in Lake Ontario weighed 46 lbs.

The fall migration, or run, begins as water temperatures cool and water levels increase from post-summer rains. This is typically early September but some fish enter the Credit River as early as mid-August. Most Chinook salmon are 4 years old when they make their one and only spawning run. Spawning males develop a hooked jaw called a “kype” and can be quite aggressive. Fish will also lose their bright silver colour and become very dark, at times turning almost black. The fall migration usually peaks around early October.

GO Bus to ERINDALE GO Station. We start at the GO Bus Terminal at 141 Bay St.

The terrain is easy. Total distance is about 8 K. Hiking pace will be 4 kph to the Credit River. Then we will explore The Culham Trail along the Credit River, from Riverwood Park to Erindale Park (Burnhamthorpe Rd to Dundas St W).

Polarized Sunglasses will allow better views of the fish as there may be a glare from the water.

Don't be late or you will miss the bus.

From Erindale Go Station we will walk south-west along Burnhamthorpe Rd to Riverwood Park lane. The second, south-most entrance leads to the Culham Trail.

1. Follow the Culhan Trail south (left) along the Credit River to Erindale Park.
2. Picnic Lunch
3. Loop back to Burnhamthorpe Rd, and continue north along the Culham trail to just south of the 403.
4. Loop back to Burnhamthorpe Rd
5. Return to Erindale GO Station
6. end at Bay St GO Terminal

From Union Subway Station go out to street level, (South-West side of Front St at Bay). Cross the street to the east side. Go south 2 mins to the GO Bus Terminal. We will meet ouside the station on the platform near Bay St.