Capilano Salmon Hatchery
Capilano Salmon Hatchery
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Unsuspecting salmon lay their eggs here before they die.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Czar Emmanuel
    Manila, Philippines6,268 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for watching salmons spawn
    I haven't seen salmons actually swim up against river current and leap to reach their favorite spawning location (except in documentaries), so I was really happy when my friend brought me to this hatchery and see the whole thing unfold. Indeed, Vancouver is very rich in natural beauty and a favorite ground for salmons of various kinds. The visit is very informative. Highly recommended!
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 12 August 2023
  • Stewarts Vacation
    1,035 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Educational salmon hatchery
    It is free to enter and wander through this facility. It was interesting to see the fish ladder, both outside next to the river and from the underground viewing area. There were plenty of posters providing information about the hatchery and different salmon species. A great place to learn about Canada's native salmon, their life cycle and to observe them up close. There were toilets available. We walked up to the hatchery from the Suspension Bridge park, 20 minutes, accurately predicted by Google!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 November 2023
  • Holkin
    Boston, Massachusetts68 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommended!
    What a fantastic place and FREE! The setting is in a beautiful forest, with the river running next to it and lots of hikes around. The hatchery itself is very interesting, informative and a great learning experience for all the family. Glass pools let visitors see the fish actually jumping up the water stairs. Not a very long visit, but definitely worth the detour.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles356 reviews
Excellent
146
Very good
136
Average
55
Poor
15
Terrible
4

Holkin
Boston, MA68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
What a fantastic place and FREE! The setting is in a beautiful forest, with the river running next to it and lots of hikes around. The hatchery itself is very interesting, informative and a great learning experience for all the family. Glass pools let visitors see the fish actually jumping up the water stairs. Not a very long visit, but definitely worth the detour.
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stewarts Vacation
1,035 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
It is free to enter and wander through this facility. It was interesting to see the fish ladder, both outside next to the river and from the underground viewing area. There were plenty of posters providing information about the hatchery and different salmon species. A great place to learn about Canada's native salmon, their life cycle and to observe them up close. There were toilets available. We walked up to the hatchery from the Suspension Bridge park, 20 minutes, accurately predicted by Google!
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Phil N
Cootamundra, Australia280 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2023 • Friends
A short visit to the Salmon Hatchery was a real eye opener - have seen other fish hatcheries but none where the naturally lifecycle of the fish (salmon) is relied on to release and then have the breeding stock return exactly as happens in the wild rivers of Canada.
All in all a truly amazing facility.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shoshana & Mich... W
8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
This is a fascinating and successful effort to increase the salmon population in the region. The signage was pretty good but it would be great to have staff or volunteers on hand to answer questions.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeremy C
Atlanta, GA883 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
Really interesting stop for nature lovers - you can see the fingerling salmon in the hatchery, and the larger salmon in the next-door stream and pond. Exhibits also provide details on salmon and the hatchery process. Also make sure to walk on the trails, especially the bridges over the stream, where you can watch the mature salmon leaping out of the water.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Czar Emmanuel
Manila, Philippines6,268 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
I haven't seen salmons actually swim up against river current and leap to reach their favorite spawning location (except in documentaries), so I was really happy when my friend brought me to this hatchery and see the whole thing unfold. Indeed, Vancouver is very rich in natural beauty and a favorite ground for salmons of various kinds. The visit is very informative. Highly recommended!
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

darjen_smallman
Victoria, Australia 9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2023 • Couples
A very nice drive into the hatchery. It is a very informative insight about salmon & their migration. Great to see a set up & how the salmon travel upstream
Written 7 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alexandra T
Murrieta, CA1,916 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
We were hoping to see lots of salmon on the fish ladder. But it was nearing the end of the season and the ones we saw were very tired. The place is set up well for visitors.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mridula-A
Somerset, NJ310 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Took a quick look at the Hatchery on our day trip to Capilano Suspension Bridge. It is a small facility but easy to spend 30 minutes or so touring the rooms and watching the spawning ponds. The river nearby offers some good views as well.
Written 26 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sharon F
North Vancouver, Canada21 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019 • Family
If you are looking for an activity that brings you close to nature, but don’t want it to be to strenuous, this is a great choice. You can learn about salmon lifecycles, at certain times of the year you can watch salmon jump up the fish ladder, and there are nice views of the Capilano River. You can access walking trails nearby and there is lots of parking. Nearby attractions include Cleveland Dam, also free, and paid attractions such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Capilano Salmon Hatchery - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Capilano Salmon Hatchery