Article contributed by Ellen Spacey
A favourite with locals, Hardy Falls Regional Park is a prime place for a nice stroll in the Peachland area. Nestled at the end of Hardy Street just before Antler’s Beach, Hardy Falls offers a well-maintained trail for all ages and levels of experience that culminates in a spectacular view of the waterfall at the end of the trail. Throughout the park, there are eight foot-bridges that allow for great views of Deep Creek, which runs into Okanagan Lake. There are plenty of places along the way for some photo opportunities of the beautiful scenery and the trail is flat enough to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs! In all, the trail is about one-kilometer roundtrip, but it is a trip well worth taking. The park is also home to a special ecosystem which sees hundreds of Kokanee salmon return every fall for spawning in the creek.
You can learn about the falls, the local geography, and about the Kokanee salmon at the observation platform by the falls, which has informational plaques to read, or by joining a guided nature walk put on by Park Interpreters from the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
Salmon Spawning
If you’ve never seen the salmon run before, it’s a real treat! Kokanee turn a vibrant red colour when they are ready to lay and fertilize their eggs— they really match the fall scenery of the park. You can follow the salmon along your walk, watch as they jump up the salmon ladders installed into the creek bed, and join them at the falls as they make their final journey there. If you watch long enough, you might see them jump by the waterfall!
During spawning, salmon return to the place they were born to lay their eggs. The female salmon dig a shallow hole in the gravel of the creek bed called a redd to lay their eggs. They are fertilized by the male salmon and buried beneath the gravel to protect the eggs over the winter.
If you are making the trip to see the salmon spawn, please be aware that the ecosystem is very fragile and, as pretty as they are, do not disturb the fish! During spawning, bears are also attracted to the area—something to be mindful of as well.
The salmon run can be seen from early September into early October, with peak times in mid-September.
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