Chinook salmon on the Humber usually run from late September to mid-October, according to Destination Ontario's fall viewing guide. That puts today, October 6, inside the window, with only a week or two left. This fall, getting to the river near Old Mill also takes more planning than usual. Parking at Étienne Brûlé Park is limited because of construction, and the City is closing street access around Brule Terrace in turns through November. So the simplest plan for the rest of the run is to take Line 2 to Old Mill station and walk from there.
The window is short
Destination Ontario puts the province-wide peak between mid-September and mid-October. For the Humber specifically, it gives late September to mid-October. That's a seasonal pattern, not a forecast for this year. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority invites people to submit salmon observations, and its story map shows viewing locations and explains how to report a sighting.
The fish you're most likely to see are Chinook, which TRCA calls the most commonly observed salmon in local streams. Coho also turn up, but less often.
Why the parking lot is the hard part this year
The construction near Étienne Brûlé Park is a City project to replace a sanitary forcemain, a pressurized sewer pipe that pumps wastewater uphill and has reached the end of its life. The work was first scheduled to start in October 2025. A City update dated July 12, 2026 moved active construction to August 2026 and set a new finish date of November 2026. In other words, the busiest weeks of construction fall right on the salmon run.
The City's update lists the work in this order:
- Brule Terrace, from Bloor Street West to 20 metres west of Brule Gardens
- Bloor Street West, from Riverside Drive to Brule Terrace
- Riverside Drive, from Bloor Street West to 100 metres north
- The Humber Sewage Pumping Station, the last stage
A separate notice dated August 26 says Brule Terrace will lose access from Bloor Street West and from Brule Gardens at different times between about September and November. Each closure lasts two to three weeks, and the two won't overlap. While the work is on, Brule Terrace runs two-way, and residents still have access from the open end of the street. TRCA's own event listing warns that spots in the park lot are limited and that street parking nearby is tight.
The subway avoids all of this. TRCA says the trailhead next to the Étienne Brûlé lot is about a 10-minute walk from Old Mill station.
Where to stand
The main viewing spot is the Old Mill dam, a weir at Étienne Brûlé Park where Chinook jump a barrier about 1.5 metres high. TRCA says the weir has a lowered notch in the centre to help fish get past.
Here's a simple route from the station:
- Old Mill station to the Old Mill Bridge. The City's self-guided Humber walking brochure says you can watch spring and fall fish migration from the bridge.
- Down to the weir at Étienne Brûlé Park. This is where the jumping happens, and it's where the Humber River Recreational Trail starts, next to the park lot.
- Upstream along the trail. TRCA says salmon are plentiful above the Étienne Brûlé weir. Public washrooms are along the trail.
Raymore Park is a good second stop on another day. TRCA lists its fish ladder as one of the ways salmon get upstream on the Humber.
Saturday, October 17 is the day to aim for
Two free walks on Saturday, October 17 start in the same place you would. TRCA runs its guided Salmon Adventure at Étienne Brûlé Park in a morning session starting at 10:00 a.m. and an afternoon session from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. The listing prints the morning end time as "11:30pm," which looks like a typo for a 90-minute walk, so confirm when you register. The walk covers the salmon life cycle, migration and restoration work, and the group looks for fish on the way. It runs rain or shine. TRCA cancels only if the chance of thunderstorms or other hazardous weather is above 70 percent, and it emails registrants by 8:00 a.m. if that happens. The event page also asks people to wear comfortable closed-toe shoes.
That same morning, Lambton House holds its Hurricane Hazel Walk, a local heritage walk that starts at 10:30 a.m. at Old Mill station and ends at Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas Street. The afternoon TRCA session leaves time for both walks, as long as the timing works on the day. Keep in mind that October 17 falls right at the end of the Humber's usual window, so a weekday visit this week or next is a safer bet for seeing fish jump.
What else is on near the Old Mill this month
Several other events nearby can round out a visit, and one ends soon:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesdays until Oct. 14, 2 to 6 p.m. | Montgomery's Inn Farmers' Market, with bread baked at the Inn while it lasts | 4709 Dundas St. W. |
| Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, 8 to 10 p.m. | Live sets at the Jazz Lounge | Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Rd. |
| Oct. 10 to 12 | Thanksgiving brunch and dinner buffets, plus takeout packages | Old Mill Toronto |
| Thursdays to Sundays, 3:00 or 3:15 p.m. | Afternoon tea seatings | Old Mill Toronto |
| Oct. 17 | TRCA Salmon Adventure and Lambton House Hurricane Hazel Walk | Étienne Brûlé Park and Old Mill station |
| Oct. 24 | Bloor West Village Halloween Fest, free | Bloor West Village |
| Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to noon | Pumpkin carving, registration required | Lambton House |
| Oct. 31 | Halloween Party with Groove Marmalade | Old Mill Toronto |
The Montgomery's Inn market ends its outdoor season on Wednesday, October 14, about when the Humber run usually tapers off. That leaves two Wednesdays, today's and next week's, to pair a market stop with a weekday trip to the river. At the Old Mill Toronto, the Thanksgiving Dining Room buffets run on October 10 and 11 and at lunch on October 12, with a separate Brulé Room buffet on October 11. Seating times and prices differ, so check the venue's listing before you book. Jazz Lounge performers this month include Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley, Aria De Castro, Shannon Butcher and Tom Richards. Tickets for October 9 and 23 are $35 plus tax. Afternoon tea comes in regular, vegetarian, vegan and nut-free menus. The venue's page shows more than one price, so confirm when you reserve.
Later in the month, the Bloor West Village BIA Halloween Fest on October 24 includes a trick-or-treat trail through local businesses, a scavenger hunt, a pumpkin giveaway and a guided fall-leaves walk. The salmon will mostly be gone by then, but the fall colour along the trail usually isn't.
Riverbank rules
The City's Humber walking guide asks visitors to stay on the trails, leave wildlife alone and keep dogs on a leash. Salmon bunch up below barriers like the Old Mill weir, and TRCA warns that this makes them easy targets for illegal netting and snagging. If you plan to fish, Ontario's Fisheries Management Zone 16 page links to the 2026 regulations summary and lists the special rules for the lower Humber. Check the current seasons, limits and licence requirements before you cast. If you see salmon, TRCA's salmon monitoring page explains how to report a sighting.
For many of us at Appugliesi Real Estate Group, a fall walk along the Humber is one of the best parts of an Etobicoke autumn. If you're thinking about a future move in this part of the city and want someone who knows these streets, the river trail and what's under construction, we'd be glad to talk it through over a calm, no-pressure call. Schedule a Consultation whenever you're ready.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
