Hardy Falls Salmon Run

Hardy Falls is located on the south end of Peachland, British Columbia. The park entrance is located at the end of Hardy Road, by the Antler Beach Trailor Park. There is plenty of parking at the entrance of the park, as well as toilets and several picnic tables. The walk to Hardy Falls is short and easy. It takes about ten minutes at a leisurely pace, or fifteen to twenty minutes with young children who enjoy stopping to observe nature. The path up to the waterfall crosses over seven bridges, ends at a lookout and is stroller friendly. There are several spots with poison ivy along the trail so it is best to keep on the trail at all times. 

From mid-August to mid-October, the Kokanee salmon swim up the Hardy Falls creek for spawning. It draws quite a few excited onlookers as well as bears looking to fatten up for the winter. Because of the hungry bears, Hardy Falls can be closed for periods of time in the fall. To witness the salmon run we joined a group of home learners for walk through the park with an interpreter from the Environmental Education Centre For The Okanagan (EECO). The interpreter guided our group through the park and then spoke to the children about the life cycle of the Kokanee salmon. She even dissected a dead male Kokanee salmon for the children to look at. My eldest, who loves all things fish, was very enthralled and had plenty of fishy questions to ask her.