The annual Chinook salmon run gives Nottawa a strong connection to nature: the fish travel up the Pretty River to their spawning grounds. See the Salmon Run is dedicated to this return. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the natural run from the event program: the salmon run takes place annually, while program events are tied to specific dates and may change in future editions. So if you are choosing See the Salmon Run as the reason for your trip, plan around the respective event dates.

Salmon Run at the Pretty River

As part of See the Salmon Run, a 20-minute self-guided nature walk follows a wooded trail along the Pretty River. The program also includes a 25 km tour on a combination of roads and trails to observe the salmon run at other nearby rivers and streams. This offers two distinct formats: a short woodland walk along the Pretty River and a 25 km tour that takes in other waterways. They differ in both length and setting: the walk is short and stays along the Pretty River, while the tour covers 25 km and visits other waterways.

Meeting Place and Events

The Nottawa Memorial Community Center combines a long-standing role as a gathering place with a program of concerts and fundraising events. For more than 60 years, it has served as a meeting place for the community and surrounding residents. Individual programs may change. This means that a social role established over decades and cultural events whose specific details may vary come together at the same place. Alongside nature observation, this combination brings community life into focus.

Play Equipment and Open Green Space

McKean Memorial Park adds to the community’s character with new play equipment, swings, and open green spaces. Future upgrades may change the playground equipment. In contrast to the Community Center, whose focus is on serving as a gathering place and hosting events, the park combines play equipment with open green space. In Nottawa, community life and a park with specific amenities thus offer distinct local highlights.

Snowmobile Trail and Season

Nottawa’s winter connection is the Ed Christie Memorial Bridge. It connects to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) snowmobile trail; the bridge opening took place at Concession 6 in Nottawa. Seasonal use of snowmobile trails may vary. If you are planning a ride, check the trail’s current conditions. The bridge thus adds a distinct snowmobiling connection to the nature attractions along the Pretty River.

Trip timing depends on different factors: the annual salmon run, specific event dates, and the seasonally variable use of snowmobile trails. Match your planned stay to the activity you want to experience.

Discover more destinations

Victoria Harbour, Waubaushene, Duntroon, Oro, Tiny, Borden, Barrie, Innisfil

For the broader travel overview: Simcoe County.