Thornton Creek Hatchery

Thornton Creek Hatchery

Thornton Creek Hatchery
4.5
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles101 reviews
Excellent
72
Very good
17
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
4

Michelle H
Harwich, UK439 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Visited the hatchery hoping to see black bears, unfortunately we were a couple of weeks too early. We did get a fly past (twice) by a bald eagle. The hatchery is very informative and we learnt a lot about salmon. Dave is a very interesting character and he enjoyed sharing his knowledge with us which also included mushrooms, which he is very passionate about. Although it is free to visit they do ask for donations as they have very limited funding. We thought the hatchery was well worth the visit (even without the bears) and we were more than happy to make a contribution.
Written October 25, 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.

20x20
Manchester113 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Family
We visited on the morning of 17th September, 2024. The long track takes you down to the hatchery - with limited parking. Take heed, you could be parking mere metres from the bears! Their website offers good advice - so read it!

Access to the viewing area is very easy - a short walk from car parking.

Initially, it seemed quite quiet, and there were no Salmon in the river at all. After speaking with one of the volunteers, they said the tide may influence Salmon upstream, so we debated returning later that day.

1 minute later, the first bear ambled down the stream and across the hillside towards the river bridge.

It was a great morning! We saw about 3 Black Bears and learnt a lot about the hatcheries valiant efforts.

Its FREE - but we left a large donation, as these guys are doing sterling work!

Well worth the visit - but remember there are no guarantees bears will appear... enjoy the place anyway ;-)

All images taken on the morning, from the viewing area / walkway.
Written September 22, 2024
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.

Roxann H
Parksville, Canada145 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Couples
I have enjoyed going to the Thornton Creek Hatchery to watch the bears and the salmon run for several years and each year more and more people are coming to this area.
There is talk of this area being shut down to the public during the salmon run which would be really sad however I can see why after my last visit.

This is a natural wildlife habitat area and we are privileged to watch however respect must be shown and a few simple rules must be followed:

Have kids? If you are bringing your children with you PLEASE keep them by your side at ALL times! The bears travel to this area from ALL directions and to keep your kids
safe it is best if they are near you.

Advise your kids NOT to Yell, Scream, Run, Cry or allow them to eat ice cream, fruit, soft drinks, chocolate, sandwiches or ANY FOOD OR DRINK when at Thornton Creek!

It is posted by the hatchery on large signs No Food or Drink!

While this seems to be common sense - I was shocked how many kids were allowed to do all of the above! Again it is up to the parents or guardians to keep your kids safe from
becoming bear bait. Food of any kind is a bear attractant.

Be bear aware at all times!! This is not a zoo, there are no cages or barriers - Again the bears travel from ALL DIRECTIONS to reach the creek and the salmon including the boardwalk!! This can happen suddenly and without
any warning - the bears will be right where YOU are or maybe where YOUR kids are and YOU are not - I hope you parents are getting the picture here as this is very important!

Have a dog? Please leave your dog in your vehicle or if possible do not bring your dog to Thornton Creek. They are not allowed here! Again no one wants to watch your dog
irritate a bear or put others in jeopardy because your dog is running loose barking and trying to approach the bears or eat the salmon.

It is posted on large signs by the hatchery No Dogs!

For all of you that wish to see the bears here at Thornton Creek please quietly observe, speak quietly and walk softly. The bears know you are there however there is no reason
to attract them to you or scare them off. We all want the opportunity to observe and enjoy the wildlife - but we must do this with respect.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thornton Creek offers one of the best viewing sites to watch bears and salmon - lets keep it that way. Also the Hatchery has a box for
money donations to help continue their good work - please remember to donate whatever you can - it will be cheaper than any Bear Watching Trip that is offered out there.
Written October 14, 2014
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.

ukeebc
victoria1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Solo
This was never meant to be a zoo and unfortunately tourists were not respectful of wild animals and today Oct 29 2014 a tourist stupidly sat there and ate her lunch. The bear came up, swiped at her ankle and hence the bear was shot dead. The boardwalk has now been closed. Please stay away. Much thanks!
Written October 29, 2014
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.

robtk
Amersfoort, The Netherlands139 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Couples
Hard to write a review for this attraction. Why? Well, the hatchery itself is ok. But people don't go here because of the hatchery.

Hatchery: it is a small salmon hatchery. It used to be open to the public, but since an incident with a bear in 2014, the hatchery is closed to the public. Not entirely: they do tours during the day, but not on a fixed schedule. I think they plan to do that starting later this year.
The attraction however is not the hatchery, but the boardwalk around the hatchery. When you walk on the boardwalk (which is no longer accessible), you walk next to Thornton Creek where a number of black bears frequently search food. THIS is the actual reason people go there.

From a bear viewing point of view I should say: nothing to see people, keep walking. Because I don't want this area to be swamped with tourists taking bear pictures and chasing them away.
However, it still is a great place to watch bears. Yes, the hatchery is closed, but that doesn't mean there are no bears. The only bad thing is that A LOT of people come here. And this large number of people chases the bears away. I have been here about 7 times in a single week, and saw bears on all but one trip. And that trip was the one time when there were about 15 people there. Crazy.

So, Hatchery: ok. Bear viewing: great. But please people, don't flock the place and give the bears their space!
Written September 28, 2015
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.

orcamist
Calgary, Canada20 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Solo
This needless death of a bear is because people have no respect. A very few visitors over the years always made sure they conducted themselves to be humbled and privileged to be able to spend time in the "bears presence" . To give them their space, to always be aware of the bears presence and their own. I can't help but feel that every visitor is responsible for what happened. The bears will now be left alone to fill their bellies for the upcoming winter months, as it should be.
Written October 30, 2014
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.

DaveHarper
Stockton-on-Tees, UK66 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Ok this is a salmon hatchery but the REAL attraction is that the bears come along to have a feast before hibernating so if you want to see bears in the wild without paying for an expensive bear watch excursion, then drop by this hatchery. Voluntary donations are welcomed because it is a free venue and they do appreciate a little financial help.
We saw and photographed 6 bears in the space of 2 hours and we were just yards away from them!! They are there to catch the mature salmon that have returned to the spawning ground so it's easy pickings for the bears. Be careful though because the bears will stroll all around and you may just meet one or two walking along the riverside boardwalk that you are using!!
Access to the hatchery is off Port Albion road, just north of Ucluelet. It's not obviously signposted so once on Port Albion road, watch out for the Thornton Creek Hatchery sign on the right. The access road to the hatchery itself is a rough stoney track but navigable in a normal vehicle. Be aware that bears may walk up the track too! Parking is limited.
We've been twice and saw bears both times and I think if you can time it for when the tide is receding (strands the salmon in pools) then you might see more action! Just be careful and respect that you're in bear country!!
Written October 16, 2013
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.

Voyage699574
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2018
It was my last day and I hadn't achieved one of my goals - to see a bear- so I headed to the hatchery. I arrived as it opened and was met by a really nice guy who told me all about the hatchery A bear obliged by appearing immediately and soon he/she was joined by another. Perfect! You can get really up close safely
Written October 2, 2018
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.

sunlover57
Calgary, Canada281 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2018 • Couples
Sad to see people pushing and shoving each other with no respect for others to get a closer look at a bear feeding on salmon jumping in the river.
I’m really not sure this should be open to the public. Let the salmon and bears live without the intrusion of people.
Written September 20, 2018
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.

Babsbennett
Pembroke Dock, UK46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Couples
We popped into the Hatchey and a lovely volunteer talked us through what they do, and how they help keep the Salmon numbers up.

It is down a bumpy road, we didn't have a 4x4 but managed fine. The sign can be easy to miss, so look it up on a map as not hard to find if you know which turning it is, as there are not many roads off Port Albion Road!

We didn't see any Salmon, as it hadn't rained, however as we arrived a young black bear ambled right along the river you overlook from the broad walk and seemed unbothered by all the photo taking.

There is no entrance fee, but a suggested dontaion of 10 - 20 dollars, we were more than happy to contribute as they do a wonderful job.
Written September 26, 2017
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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THORNTON CREEK HATCHERY - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

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