The Puntledge River runs through the heart of Courtenay before joining the Tsolum River and flowing into Comox Harbour. It is the city's defining natural feature — a clear, cold glacially-fed river that supports runs of Chinook, Coho, and pink salmon in late summer and autumn, and resident trout year-round.
Puntledge Park, just upstream from town, is the best place to see the salmon. They push upstream in October and November, and at peak runs the river is alive with large fish. The adjacent Puntledge River Hatchery, operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, augments the natural runs and welcomes visitors — the tanks of juvenile salmon are free to visit and popular with children.
For fly fishers, the Puntledge is a well-regarded trout river. Regulations limit fishing to fly-only in parts of the river, and the catch-and-release ethic is strong locally. The Courtenay River Walk follows the banks of both rivers through town, with views of bald eagles and great blue herons that fish the same stretch.