Summer may be slowly drawing to a close, but that doesn't mean there aren't still plenty of activities to do outside. Late summer and early autumn can offer some of the best outdoor experiences. For example, you can dig for fossils at plenty of sites across North America, watch the salmon runs as spawning season approaches, camp and explore national parks — but make sure you follow Leave No Trace practices, and if you can't find time to get outside, you can explore the depths of the ocean with an interactive website.
Learn more about these engaging activities and how you can squeeze them in before winter arrives.
We'll be sharing these science tips each week on wildlife, adventurous locations, and tools that can help you interact with your surroundings. What do you want to know more about? Let us know at editorial@discovermagazine.com.
1. Where To Watch Salmon Runs
(Image Credit: CSNafzger/Shutterstock)
Salmon runs can turn an ordinary-looking river into a crowded migration route. Fish push against the current, gather in shallow pools, and sometimes leap over rocks or up waterfalls as they return upstream to spawn. Timing depends on the species and local conditions, but late summer through fall is the main viewing season across much of North America.
Explore All OptionsIf you want to see a run, here are some places to consider:
- Tsútswecw Park, British Columbia: The Adams River hosts one of North America’s largest sockeye runs, with the best viewing generally in early October 2026, a dominant year in its four-year cycle, when millions of salmon could return.
- Brooks Falls, Alaska: Sockeye begin moving through the Brooks River in large numbers in late June, with the run usually peaking in early July. Visitors may see salmon attempting to clear the falls while brown bears fish nearby.
- Bonneville Lock and Dam, Oregon and Washington: On the Columbia River east of Portland, Bonneville has fish ladders and windows where visitors can watch migrating salmon. Adult fish can be seen from August through November, with fall Chinook and coho spawning in September and October.
- Humber River, Toronto: Chinook and coho move upstream each fall. Étienne Brûlé Park near Old Mill offers views of salmon jumping below a river barrier, while Raymore Park has a fish ladder that helps them continue upstream.
- Salmon River, New York: Salmon begin entering the river around Labor Day, with the Chinook and coho run usually peaking from late September through mid-October. Visitors can watch from public river-access points or the observation decks at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery.
Salmon do not arrive on a fixed schedule, so check reports before traveling. When watching a run:
- Stay on the bank or on the viewing platform, and out of the water.
- Use binoculars rather than moving closer.
- Keep dogs leashed and away from the stream.
- Never touch the fish or step on the gravel nests where they lay their eggs.
- In bear country, remain in designated viewing areas and follow all ranger instructions.
Keeping the water undisturbed gives the salmon the space they need to finish spawning.
Read More: Cocaine Pollution May be Changing How Far Atlantic Salmon Swim — with Potential Ecosystem Effects
2. Where To Dig For Fossils
(Image Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest/Shutterstock)
You don’t need to be a paleontologist to go fossil hunting. Across the U.S., there are places where visitors can split open ancient rocks, sift through sediment, and sometimes take home fossils that are hundreds of millions of years old.
For an easy introduction, try Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve near Buffalo, New York, where you can search 380-million-year-old rock for trilobites, corals, and brachiopods. Utah’s U-Dig Fossils is famous for abundant Cambrian trilobites, while Wyoming’s Warfield Fossil Quarries let visitors split layers of the Green River Formation in search of fossil fish.
Want to graduate to dinosaurs? Try a guided dinosaur dig in places like Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas, where you can work alongside paleontologists at active fossil sites.
Things to remember before you dig:
- Check the collecting rules, as they vary depending on who owns the land.
- Never remove fossils from U.S. national parks.
- Wear sturdy shoes, gloves, and eye protection, and bring plenty of water.
- Use small tools and brushes.
- Stay away from unstable cliffs and loose rock.
- If you discover something unusual, photograph it and record its location rather than immediately removing it.
And remember — even a tiny fossil can be an incredible find. You could be the first person to see it in hundreds of millions of years!
Read More: Long-Lost Megalodon Fossils Confirm the Giant Shark Could Reach 80 Feet Long
3. Leave No Trace National Parks
(Image Credit: Chris J Ferro/Shutterstock)
The national parks are for everyone, and it takes all of us to treat these natural wonders with respect. That's why the National Park Service promotes the Leave No Trace Principles for all visitors, whether they are inside a park or in another wilderness area. If you’re unfamiliar with the Leave No Trace Principles, here are the core lessons to follow.
- Properly Dispose of Garbage and Food Waste: The parks are not garbage cans. Leaving food waste and wrappers lying around can attract animals to campsites and highly trafficked tourist areas, leading to harmful human-wildlife encounters.
Waste also includes toiletries, hygiene products, and toilet paper. Keep the parks clean and pristine for visitors and the wildlife that call them home. - Take Only Photos, Leave Only Footprints: Do not remove items from the parks. This includes rocks, wildflowers, sticks, and other plants. Removing these items can disrupt natural habitats and harm ecosystems.
Park officials also urge you not to build structures or stack rocks in waterways. - Respect Wildlife: The parks are home to unique wildlife. Observe animals from a safe distance, and do not disturb them by crowding them or trying to touch them. For the best photos, bring a zoom lens.
Do not feed wildlife. This can lead to harmful interactions and may ultimately put an animal’s life at risk. - Keep Campsites and Campfires Clean and Controlled: Camping in the parks can be a lot of fun, but remember to camp only in designated areas and to pack up everything you’ve brought.
If you have a campfire, check for burn restrictions and fully extinguish the fire. This will help prevent wildfires.
Following these principles will help ensure that the parks are enjoyable for everyone for generations to come.
4. Exploring the Ocean with The Deep Sea Website
Want to know what's lurking thousands of feet beneath the ocean's surface? The Deep Sea, an interactive website created by Neal Agarwal, lets you explore the ocean from the surface all the way down to its deepest point without leaving your browser.
Using it couldn't be easier — just keep scrolling down. As you descend, the site introduces animals at roughly the depths where they live.
Keep an eye out for:
- Familiar animals like dolphins, sea turtles, and sharks near the surface.
- Deep-sea creatures including vampire squid, giant isopods, and dumbo octopuses.
- Bizarre species such as the goblin shark and barreleye fish.
- Famous depth markers, including the wreck of the Titanic.
- Comparisons that help put the depth of the ocean into perspective.
What makes the site so effective is that it turns an abstract number into an experience. Rather than simply telling you the ocean’s deepest point is nearly 11,000 meters down, the site makes you scroll through that distance yourself.
The deeper you travel, the darker and stranger the ocean becomes, offering a surprisingly effective demonstration of just how enormous and mysterious the deep sea really is.
