Fall is here, and salmon are returning to streams and rivers around Puget Sound. Watch for these beauties at the listed spots as they make their seasonal journey. Here are the best places and times to see the salmon:

Chittenden Locks, Seattle

Watch salmon migrate up the fish ladder at Ballard’s Chittenden Locks mid-June through October, with the best viewing in September. Professional naturalists provide daily salmon talks at the fish ladder following free one-hour tours. Call 206-783-7059 for current information or visit www.nws.usace.army.mil.

Sammamish River Trail, Redmond

Spot adult Coho, Sockeye and Chinook salmon in September and October as they migrate up the Sammamish River to their spawning grounds in Bear Creek. Contact Peter Holte at 425-556-2822 or pholte@redmond.gov for current information on where salmon have been seen, and when and where expert city staff will be available to answer questions. Information is also available on Redmond’s website: www.redmond.gov.

Issaquah Salmon Hatchery

See salmon return to Issaquah Creek from the bridge or through viewing windows daily from September through November. In addition, trained docents from Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery will lead guided tours every Saturday from Sept. 8 to Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 425-392-1118 or visit www.issaquahfish.org. The hatchery is located at 125 W. Sunset Way in Issaquah.

Bear Creek, Redmond

View Sockeye and Chinook salmon in Bear Creek from late September to mid-November by visiting a short trail located behind Redmond’s new Keep It Simple Farm on Avondale Road. The trail is self-guided. You may call to schedule a docent-led group tour (suggested donation of $1.50 per person). More information is available from Linda Hussey at 425-882-1846 or lyhussey@comcast.net. 

Kelsey Creek, Bellevue

You can often see salmon returning to Kelsey Creek in October at the Mercer Slough fish ladder in Bellevue, and at the west tributary at Kelsey Creek Farm Park. Call or email for updates before you go: 425-452-5200 or streamteam@bellevuewa.gov.

Cedar River, near Renton

On Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28, join the Cedar River Salmon Journey and see spawning salmon at five sites along the Cedar River near Renton. Experienced volunteer naturalists will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Renton Library, Cedar River Park, Riverview Park, Cavanaugh Pond, and Landsburg Park and Dam. Contact Charlotte Spang, Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, at 206-245-0143 or charlotte@cedarriver.org, or visit www.cedarriver.org for more info.

Piper’s Creek, Seattle

See hundreds of returning Chum and Coho make their way into Piper’s Creek at Carkeek Park throughout November and December. On weekends during the return (Nov. 10 to Dec. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), salmon stewards greet guests by the creek to explain the salmon's life cycle, habitat and human influence on both. On Friday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., all ages are invited for activities to welcome the salmon home. For information, call 206-684-5999 or email bill.malatinsky@seattle.gov. Report salmon sightings and more on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3fe6a78.

Ebright and Lewis Creeks, near Lake Sammamish

Don’t miss this chance to see little red Kokanee, a special and declining salmon species that is a smaller relative of Sockeye. Unlike other salmon, Kokanee spend their whole lives in freshwater streams and lakes. Between early November and late January these native fish can sometimes be viewed at Lake Sammamish, the only place to see them within 90 miles of Seattle. Call 206-263-3661 before you go to make sure fish are visible. Self-guided locations are Ebright Creek at the East Lake Sammamish Trail, and Lewis Creek at 185th Place Southeast in Issaquah. To learn more about Kokanee, visit www.kingcounty.gov/environment.

For more information about these opportunities, visit www.kingcounty.gov/salmon and click on "Salmon SEEson." Also on the website, you can learn how to protect salmon and their habitat this fall and year-round.

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