Fall is here, and salmon are returning to streams and rivers around the Puget Sound. Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, steelhead, and cutthroat trout exist. They are heading for the streams where they hatched so that they can spawn. They’ll struggle through the current, compete for mates and spawning spots, and then die in the streams (except for the steelhead, which usually returns to the sea). Below are some places to get a glimpse of this amazing journey.
But first, some salmon watching etiquette:
- Remember not to step into the creek because Salmon spawn in the gravel bed.
- Prepare children before going: do not skip or throw rocks in the creek during salmon run season, as it might impact the spawning Salmon.
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery: Easy Access and Educational Tours
The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is open daily for guided tours and self-guided audio tours for individuals and small groups.Visit issaquahfish.org for more information. The hatchery is located at 125 W. Sunset Way in Issaquah.
“We visit the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery every year so our daughter can see and feed fish. This is one of the easiest spots to safely watch the salmon in Issaquah Creek, which runs right through the hatchery,” says local mom and writer Vizhi Thirusangu. “Kids can also feed the fish in the hatchery tank—the gift shop sells fish feed).
“A small aquarium with salmon fry (4- 12-week-old baby salmon) is a kid favorite,” says Thirusangu. “Pair it with playtime at the Gibson Park playground, located right behind the hatchery across the road. The hatchery also hosts an annual Salmon Days Festival during the first weekend of October, in honor of the Pacific Northwest salmon’s homecoming.”
See Sockeye on the Cedar River Salmon Journey
Join the Cedar River Salmon Journey and see spawning sockeye – bright red fish with green heads – at four sites along the Cedar River near Renton. Self-guided tours are available and Seattle Aquarium’s Naturalists will be available for questions and short talks. Go to this website for tour details, and kids’ activities.
“We heard this spot is a terrific one to catch fish in action, but when we visited during the second week of September to get a look at Salmon, but no luck,” says Thirusangu. “According to the Seattle Aquarium, the best time to spot Salmon in this river is in October.”
Watch Chum and Coho at Carkeek Park’s Piper’s Creek
See hundreds of returning chum and dozens of coho make their way into Piper’s Creek at Carkeek Park throughout November and December. This is the easiest place to see spawning salmon within city limits.
Look for fins and tails in the waters of Piper’s Creek. (Image: iStock)
Self-Guided Salmon Viewing at Bear Creek in Redmond
View sockeye and chinook salmon in Bear Creek from late September to mid-November, with daily viewing opportunities at the 90th St. Bridge in Redmond.
Duwamish River Hotspots for Fall Salmon Migration
Visit three sites – Codiga Park, Duwamish Gardens Park and North Wind’s Weir – on the Duwamish River to glimpse pinks, chinook, coho and chum migrating to upstream spawning beds. For more information, check out the county’s SalmonSEEson page. Check out DuwamishAlive.org for information about the river, restoration efforts, and special events.
Kelsey Creek and the Mercer Slough Fish Ladder
In October, salmon may return to Kelsey Creek at the Mercer Slough fish ladder south of Southeast 8th Street in Bellevue and at the west tributary at Kelsey Creek Farm Park. A webcam provides views of the creek. Call or email for updates before you go: 425-452-5200 or [email protected].
Boardwalk Views at Lake Sammamish State Park
Lake Sammamish State Park has a boardwalk trail near where the lake feeds into Issaquah Creek. This is where several salmon species journey from the lake up the creek to the salmon hatchery and beyond. The best viewing occurs mid-September through mid-October, with numbers usually highest in early October. You will need a Discover Pass to park at the state park. There is an automated pay station in the parking lot where you can buy one.
Rare Kokanee Spawning at Ebright and Lewis Creeks
If you are patient and lucky, you might see a little kokanee. They are the same species as sockeye but spend their whole lives in freshwater streams and lakes. From early November through late January, these native fish run at creeks feeding into Lake Sammamish. The runs have been quite small, and scientists are worried the Sammamish kokanee is near extinction. Here’s more information, including a map showing where to look for them.
Other spots for viewing Salmon:
The region is awash in riverbeds where salmon return to spawn and then, eventually, to die. Each of the locations below is worth a stop if you are passing by or in the parks during October and November.
Seattle
Salmon moving up the Ballard Locks (Phot by GlennFleishman / CC BY 2.0)
- Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Seattle (Ballard). Sockeye, Chinook and coho pass through the Ballard Locks during summer and fall, with Chinook counts typically running from late July through September and coho counts from early September into October. The fish ladder and underwater viewing windows make this one of the easiest places for kids to watch migrating salmon up close.
- Longfellow Creek, West Seattle. Coho return to Longfellow Creek in late fall, and Dragonfly Garden is a good place to begin exploring the creek. For kids, it’s an opportunity to discover that spawning salmon can be found in a stream running right through a Seattle neighborhood — and to learn how pollution and stormwater runoff affect urban salmon.
East
Tolt McDonald Park Bridge (Carnation) The hanging bridge in Tolt McDonald Park spans the Tolt River and offers a nice view of the river, where you watch for the salmon run. Although it’s not a guaranteed spot for viewing fish, they do move through these waters and eventually upstream to the lake to spawn. The park also has a playground, a vast lawn area for free play, and reservable campsites. Add this spot along with a farm visit in the Carnation area during the fall.
North Sound
(Photo courtesy City of Bothell)
- North Creek, Bothell. Fall is prime salmon-viewing time in North Creek. Follow the paved trail from the creek’s meeting point with the Sammamish River, south of the UW Bothell/Cascadia College campus, north through North Creek Business Park and check beneath the bridges, where fish sometimes gather. Kids can look for different species as the season changes, from Chinook in late summer and September to sockeye, kokanee and coho later in fall.
South Sound
Salmon education at Soos Creek (Photo courtesy Explore Auburn)
- Renton Library. Here’s that Thirusangu found on a recent visit: “Renton Library is built over the river and is an amazing spot to watch salmon runs with. The fact that it’s in a library only makes the outing more adventurous. Best watching here is from October-November, when numbers peak.”
- Green River, Auburn and Green River Valley. The Green River supports Chinook, chum and coho, with several public parks and river-access points offering opportunities to look for migrating salmon in fall. Watching from a bridge or riverbank gives kids a bird’s-eye view of how salmon navigate a much larger river on their journey upstream.
- Soos Creek Salmon Hatchery, Auburn area. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lists Soos Creek Salmon Hatchery, at 13030 Auburn-Black Diamond Road, as a King County salmon-viewing location. A working hatchery offers kids a different look at the salmon story, with the chance to see returning fish while learning about the role hatcheries play in managing salmon populations.
Further afield
For even more places to look for salmon, explore the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s statewide salmon-viewing guide and map.
- Duckabush River near Muhruth Falls
- Quilcene National Fish Hatchery, Open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m
