Salmon ‘SEEson’ is here again: Spot returning salmon around King County

Fall is here, and that means that salmon will be making the journey from the Pacific Ocean to area streams and rivers to spawn. You can take advantage of the many salmon-viewing opportunities available now around the Lake Washington/Cedar/ Sammamish Watershed.

Be inspired by the remarkable journey of these beautiful creatures. Sockeye, chum, coho and even the majestic chinook salmon can be seen at parks and other locations at organized viewing events sponsored by a variety of partners around the watershed.

While the usually robust return of brightly colored sockeye salmon is lower than in past years, salmon watchers this year should expect to see an exceptionally strong return of chinook salmon on the spawning grounds. Naturalists are available in many locations to help visitors spot fish and learn about the salmon lifecycle and what we can do to protect them.

For more information on any of all of the sites listed below, call 206-296-8016, or visit www.kingcounty.gov/salmon and click on Salmon SEEson, where you will find links to information on how you can protect salmon and their habitat this fall – and year-round.

This program is sponsored by the Water Resource Inventory Area-8 Salmon Recovery Council as part of its effort to rebuild salmon populations in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed.

See salmon on these dates at these locations:

Best viewing through September (salmon talks twice a day)*
Chittenden Locks in Seattle (Ballard)
For more info: 206-783-7059 or search web for “Chittenden Locks”
Sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sept. 20, Oct. 4 and one other date TBA (9-11 a.m. each day)
Along the Sammamish River Trail, south of 85th Street Bridge, Redmond
For more info: 425-556-2822 or pholte@redmond.gov
Sponsored by the City of Redmond

Sept. 27 (1-4 p.m.), Oct. 2 (3-6 p.m.) and Oct. 4 (1-4 p.m.)
Along Bear Creek, north of Redmond
For more info: 425-788-5083 or www.watertenders.org
Sponsored by Water Tenders

Sept. 27, Oct. 12 and Oct. 18 (11 a.m. -1 p.m. each day)
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery on Issaquah Creek, 125 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah
For more info: 425-392-8025 or www.issaquahfish.org
Sponsored by Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery

Sept. 27 (10 a.m.2 p.m.)
Along North Creek in Bothell
Corner of 224th St. SE and 23rd Dr. SE in Canyon Park Business Park
For more info: swswint@snoco.org or 425-388-6476
Sponsored by Snohomish County

Late September to mid-November, every day during business hours*
Bear Creek in Redmond, 12526 Avondale Rd NE. (behind Classic Nursery)
For more info: 425-882-1846 or lyhussey@comcast.net
Sponsored by Redmond Organization for Shared Environments

Throughout October - self-guided Mercer Slough fish ladder on Kelsey Creek in Bellevue
Call or e-mail first: 425-452-5200 or streamteam@bellevuewa.gov
Sponsored by the City of Bellevue

Oct. 11, 18, 19, 25 and 26 and Nov. 1 (11 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day)
Four locations along the Cedar River near Renton
For more info: 206.245.0143 or www.cedarriver.org
Sponsored by Friends of the Cedar River Watershed

Oct. 11, 18 and 25 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m. each day)
Rotary Park along Little Bear Creek, 19518-136th Ave NE, Woodinville
For more info: 425-489-2754, x2221, or debrac@ci.woodinville.wa.us
Sponsored by the City of Woodinville

On weekends from Nov. 8 to Dec. 14, with special activities on Nov. 28 (11 a.m. - 2 p.m. each day)
Pipers Creek in Seattle’s Carkeek Park
For more info: 206-684-0877 or www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/carkeek.htm Sponsored by the City of Seattle

Related Information

Salmon SEEson

Salmon and Trout Topics

King County Water and Land Resources Division