Photo:
A salmon in a stream near Seattle. Photo: iStock
Best places to see salmon spawn around Seattle
What can your children learn from a fish? Plenty — about determination, perseverance, and the weird and fascinating drama of nature.
Every year, Pacific salmon travel hundreds of miles through the ocean, navigating storms and slipping past predators and fishermen’s nets, relentlessly focused on arriving at the local streams where they were hatched. Their purpose: to mate and bury their eggs in the stream bottom before they die.
By the time the fish fight their way into the creeks, their sleek bodies have been transformed. Males’ jaws become hooked (female cohos also develop a less-pronounced hooked jaw), and their silver scales take on earthier tones. Chinook darken to copper; sockeye turn red with green heads; chum develop reddish stripes; and coho sport green backs and red bellies. They no longer eat, and white fungus often forms blotches on their skin.
When is the best time to see salmon?
In September and October, sockeye and Chinook (also known as “king”) arrive in the area. In November, chum and coho take their turn in fresh water.
While they’re alive, the salmon battle the current to swim upstream, and compete with each other to win mates and spawning spots. They die soon after spawning, and as they decompose, their bodies fertilize the streams.
Where can you take your kids to watch this action unfold?
Spawning salmon are clearly visible from a number of local vantage points. It’s a chance for your family to get outdoors and learn about an amazing part of the region’s natural cycles. And don’t feel silly if you find yourself cheering on a fish fighting its way upstream — people do it all the time.
Browse all the salmon sighting spots, or jump to the salmon viewing site of your choice:
- Ballard Locks, Seattle
- Blue Heron Park, Lake Forest Park
- Cedar River, Renton and Maple Valley
- North Creek, Bothell
- Sammamish River, Redmond
- Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Issaquah
- Piper’s Creek, Carkeek Park, Seattle
- Duwamish Gardens Park, Tukwila
- Green River and Hatchery Natural Area, Auburn
- Longfellow Creek, West Seattle
- Ebright Creek, Lake Sammamish
- Deschutes River, Tumwater
- Kennedy Creek, Mason County
First time out? Here are some tips:
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Editor’s note: This story was originally published many years ago and was updated on Sept. 10, 2025, by ParentMap’s editorial team with a thorough fact-check and details on current salmon sightings.
First salmon stop: Ballard Locks
