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10 Best Places to See Salmon Spawning Around Seattle and the Eastside

Go, salmon! the best salmon viewing in rivers and creeks around town

Fiona Cohen
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Published on: August 15, 2023

10 Best Places to See Salmon Spawning Around Seattle and the Eastside

Best-places-see-salmon-spawning-lake sammamish-ebright-creek-lewis-creek-Seattle-kids-families
Photo:
Kokanee salmon. Credit: Jason Dirks via Flickr CC

Ebright Creek, Lewis Creek and Laughing Jacobs Creek, Lake Sammamish

It’s a treat to spot the unique and rare little red kokanee salmon spawning in Ebright Creek, Lewis Creek or Laughing Jacobs Creek. This is one of only six known kokanee populations in Washington and the only one close to the Seattle area. Unlike other salmon, these little guys spend their entire lives in fresh water.

Location: Try these access points: Ebright Creek at the East Lake Sammamish Trail, Sammamish; Lewis Creek at 185th Place Southeast, Issaquah; Laughing Jacobs Creek at the Lake Sammamish State Park boat launch.

When: November through January

More info: Call 206-477-4746 first to see if fish are running.

First time out? Here are some tips.

  • Bring binoculars for a better view of the salmons’ physical changes.
  • Dress to stay warm — watching salmon is a quiet activity.
  • Keep pooches leashed (if dogs are allowed at all). A dead salmon might look like an irresistible snack.
  • If you see a dead fish, leave it where it is. The ecosystem needs them!
  • The salmon are hard at work. Stay out of the water and don’t disturb them in any way.

Editor’s notes: Image credit Jason Dirks/Flickr CC. ParentMap staff contributed to this article, which was originally published many years ago and is updated every year, most recently in 2023.

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