13 Best Places to See Salmon Spawning Around Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound
Photo:
A sockeye salmon swims up the river before spawning. Photo: iStock
Piper’s Creek, Carkeek Park, Seattle
The trail along Piper’s Creek, in Seattle’s Carkeek Park, is a wonderful family hike any time of the year. But a walk here is especially magical in the fall, when you can look for hundreds of chum returning to the creek. In previous years, volunteer salmon stewards have been stationed here in November. Piper’s Creek is typically the city’s best spot to view a salmon run. (Tip: Don’t miss the salmon slide at the playground in the upper meadow, to the north of the lower meadow area by the creek.)
Location: Carkeek Park, 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Rd., Seattle. Follow the one-way loop road past the play area and bridge to the beach to park at the lower meadow that’s nearest the creek. Or, park at the Carkeek Park Eddie McAbee Entrance, and walk the trail that crisscrosses the creek and passes the old apple orchard. It’s about a mile to reach the main salmon-viewing areas.
When to see salmon: October, November and December
Next stop: Duwamish Gardens Park
