Getting Started with Your Secret Salmon Spots

Welcome to your self-guided salmon viewing adventure! This resource helps you witness one of nature’s most incredible journeys as Pacific salmon return to spawn in local waterways.

What You’ll Experience

Bring your family to watch adult salmon navigate upstream to the exact streams where they were born, creating nests (called “redds”) and completing their life cycle. Look for splashing, jumping fish and V-shaped wakes in the water. After salmon spawn, they complete their life cycle and return nutrients to the ecosystem; you may notice salmon carcasses along the riverbanks.

Before You Go

• Fall viewing: Best 2-3 days after rainfall when water levels are optimal
• Spring viewing: Only during warming glacial snowmelt – once the Cascades fully melt, spring spawning ends
• Time your visit: Early morning (8-10am) and late afternoon often offer the best viewing
• Bring essentials: Binoculars, camera, water, snacks, and layers for changing weather
• Respect wildlife: Stay on designated paths, keep voices low, and maintain distance from spawning areas

What to Look For

• Jumping and splashing salmon – Fish leaping over obstacles or displaying during courtship
• Redds – Gravel nests that appear as lighter-colored oval patches on the stream bottom
• V-shaped wakes – Surface disturbance created by salmon swimming just below the surface
• Multiple fish – Groups of salmon congregating in deeper pools

Making the Most of Your Visit

Each location offers unique viewing opportunities and nearby attractions. Plan 30-60 minutes per site for optimal viewing, and consider including a nearby hike or waterfall visit in your itinerary for a full day adventure.

Ready to start your salmon spotting adventure? Choose your location on your Secret Salmon Spots card based on the season!