Every year Washington State University Kitsap County extension sponsors Kitsap Salmon Tours: a day of salmon viewing during spawning season. In 2020, however, for safety, they’re coming up with a calendar of virtual events. But the salmon are still here, and you can view them on your own around the various salmon-viewing sites in Kitsap. Just a note: the featured image here is from Julie on Flickr; a beautiful piece of art called “Spawning Salmon” under a Creative Commons 2.0 License.
At the time we’re updating this post, they have not listed the date for the salmon tours events for 2023. It’s generally the first Saturday in October and starts around 9:00 AM, but I’d check their website for specific dates and times. It’s a fun activity for the kids and they have educators at various sites.
Salmon Viewing Map
The map below is a static image. You can click here or on the map image to go to the page with the live map of salmon viewing locations.
Kitsap Salmon Viewing
During the fall in the Pacific Northwest, salmon return from the ocean up the rivers to spawn. Salmon are an anadromous species, which means they begin their life in freshwater, and then swim to saltwater, where they mature. Some salmon can stay in the ocean for up to seven years.
After that, the salmon will swim back to its home stream, lay eggs, and die. A useful resource for reading more about the salmon’s life cycle is here. In Autumn, you can see spawning salmon around the area at local rivers, creeks, and fish ladders.
In Kitsap County, Washington State University Kitsap Extension sponsors Kitsap Salmon Tours every fall, usually in early November. It’s a great event for kids who enjoy seeing the salmon swimming in the creeks. At the end of this post are the locations and date for this year’s salmon tour events…but you can go on other days as well to catch a glimpse of the fish.
Below is an infographic about what types of salmon you can find in the Pacific Northwest. During November, in Kitsap streams, you’re most likely to find chum and coho salmon spawning.
Some Considerations When Viewing the Salmon
- Bringing polarized sunglasses will cut the glare and give you a better view of the fish.
- Check pet restrictions for the area you’re visiting. You may need to leave Fido at home, but at least have him on a leash and keep him quiet.
- Kids can get excited about the fish, but remember to keep them from disturbing/trying to touch the fish.
- Remember to prepare for the possibility of wet weather around here in November. Even if it doesn’t look like it might rain, you might be surprised. And, even if not, you may encounter some boggy, slippery ground near streams.
