Salmon Viewing Trail

Begin by locating the trailhead on the south side of the road. The path is wide and flat with a surface of gravel covered in fallen Douglas fir needles. Frequent interpretive signs inform the hiker about salmon, the ecosystem and the effects of the Lake Cle Elum Dam that effectively cut off the upper valley to the migrating fish.

Early on the hiker will see a fork in the path. The path to the right is a shortcut to the viewing area that heads steeply up a low hill and down to the river. Stay left to remain on the ADA-accessible trail, which does not navigate any elevation. Some ponderosa and cottonwoods appear overhead just as the trail bends to the right and suddenly meets the river.

The river is very wide, shallow and slow at this point, which is the ideal place for Chinook salmon to spawn. Please do not enter the river here or build rock formations as it disturbs the spawning area. At 0.3 mile, the ADA trail ends at a set of bleachers, where people can view the migration and spawning during peak season, typically in late September or early October.

At this point, the hiker can choose to return to the trailhead either by the ADA path or by the shortcut trail. For another excellent glimpse of the river, head toward the closed bridge and enjoy the expansive views up and down the wide bend of the river, which, at this point, is less than a half-mile downstream from the dam.