Salmon Run Live Webcam: Fish Ladder + Underwater Cams
Watch the Pacific salmon run live — Ballard Locks Seattle fish ladder cam, Bonneville Dam Columbia River underwater viewing, Alaska Brooks Falls (combined with bear cam), and BC's Goldstream runs. Peak runs July-October with sockeye, Chinook, coho, and pinks ascending rivers. One of North America's greatest wildlife spectacles.
VIEW SALMON RUN CAMS LIVE →The Pacific salmon run is one of the most dramatic natural phenomena in North America — millions of anadromous fish (born in freshwater, migrating to ocean, returning to freshwater to spawn) ascending rivers to natal streams every summer and fall. The US Army Corps of Engineers operates two of the premier salmon viewing locations on live webcam: the Ballard Locks in Seattle (Chittenden Locks, connecting Puget Sound to Lake Washington via a fish ladder with underwater viewing windows) and Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. Sockeye, Chinook, coho, pink, chum — plus steelhead trout — can all be observed ascending these fish ladders during peak runs. A third major location, Brooks Falls in Alaska's Katmai National Park, combines salmon viewing with the world-famous Katmai bear cam (bears fishing for sockeye at the falls). British Columbia's Goldstream Provincial Park (Vancouver Island) hosts a dramatic chum salmon run in October-November with occasional live streams. Peak run timing varies by species:
- Sockeye: late June to August
- Chinook ("king"): spring (May-June) + fall (August-October)
- Coho ("silver"): August-November
- Pink ("humpy"): odd-numbered years, July-September
- Chum ("dog"): October-November
Salmon Run Live Cam Coverage
Ballard Locks (Seattle)
USACE underwater viewing
Fish ladder with 21 weirs + underwater glass viewing. Sockeye, Chinook, coho, steelhead visible July-October.
Bonneville Dam (Columbia River)
Largest ladder network
Columbia River salmon ladder — underwater viewing gallery at Washington shore. Largest run on West Coast.
Brooks Falls (Katmai, Alaska)
Combined with bear cam
Katmai sockeye run + Katmai bear cam bears fishing — peak July-September.
Goldstream BC (Vancouver Island)
Chum salmon
October-November chum salmon run in Goldstream Provincial Park.
Chittenden Locks Spawning Channel
Seattle secondary
Adjacent spawning channel viewing at Ballard Locks.
Columbia River Multi-Dam
McNary, John Day, Dalles, Bonneville
Multiple Columbia River dams have fish ladders. Bonneville is most-watched.
Alaska Statewide Runs
Multiple river systems
Bristol Bay, Yukon, Kuskokwim — Alaska salmon runs rank among world's largest.
Fraser River (BC)
Non-US world-class run
Fraser River sockeye run is one of world's largest, though limited live cam access.
When to Watch Salmon Run Cams
Salmon Run Viewing Windows
- May-June — Spring Chinook run — Columbia + Ballard
- Late June-August — Sockeye peak — Ballard + Alaska
- July-September — Pink salmon (odd years only) + Katmai brown bears catching sockeye
- August-October — Fall Chinook + coho peak — largest overall run at ladders
- October-November — Chum salmon (dog salmon) — Goldstream BC peak
- November-December — End of run cycles — late coho + steelhead
- Peak hours — Daytime fish passage most visible via underwater cams
- Bonneville viewing gallery — Real-time fish counts posted daily by USACE
- Salmon count records — Bonneville regularly exceeds 1 million salmon in peak seasons
- Associated wildlife — Bald eagles, bears, osprey, sea lions near runs
View Salmon Run Cams Live
Watch Pacific salmon ascending fish ladders at Ballard Locks + Bonneville Dam + Katmai Falls — free, July-October peak.
VIEW SALMON RUN CAMS LIVE →Pro Tip: Salmon Run Viewing Guide
The Pacific salmon run is actually multiple overlapping runs of different species. Key species + timing:
| Species | Common Name | Peak Run | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook | King salmon | May-June (spring), Aug-Oct (fall) | Largest species, 20-50+ lbs |
| Sockeye | Red salmon | Late June-August | Bright red spawning color |
| Coho | Silver salmon | August-November | Most acrobatic jumpers |
| Pink | Humpy | Jul-Sep (odd years only) | Smallest, 2-year lifecycle |
| Chum | Dog salmon | October-November | Largest fall run species |
| Steelhead | - | Year-round (strongest Nov-Mar) | Technically trout, anadromous |
Best live cam viewing locations:
- Ballard Locks, Seattle — underwater glass viewing, USACE live cam, peak July-October
- Bonneville Dam — Columbia River, largest ladder on West Coast, peak counts exceed 1 million salmon
- Brooks Falls, Katmai NP — combined with world-famous bear viewing, peak July-September
- Goldstream BC — chum run October-November
In-person viewing:
- Ballard Locks — free public access, 20 viewing windows underwater. Fish counts posted daily during summer.
- Bonneville Dam — Washington State Park visitor center + fish viewing gallery.
- Tumwater Falls (Olympia, WA) — fish ladder + waterfall combo. Salmon leap visible.
- Fish-counting stations — Washington + Oregon DNR have multiple public facilities.
Conservation context: Pacific salmon populations are declining overall due to dams, warming rivers, and ocean conditions. Fish ladders, spawning channel restoration, and hatchery programs support wild runs. Live cams support public education and citizen science.
For combined salmon + bear viewing, see our Katmai bear cam live webcam — Brooks Falls is where bears famously catch sockeye mid-air during the peak sockeye run.
For Seattle + Pacific Northwest travelers, see our Seattle traffic cameras guide, Washington traffic cameras guide, Oregon traffic cameras guide, I-5 corridor guide, SEA Seattle airport guide, PDX Portland airport guide, British Columbia traffic cameras guide, and Vancouver BC traffic cameras guide.
For other live wildlife cams, see our Katmai bear cam, Decorah eagle cam, Osprey cam, Puffin cam, Peregrine falcon cam, Owl cam, Hummingbird cam, Manatee cam, Panda cam Smithsonian, Wildebeest migration live webcam, and African safari live webcam.
Track the Pacific Salmon Run
Watch salmon ascending fish ladders via USACE + Explore.org + BC Parks — July-October peak run season.
VIEW SALMON RUN CAMS LIVE →When is the peak salmon run?
July through October for most Pacific salmon species. Specific peaks: sockeye late June-August, Chinook spring + fall runs, coho August-November, pinks odd-numbered-year July-September, chum October-November.
Where can I watch salmon ladder cams?
Ballard Locks Seattle (USACE underwater viewing), Bonneville Dam (Columbia River), Brooks Falls Alaska (combined with bear cam), Goldstream BC (chum run). USACE operates the primary fish viewing network.
What's the biggest salmon run?
Columbia River (Bonneville Dam ladder counts) regularly processes over 1 million salmon in peak seasons across all species. Historical peak counts exceeded 2 million. Fraser River BC sockeye runs in strong years can exceed 30 million fish.
Can I see salmon AND bears on the same cam?
Yes — Katmai bear cam at Brooks Falls is the iconic combined viewing — bears catch sockeye mid-leap at the falls during peak July run. One of the world's most-viewed wildlife streams.
Are salmon run cams free to watch?
Yes. USACE, Explore.org, BC Parks, and state agency cams all stream free with no signup required.
Ready to Watch the Salmon Run?
Stream Pacific salmon ascending fish ladders during peak run — free via USACE, Explore.org, BC Parks.
VIEW SALMON RUN CAMS LIVE →