Salmon spawning season in Alaska is a spectacular natural event that attracts visitors from around the world. Five species of Pacific salmon return to Alaska’s rivers and streams every year to continue their life cycle. The timing of each salmon run varies by species location and other factors. This article provides an overview of when and where you can see salmon spawning in Alaska.
Alaska Salmon Species and Life Cycle
There are five species of Pacific salmon that spawn in Alaska
- Chinook (king) salmon
- Sockeye (red) salmon
- Coho (silver) salmon
- Pink salmon
- Chum salmon
Salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers, migrate to the ocean to feed and grow, and then return to their natal freshwater streams to spawn and die.
The salmon life cycle begins when adults lay and fertilize thousands of eggs in gravel stream beds during spawning season. The eggs hatch into juveniles called alevin or sac fry. The juvenile salmon spend time in their natal stream to feed and grow before migrating out to the ocean. They spend one to five years maturing in the ocean before returning to freshwater to spawn, repeating the cycle.
Overview of Salmon Runs in Alaska
In general, here is when the different salmon species return to Alaska’s rivers and streams to spawn:
- Chinook salmon: Mid-May through July
- Sockeye salmon: June through August
- Coho salmon: July through October
- Pink salmon: July and August
- Chum salmon: June through November
However, run timing can vary significantly depending on the specific river system and other factors. Many rivers see multiple runs of the same species in different seasons. Below is more detail on the spawning seasons for each salmon species in key regions of Alaska.
Chinook (King) Salmon Spawning Season
Chinook or king salmon runs occur from mid-May through July in most Alaskan rivers. Some major spawning locations and run details include:
- Kenai River: First run from mid-May to late June; second larger run in July
- Kasilof River: First run mid-May to June; second run July 1-31
- Copper River: June 1 to mid-August
- Nushagak River: Mid-June to early July (largest king salmon run in Alaska)
- Susitna River tributaries: Mid-June through July
- Talkeetna River: Mid-June through mid-July
Sockeye (Red) Salmon Spawning Season
Sockeye or red salmon runs take place from June through August throughout Alaska. Some key spawning sites and details:
- Kenai River: Early run late May to early July; second run mid-July to mid-August
- Russian River: First run mid-June to mid-July; second run late July through August
- Kasilof River: First run late May to June; second run early July to August
- Copper River: Mid-May through early August
- Bristol Bay rivers (Nushagak, Kvichak, Alagnak): Late June through July
- Talkeetna River: Late June through mid-July
Coho (Silver) Salmon Spawning Season
Coho or silver salmon spawn from July through October in Alaska. Some important spawning sites include:
- Kenai River: First run late July to August; second run early September to mid-October
- Russian River: Early August through September
- Susitna River tributaries: Late July to mid-August
- Copper River: Mid-July through September
- Bristol Bay rivers: August through September
- Sitka area rivers: September through October
- Juneau area rivers: September through October
Pink Salmon Spawning Season
Pink salmon runs occur during July and August in even-numbered years throughout much of Alaska. Key spawning sites include:
- Kenai River: Mid-July through August (even years)
- Copper River: July through August
- Bristol Bay: Late July through August
- Southeast Alaska rivers: July to mid-August
Chum Salmon Spawning Season
Chum salmon spawn from June through November in Alaska, with peak runs in mid-summer and fall. Some important spawning rivers include:
- Yukon River tributaries: July through November (most abundant salmon species here)
- Kenai River: July through August
- Susitna River: July through August
- Copper River: June through August
- Bristol Bay rivers: June through August
- Southeast Alaska rivers: July through October
Best Places to See Salmon Spawning
Some of the most popular and accessible places to witness salmon spawning in Alaska include:
- Kenai River and Russian River (Chinook, sockeye, coho)
- Ship Creek in Anchorage (Chinook, coho)
- Steep Creek near Seward (coho, sockeye)
- Campbell Creek in Anchorage (coho)
- Tern Lake near Sterling (sockeye)
- Quartz Creek near Cooper Landing (sockeye)
- Salmon hatcheries like William Jack Hernandez on Ship Creek
When planning a salmon viewing trip, be sure to check for updated run timing and closures on specific rivers and streams. Spawning seasons can vary year to year. Contact local Alaska Department of Fish and Game offices for the latest information. With thousands of wild salmon returning every year, witnessing the spectacle of spawning season in Alaska is an unforgettable experience.
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When do salmon run in Alaska?
The salmon run typically starts in the springtime, around April or May, and runs into the autumn depending on the geographic area and species. The run isn’t consistent from year to year both in terms of numbers of fish and timing, and the main runs take place in July and August.
“King salmon are usually the first to return. For that reason, they are sometimes referred to as ‘spring salmon,” Kenny says. They are followed by the other four types of salmon in Alaska: sockeye, pink, chum and silver.
While the species do overlap in their geographic ranges, pink salmon are known to spawn closest to the ocean, in the lower reaches of rivers and streams. King, sockeye, silver and chum salmon habitats tend to thrive further up the big rivers and in some short to medium length rivers, too.
“Salmon bury their eggs in permeable gravel,” explains Kenny. “This allows clean and oxygenated cold water to reach those eggs. Unfortunately, activities such as logging operations cause soil erosion, which often blocks the gravel.”
The salmon’s life cycle
Brown bears consume what is seasonally available to them, including berries, grass, insects and fish. Salmon, however, become most vital to their diet in the autumn, when they need to put on massive amounts of weight in preparation for winter hibernation. Then they concentrate on eating the fatty parts of the fish, particularly the layer of fat under the skin and the oil-rich eggs.
It’s not just brown bears who benefit from a flourishing salmon run in Alaska. Many species, such as orcas, seals, black bears, wolves, eagles, gulls and ravens, do, too. “Or anything else that scavenges the salmon carcasses as they float down river or get abandoned in the forest by over-fed bears,” adds Kenny.
Piles of salmon carcasses eventually lodge in pools and bends and slowly break down. “The decomposed salmon in the forest — along with the feces of bears, wolves and birds — adds nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and carbon to the forest. It provides food for a whole host of other creatures, building a habitat for large predators,” he explains. “Meanwhile, anything left in the river helps to enrich that freshwater ecosystem, feeding various invertebrates and the nymphs of insects.” Eventually, this injection of fresh nutrients will feed and nourish the new, young salmon to come.
The Salmon’s Life Mission | Destination WILD
FAQ
Where is the best place to see the salmon run in Alaska?
- Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge – Potter Marsh. …
- Indian Creek along Turnagain Arm. …
- Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform in Portage Valley. …
- Tern Lake. …
- Quartz Creek. …
- Russian River. …
- Offbeat idea -Kenai River mouth dipnetting harvest. …
- William Jack Hernandez Fish Hatchery.
What months do salmon run in Alaska?
Salmon in Alaska typically run from May through October, with peak seasons varying by species and location. King (Chinook) salmon runs begin in May, while Sockeye (Red) salmon runs typically occur from June through August.
What time of year do salmon run in Ketchikan, Alaska?
Ketchikan Wildlife Viewing
Ketchikan Creek flows through Downtown Ketchikan and fills with spawning salmon each July and August. The planks of Ketchikan’s famous Creek Street are a good spot to watch salmon swim upstream.
What salmon are running right now in Alaska?
In June, Alaska is experiencing runs of King (Chinook) and Sockeye salmon.
When do salmon run in Alaska?
We also recommend revieing the Alaska Fishing Seasons guide for general salmon run timing charts by region. King Salmon, commonly referred to as Chinook, run from mid-May through the end of July. Run dates and duration vary slightly from region to region.
What type of salmon spawns in Alaska?
For that reason, they are sometimes referred to as ‘spring salmon,’” Kenny says. They are followed by the other four types of salmon in Alaska: sockeye, pink, chum and silver. While the species do overlap in their geographic ranges, pink salmon are known to spawn closest to the ocean, in the lower reaches of rivers and streams.
When do salmon runs start?
As the season heats up, Pink and Chum salmon runs get into full swing in July and fishing remains strong through late August. As Pink and Chum salmon runs begin to cool down, Coho (Silver ) salmon runs are just getting started. Coho runs begin in August and go clear through October.
When is salmon fishing season in Alaska?
October – Later part of silver salmon run. Chum salmon runs occur. So the core Alaska salmon fishing season is from May through September when most of the runs occur. But good fishing can happen earlier and later depending on location. The precise timing of salmon returns varies across Alaska based on differences between the major regions:
When do Alaskan sockeye salmon run?
The tables below list the historic run dates and peak activity for Alaskan Sockeye salmon. The first sockey run is from late-May through early July. The second run is from mid-July to mid-August. The first run peaks from mid-June through mid-July. The late run begins mid-July and extends through August.
When do salmon spawn at Steep Creek?
This is a very unique run, salmon begin entering the lake as late as September and spawn until April. Steep Creek is a Forest Service fish viewing site, with runs of sockeye and coho salmon that start in mid-July and continue into October. The site is very easy to visit.