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Regular hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm
Last entry at 5 pm

Cedar River Salmon Journey

A white wave shape.

Thank you for joining us on the river!

The 2024 Cedar River Salmon Journey season has ended. Check back later for updates on the 2025 season.

Miss us already? Join us for our evening low tide beach exploration on Friday, November 15 at Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint!

Ballard Locks

Seattle Aquarium naturalists will be stationed at the Ballard Locks on select Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 3:30pm. See below for exact dates.

Please note: Schedule subject to change.

July

  • Saturday, July 6
  • Saturday, July 13
  • Saturday, July 27
  • Sunday, July 28

August

  • Saturday, August 3
  • Sunday, August 4
  • Saturday, August 10
  • Sunday, August 11
  • Saturday, August 17
  • Sunday, August 18
  • Saturday, August 24
  • Sunday, August 25
  • Saturday, August 31

September

  • Sunday, September 1
  • Saturday, September 7
  • Sunday, September 8
  • Saturday, September 14
  • Sunday, September 15

Cedar River

Seattle Aquarium naturalists will be stationed at five locations along the Cedar River in Renton and Maple Valley every weekend in October from 11am to 4pm.

Dates:

  • Saturday, October 5
  • Sunday, October 6
  • Saturday, October 12
  • Sunday, October 13
  • Saturday, October 19
  • Sunday, October 20
  • Saturday, October 26
  • Sunday, October 27

Please note: Schedule subject to change. Please call (206) 693-6281 if you have questions about recommended locations or possible changes/cancelations.

Locations:

A map of the greater Seattle area. Five locations are marked with red stars: Renton Library, Cedar River Park, Riverview Park, Belmondo Reach, and Landsburg Park.
Volunteers on bank of Cedar River pointing out salmon to members of the public.

Become a naturalist

Interested in becoming a Cedar River Salmon Journey volunteer? Fill out the form below.

Three salmon swimming in a river.

Share your feedback

Did you join us on the Cedar River this season? Let us know what you think by taking our survey below.

Take action on behalf of salmon!

Start by checking out the Aquarium’s Act for the Ocean webpage, review salmon actions below or sign up for the Aquarium’s policy action alerts. Everything you do to help salmon also helps our southern resident orcas—and is good for people too! 

Get involved

Volunteer, vote and share your knowledge with others

Conserve water

Sweep driveways, take shorter showers and use drought-tolerant plants in your yard

With your car

Take your car to a commercial car wash and have oil leaks fixed

In your yard

Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly, or just use compost

Around your dog

Pick up dog waste, bag it and place it in the trash (not in the yard waste bin)

At home

Properly use, store and dispose of hazardous household materials

RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

Salmon Conservation and Restoration: We Work to Save Salmon in Your Watershed (King County)

Living with Salmon in King County (a guide to salmon in King County)

Habitat Conservation Plan for the Cedar River Watershed and Fish (Seattle Public Utilities)

Salmon Conservation (WA Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Salmon Identification: Ocean Phase vs Spawning Phase (WA Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Protecting Surface Water in Renton (the City of Renton)

Washington State’s biennial report on salmon, their habitat and recovery efforts (Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Watch our webinar series and hear from an education specialist, a fisheries biologist and a salmon recovery manager about the challenges salmon face, their population trends and local restoration efforts in the Cedar River.

Part 1: The Cedar River, a lifeline for people and salmon (an introduction to the Cedar River watershed)

Part 2: Salmon and the Cedar River (an overview of Cedar River salmon and their population trends)

Part 3: Salmon Recovery in the Cedar River: Restoring a place where salmon and people can live together (salmon recovery actions in the Cedar River watershed)

Thank you to our sponsors

King County Flood Control District

MMS Giving Foundation

Seattle Public Utilities

The WRIA8 Salmon Recovery Council

The City of Renton

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Seattle District

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Website maintenance

Please note: Our ticketing and membership systems will be offline for approximately two hours starting at 10pm Pacific on Wednesday, July 10. During the maintenance window, online ticketing and membership will not be available.

Thank you for understanding.

Support the Seattle Aquarium

Two sea otters at the Seattle Aquarium floating on the water in their habitat, holding onto each other demonstrating a rafting behavior.

With your help, the Seattle Aquarium builds connections with our community to inspire conservation and curiosity for marine life. When you make an end-of-year gift by December 31, you'll be joining us in protecting our shared marine environment—now and for generations to come. Thank you!

Today only, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000 thanks to the generosity of Betsy Cadwallader, and Jess and Andy Peet!

Photo of an eagle ray gliding through the water cut out and placed against an illustrated background of snowflakes with two illustrated presents above the eagle ray.

Cyber Weekend Sale

15% OFF ALL MEMBERSHIPS
NOV. 29–DEC. 2