See the Fall Salmon Run Upstream Olympia to Brewery Park
Make an afternoon of paralleling the spawning salmon run from downtown Olympia to Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls while enjoying the scenery and taking advantage of prime photography opportunities along the route.
Article by Rebecca Sanchez, originally published on ThurstonTalk.com August 31, 2023
Every fall, Chinook salmon instinctively return from the Pacific Ocean, through Puget Sound and up the connecting rivers and streams. We are very lucky that we can get a glimpse of that migration in Olympia and in Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls. Grab your favorite walking shoes and pack the kids in the stroller to follow the salmon. The three-mile walk from Capitol Lake to the falls is all paved, family friendly and has great photo-ops along the way.
![Fifth Avenue Bridge in downtown Olympia with a fish ladder to the right](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4bd379ae3940ab7134a23ba6c198175a 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=90c9469ada1f0988ffcba22fc140b071 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=4fd5f7a7d51a6c11f1ff29f38a305d72 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=a3c9f6c69d336b2a3a465ad9e1887924 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=0b260bd58c0dbe2ee0a7974aff415dc2 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=3207162bb9ff931d42636d845f89d4b7 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-5th-Avenue-Bridge-Dam-Viewing-1536x1028.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=5824f25422febb1b388e0920e7b5e286 1536w)
Viewing Salmon at the 5th Avenue Dam in Olympia
A good place to start is the 5th Avenue bridge in downtown Olympia. From the wooden walkway over the dam, peer down into the water and see hatchery Chinook salmon prepping to climb the fish ladder into Capitol Lake and make their way up to Tumwater Falls. The salmon you see gathering below will swim through Capitol Lake, returning after having been gone 18 months to several years, growing stronger and bigger in the open ocean and Puget Sound.
Seasonal Stream Team pamphlets and laminated posters along the view bridge are great resources to learn more about salmon species on site. It’s amazing to consider they stop eating and devote all of their energy toward getting upstream to spawn. No matter how far they swam, they are thought to follow the sun, smell or possibly the earth’s magnetic field back to the exact stream from which they began.
Take the crosswalk south toward Capitol Lake and take note of great photo opportunities of the Capitol dome with the water in the foreground. Birds are frequent visitors, and even otters sometimes show themselves at the lake. Curvature of the lake wall, quaint lamp posts and benches are nice photo details too.
![Wooden dock looking out into Capitol Lake](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=6b01b09d0b0cf64a5541418f8419d644 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f31866c40dbde1d6f777b01bd2a05975 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e9e6e66e6a82f4f5fbcf3619e24a3ce4 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=b37a1970dd679bc70a6a5a5894d1d3c1 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=ca7c13c87c47764f7f07125fbc294652 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=d988e4433240cf55e136882d60e63566 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Run-Capitol-Lake-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=8fb17d1d683e238270efa734a0275883 1536w)
Following the Salmon Path Along Capitol Lake and up to Tumwater Falls
Take up your comfortable walking pace along the paved sidewalk that runs the perimeter of Capitol Lake along Deschutes Parkway. Restrooms are available at Marathon Park on the south side. At Capitol Lake Interpretive Center, you’ll find restrooms again and the next leg of your journey. A scenic wooden dock overlooks the lake there, and ducks frequent the area. Take caution as the dock has no railing. Follow the paved pathway that diverts east from Deschutes Parkway under the Interstate-5 bridge to emerge at Tumwater Historical Park where there are more restrooms and a playground.
From the grassy area near the Deschutes River, take a look across the water at the historic Olympia Brewery building. If the afternoon light is behind you, it should be unshaded and ready to have its picture taken. As you head south out of Tumwater Historical Park, follow Simmons Lane up the wooded hill with the river on your left and Deschutes Parkway on your right. Be on the watch for water views, wildlife or beautiful greenery along the walk. Joining the river side trail means closer views of water and bridges both underfoot and overhead.
![Scenic view of the Deschutes River with green grass, bushes and trees growing all around its banks](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=29bb52b56d17c6bccd2f25538ff26c43 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d3cee8a9d42ba9f241a03018def8894d 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5193bef052b9622ad660251c32261c11 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=b02feb448efd4aa4b836675af248b4a3 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=6dcdde65179b2b44c6fedf09c211830a 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=28443fcd29acd19a26cf56ba0ebd07eb 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Nature-photography-1536x1152.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=4d30487d04ceb0a445aea53c02531edf 1536w)
Photo Opportunities in Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls
Tumwater Falls cascades over an old dam and down through Deschutes River boulders surrounded by Pacific Northwest vegetation, and it’s all very picturesque. Many photo opportunities present themselves along the riverside trail. Impressive stonework installations are good photo spots, and Brewery Park has many pieces from Tenino Stone Carvers artisans. A stone half-wall by the visitor center is great for group photos or portraits, and carvings with the Olympia Beer logo commemorate the historic location.
![Tall brick building jutting out in front of trees and bushes with the Deschutes River in front.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=dac34539f841e885f4aead7954841671 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=86cf416554fc55e033fe5fbecae113e6 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f77e7581d6cf2bdabe103d25a19d7151 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e2e6403712b97d349140712643a181ad 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=de331d89671420b84467145f20210090 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=32ee2eefc3af17dd148236322eb267c6 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/Olympia-Salmon-Runs-Deschutes-River-Brewery-Photography-1536x1140.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=89d012b75294fdf95a020c346e35bb12 1536w)
Salmon at Tumwater Falls Hatchery
While the salmon have climbed three previous fish ladders, you can finish the hatchery Chinook salmon journey as you walk right over the length of the last ladder all the way to the viewing windows. Around the middle of September, you should be able to see salmon before they reach the holding tanks. Tumwater Falls Hatchery workers will then sort them for egg collection and fertilization of new salmon eggs to start the cycle over again. Catch a glimpse of this process mid-September on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings through early October.
“It’s great for the public to understand how the salmon cycle works, how their life cycle works, where they’ve been, what they come back to, to understand the species and how they function,” says Lee Pilon, hatchery specialist at Tumwater Falls Hatchery.
Having made part of the salmon run and collected great photos, the return journey to downtown Olympia can be made by either backtracking or via public transportation from Capitol Boulevard adjacent to Brewery Park. Take advantage of the easy-access locations to see the salmon return this fall.