Rocky Reach Fish Ladder Live Camera

Ever wondered how fish get past the dam? Here's a live look at the Rocky Reach fish ladder from the Rocky Reach Discovery Center.

What is a fish ladder? Fish ladders assist mature salmon and steelhead on their upriver journey to spawning grounds in the Columbia River and its tributaries. Studies of upriver migration confirm that adult salmon pass our dams safely with no delay on the return to their spawning grounds!

Want to look a salmon in the eye? Come visit us at the Rocky Reach Discovery Center to get an underwater look through our viewing windows! Learn more at: https://www.chelanpud.org/learning-center/rocky-reach-discovery-center

This live underwater camera provides a unique window into the migration patterns of Pacific salmon and steelhead at Rocky Reach Dam on Washington's Columbia River. Watch adult fish navigate the ladder system as they journey upstream to spawn, with peak viewing seasons in May–August for Chinook salmon, July for Sockeye, and September for steelhead. It's a fascinating look at one of nature's most remarkable journeys and the engineering that helps preserve it.