Adult Coho Salmon

Salmon in Redwood Creek

At Muir Woods, we have two different species of salmon; the Coho or Silver salmon and the Steelhead salmon (formerly steelhead trout). The adults may be seen in the winter as they return home to Redwood Creek to spawn and give life to the next generation. The adult Coho Salmon can typically be seen in the creek December - January. The Steelhead follows soon after and can be seen late January - early March. Although the Coho begin and end their lives in Redwood Creek, the Steelhead battle their way up the creek, spawn and race back out to sea in hopes to return home the following year to Redwood Creek. 

On occasion biologists can be seen hard at work conducting fish surveys in Redwood Creek to monitor three crucial periods in the life cycle of coho salmon: junvenille, smolt, and adult. Information will be collected both on a population and individual level in all three monitoring periods. To learn more, listen to the Pod Cast - download and listen to mp3 (4 min) – exploring science for bay area National Parks.

Still want to learn more? Find out about salmon research and populations in Redwood Creek and beyond.