Bonneville Fish Hatchery
add photosThe Bonneville Fish Hatchery is a chinook and coho salmon hatchery. Display ponds also offer a relaxing place to feed large rainbow trout and view adult white sturgeon measuring more than six feet long. There is a gift shop open during summer months. Interpretive displays inside and out, including a viewing area to watch fall spawning activities. Outside accessible restrooms. Neighboring Bonneville Dam also has a visitor center. Tours are available. Please call ahead.
Fish Species: Tule Fall Chinook, URB Fall Chinook, Spring Chinook, and Coho
4 Reviews for Bonneville Fish Hatchery
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'11, '12
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"Great resting stop along I-84"
I had never been to a fish hatchery that landscapes so well until I visited Bonneville Fish Hatchery. This is the perfect place for a family, tired of driving along I-84 on the way to the Oregon coast, to stop and get their first taste of Oregon’s lush vegetation and amazing fish. Bonneville Fish Hatchery was a pleasant discovery during my family’s trip to the coast.
My family loved walking around the beautiful hatchery grounds, looking at all of the different fish species. This is a free activity and definitely worth a 2 hour visit. Don’t miss the huge sturgeon name Herman (he’s so ugly he’s cute) and let the kid’s feed the trout (my kids’ favorite part). It is also worth taking the time to walk through the visitor’s center near the dam. There is a great display in the basement demonstrating how the fish in the Columbia River go up river to spawn. We enjoyed seeing the wild fish jump over the ladders in the Columbia River but felt bad for the person who actually has to sit and count them all day long! I wonder if they count fish, instead of sheep to fall asleep each night?
In summary, take a break from I-84 and stretch your legs at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery and enjoy the beautiful grounds, informative exhibits, ugly and cute fish.
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"Fun Fishy Adventure"
This is a great day trip getaway for all members of your family. This place has the fish hatchery were you can feed the fish and walk through to see a variety of fish up close and personal. You than can move on to the main visitor center that has the fish locks and an educational center. It has a variety of activities for your children to learn about fish and the area around the dam. This place also has a great view of the beautiful gorge area. It has picnic areas for eating and vending machines.
1 family found this helpful
"Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery"
To me, a fish hatchery sounds about as exciting as a coma, but kids love it. You also can’t beat the price (free!) or the stunning Oregon scenery. The dam is about 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and perfect for a quick stop after or before entering the city. (Another great–but widely known and easy to spot–option is Multnomah Falls, a bit further west, toward Portland.) The hatchery is set in a nice wooded area featuring lots of, well…hatcheries…and ponds, some featuring sturgeons up to six feet long! At the adjacent dam, learn about the Columbia River’s history and then go downstairs to the large glass viewing window to watch wild salmon ‘jumping’ up the fish ladder as they migrate to the other side of the dam (or go outside and see it up close in nice weather).
1 family found this helpful
"See baby fish!"
On a trip to the Bonneville Fish Ladder, we always stop in to see the fish hatchery also. It gives a chance to see the new fish at various stages of life. The real treat is stopping in to see Herman the Sturgeon. The sturgeons are amazing. Another fun thing to do while there is to feed the fish. It costs a little change and lets the kids get really involved.
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