- Located 40 miles east of Portland off I-84.
- Open all year from 7:30 am; closing hours vary.
- Free admission and self-guided tours.
- Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead are raised here.
- Feed the large rainbow trout in two display ponds on the hatchery grounds.
Overview
Columbia River Gorge visitors interested in fish and wildlife would do well to plan a stop at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery. The hatchery hosts a million visitors each year from around the globe. In addition to salmon and steelhead hatching beds, the facility maintains display ponds full of rainbow trout, and more than 40 bird species can be seen on the grounds. Underwater viewing windows reveal giant sturgeon like the famous 11-foot, 70-year-old “Herman the Sturgeon.”
Location/Directions
Bonneville Hatchery
70543 NE Herman Loop
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
(541) 374-8393
The hatchery is located about 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon; take I-84 east from Portland to exit 40.
Hours/Seasons
Bonneville Hatchery is open all year; admission is free. Hours are 7:30 am – 8 pm April-August; 7:30 am – 7 pm September-October; and 7:30 am – 5 pm November-March. Visitors who wish to feed the rainbow trout may purchase fish food from on-site machines for 25 cents—the proceeds help support grounds maintenance. Self-guided tour maps are available in the visitor’s center or can be requested by mail. A hatchery gift shop is open during the summer months.
Nearby Bonneville Dam has a visitor’s center where visitors can witness the salmon migration; more information at (541) 374-8820.
