Mokelumne Fish Hatchery

The fish hatchery itself is a neat little informative spot where you can learn all about the fish and walk through the hatchery to see the fish at different stages. It's interesting to do and we have walked through many times.
Just as enjoyable, though, are the nature areas just before the hatchery and the river access. We like to come here to enjoy the sounds of the water and take short walks with our dog. It's really a lovely place to stop for an hour or two and just enjoy the peace and quiet. The trails are very short but they do have picnic tables and we have enjoyed a nice lunch here by the lake as well.
I think a more fitting name would be the Mokelumne Fish Hatchery and nature area because we happened upon this location by chance but I am so glad we did. We probably make the drive here 3-5 times a year and it is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

This is an interesting place to learn about the life cycle of the local salmon population in the river. There isn't a lot to the hatchery other than the holding tanks and for 2 out of the 4 seasons it is very quiet and not much is going on. In fall and winter is when the cycle is in full swing.

Its cool for 1 day trips

I love this place but yelp has the wrong address. This river access is off of Mackville road not near camanche damn.

Interesting place to tour, just follow the footsteps painted on the ground. When the fish are running you can watch them process through the windows. Usually have baby fish in the ponds.

Most often we put in the kayaks just slightly down river at one of the parking lots. River is usually running good and it about a 90 minute float without much paddling to Mackville Road where we take out. In high school we used to float down in tubes (can't believe we did that) but now have upgraded to the boats. There are a few places which are a bit tricky (we all got dumped one week in the same spot) and a few fishermen you have to dodge. Just stay in the middle away from the overhanging trees and berry vines, also avoid the submerged rocks and trees and it is a good float.

The trip is fairly calm. Early in the season it is running pretty good but slower in August. We usually make a couple stops to enjoy a cold libation and a snack.

I guess you run into this everywhere but we usually fill at least one large garbage bag with trash. If you take the trip wear a life jacket and please pick up after yourself.

One of my fav places to have a picnic any time of the year!

Nice clear river with cold waters and plenty of trees and picnic areas. Usually not crowded even in the summer months. Mostly locals and people fishing or tubing, floating or kayaking down stream.

Plenty of parking, a few port a potties, a drive way to drive up to the waters edge to drop off stuff.

Overall lovely place for a picnic and hanging out. Dog friendly. But might be more work for parents with children since the bathrooms are a ways off.

Oh and it's free!

A lovely place to relive childhood memories of hanging out by the local watering hole/river for an afternoon. There's plenty of parking spots to be found, and there are picnic tables and if you get here early enough, you can score some that have a riverside view. There's plenty of areas by the river where you can just wade into it, and even though I don't know how to swim it's a place where I'd felt comfortable to dip my feet in and wade a bit, it's refreshingly cool on a hot summer day.

Dogs are allowed in the Day Use Area of the Mokelumne River, as long as they're on leash. I was impressed to see that most of the folks who brought their pooches were having them on leash, and the dogs that were around were well-behaved. If you are bringing Fido, though, plan on bringing poop bags as I didn't see any bag dispensers (like there are at some parks).

While you do see some people fishing, for the most part it looks like it's just families hanging out by the river, splashing about with their kids and soaking up the California sun.

Bottom Line: a nice place to go and hang out by the river in the summer, that's also a place you can bring your dog. It's not open year-round, signs indicate that it closes for fish spawning.

This hatchery raises Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout. It's minutes off Hwy 88 just past Lockeford as you go thru Clements. If you make a trip to the Lockeford Meat Co. this would be a short and sweet side trip before picking up your brauts! Its a fun place to take the kids and the Mokelumne is very close by. This is where we get out of the river when we do a "self serve" rafting trip! hahah! I've once seen a blender fastened to an inner tube equipped with a generator and filled with margarita mix-only in the central valley people!

Fun spot to see how fish are raised and the life-cycle. For 10 cents you can feed the fish. great for youngsters and old people alike :) I did it!

I think in November you can see them spawn...

Where do i start? Cold water, titties and fish imprisonment. Need I say more? Ok I will, they got a rope swing sometimes I will swing off of it into the water placed below

Beautiful scenery - this review is for the river put in spot not the hatchery. Will have to visit again to review the actual hatchery.

VERY busy place as a put in spot for tubers, rafters, drinkers, etc. Demographics are young adults with a smattering of families.

We used this place to put in our SUP boards and kayaks and went down the Stillman park (?)...Great little class I rapids and winding patches, views of hills, homes and ranches.

The river wasn't too busy but at times it was almost like a traffic jam around tight corners. Wish there was a little more respect for cleaning up your own trash, saw way too many beer cans in the river.

Will be back for sure.