| |  | 14214 County Rd 76
Pitkin, Colorado 81241 | 38.5985, -106.5322 |
Hours: 8:00AM-3:00PM daily. Visitors are welcome to conduct a self-guided tour. Call ahead to arrange a guided tour.
Description:
The Pitkin Hatchery is a cold water facility that sits at 9,200 feet in elevation in the Quartz Creek Valley. It is a brood and production facility focusing on trout and kokanee salmon. Approximately 1 million fish are stocked out of Pitkin each year, including 150,000 catchable rainbow trout. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are raised as brood fish to enhance conservation of this native fish.
The hatchery has been in operation by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife since 1912. Come take a self-guided tour, feed the fish, and take in the beautiful scenery.
More information can be found in the Pitkin Hatchery Brochure
| Chip Lamar, chip.lamar@state.co.us, or 970-641-0265 | Cold | | | | 2957 Highway 133
Carbondale, Colorado 81623 | 39.378143,-107.203842 |
Features:
- Visitor center with educational and informational literature
- Viewing room
- Guided tours (call ahead)
- Self-guided tours
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers (requires quarters)
Description: The Crystal River Hatchery, a cold water facility, raises rainbow and Snake River cutthroat trout brood fish. (Brood fish are mature females and males used to produce and fertilize eggs.) Eggs from these brood fish are shipped to other hatcheries that hatch the eggs, feed the fry, and raise them to various sizes for stocking. No other hatchery in the state of Colorado produces as many eggs each year as the Crystal River Hatchery!
More information can be found in the Crystal River Hatchery Brochure
| Robert Streater, robert.streater@state.co.us, or 970-963-2665 | Cold | | | | 8077 Hatchery Rd
Hotchkiss, Colorado 81419 | 38.772000, -107.768046 |
Features:
Self-guided tours; staff normally on hand to answer questions Educational wildlife programs and tours during business hours when scheduled in advance Watchable Wildlife viewing area Hike nature trails Fishing derby for children (in July) Description: Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery is located about 20 miles east of Delta, Colorado, near the town of Hotchkiss. The hatchery consists of a hatchery building with a small visitor center and tank room, residences, 32 outdoor concrete raceways, 24 nursery tanks, and 6 earthen ponds. Currently, the hatchery is rearing rainbow trout for stocking in Colorado and New Mexico reservoirs and federal water developments. Hotchkiss National Hatchery was established in 1967 as part of the Colorado River Storage Project Act. Located on 58 acres of forest surroundings on the North Fork of the Gunnison River, the hatchery's cold, clean water supply comes from the adjacent Tommy Dowell Spring. | 970-872-3170, or e-mail hotchkiss@fws.gov | USFWS | | | | 11466 State Highway 325
Rifle Colorado 81650 | 39.695350, -107.701310 |
Hours: 8am to 4pm, year-round
Features:
- Visitor Center & viewing room
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers (requires quarters)
- Volunteers on-site during the summer offer tours
- Self-guided tours year-round
- Free posters and pamphlets
- Nearby Watchable Wildlife and riparian trails
Description: The Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery is a cold water hatchery producing fingerlings and catchables of rainbow, Snake River cutthroat, brook, brown, and cutthroat trout. It is also the largest state-owned and operated trout production hatchery in Colorado! Rifle Falls stocks stream sections, lakes, and reservoirs in western Colorado, and provides catchable trout for stocking along the Front range. Cutthroat trout are also raised for aerial stocking.
More information can be found in the Rifle Falls Hatchery Brochure
| Jason Wentz, jason.wentz@state.co.us, or 970-625-1865 | Cold | | | | 27750 County Road 7C
Yampa, Colorado 80483 | 40.107833, -106.909940 |
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm daily
Features:
- Self-guided tours
- Scheduled group tours
- Free posters and wildlife literature available
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispenser (requires quarters)
- Nearby lakes and streams provide numerous angling opportunities
Description: Finger Rock Rearing Unit, a cold water facility, annually raises 460,000 fingerling rainbow trout and brown trout, and 170,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout. They are stocked in numerous waters throughout northwestern Colorado. The Finger Rock Rearing Unit is located in Yampa, Colorado at the base of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, a vast and pristine area that provides a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
More information can be found in the Finger Rock Rearing Unit Brochure
| Mitch Espinoza, mitchell.espinoza@state.co.us, or 970-638-4490 | Cold | | | | P.O. Box 107
4936 West County Rd 52E
Bellvue, Colorado 80512 | 40.632465, -105.169865 |
Features:
- Informational and educational material
- Self-guided tours
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers (requires quarters)
Description: Bellvue-Watson is located near the Cache la Poudre River and Watson Lake State Wildlife Area; fishing, bird watching, and nature trails make this an excellent education and recreation destination. The Bellvue-Watson Hatchery & Rearing Unit, a cold water facility, raises rainbow trout, rainbow/cutthroat trout hybrids, cutthroat trout, splake, and brown trout. The Watson Lake Rearing Unit raises approximately 300,000 catchable trout each year, and the Bellvue Fish Hatchery annually raises approximately 1.5 million sub-catchable trout.
More information can be found in the Bellvue-Watson Hatchery Brochure
| Chris Praamsma, chris.praamsma@state.co.us or 970-482-1659 | Cold | | | | 6655 South County Rd 106
Alamosa, Colorado 81101 | 37.478029,-105.930402 |
Features:
Guided tours for groups (call ahead to make arrangements at 719-587-3392) Free pamphlets and brochures Playa Blanca SWA borders the hatchery, providing wildlife watching opportunities! NASRF and the surrounding 750 acre wetlands serve as a wildlife refuge for the migratory Sandhill Crane and numerous waterfowl & shorebirds by providing habitat and food to sustain their seasonal activities and needs. Description: The J. W. Mumma Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility (NASRF) was built in the year 2000 to facilitate the conservation of rare aquatic native species through captive propagation, genetic conservation, scientific research and public education and awareness. Construction of the facility was funded by Great Outdoors Colorado, the Department of Natural Resources' Water Conservation Board, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Currently there are 12 species of fish and one amphibian specie reared at NASRF. Many are State Threatened, Endangered or Species of Special Concern and one, the Bonytail chub, is federally listed. They include: - Bonytail chub- Federal and State Endangered
- Rio Grande Sucker- State Endangered
- Plains Minnow- State Endangered
- Suckermouth Minnow- State Endangered
- Northern Redbelly Dace- State Endangered
- Southern Redbelly Dace- State Endangered
- Arkansas Darter- State Threatened
- Common Shiner- State Threatened
- Rio Grande Chub- Species of Special Concern
- Roundtail Chub- Species of Special Concern
- Bluehead Sucker- No official state status at this time
- Flannelmouth Sucker- No official state status at this time
- Boreal Toad- State Endangered
A limited knowledge base is currently available for the culture and propagation of these species. NASRF staff must ascertain water quality, photoperiod, dietary needs, and the appropriate spawning and habitat requirements unique to each species. Through research and employment of new and improved culture techniques, technologies and methodologies, NASRF continues to maximize its production while ensuring a safe and ethical culture environment for its native aquatic species at risk. To date, NASRF has been successful in the captive propagation of 11 species of fish and the Boreal toad, a State endangered high-elevation amphibian.
More information can be found in the NASRF Brochure
| Ted Smith, theo.smith@state.co.us, or 719-587-3392 | Cold | | | | 22605 County Rd 287
Nathrop, Colorado 81236 | 38.744812,-106.132294 |
Features:
- Self-guided tours during the school year
- Information kiosk
- Volunteer hosts, during the summer, answer questions and offer guided tours, if desired
- Posters and pamphlets available when volunteers are on duty
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers
Description: The Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit, a cold water facility, raises catchable rainbow trout. Chalk Cliffs Hatchery annually raises about 700,000, ten-inch rainbow trout! Fish are raised in concrete raceways and seven dirt ponds. Waters are stocked along the Front Range, from Loveland to the New Mexico border, and east almost to the Kansas border.
More information can be found in the Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit Brochure
| Chris Hertrich, chris.hertrich@state.co.us, or 719-395-2378 | Cold | | | |
151 East 16th Street
Durango, Colorado 81301
| 37.281406,-107.875332 |
Hours: 8am to 4pm year-round
Features:
- Wildlife museum - open May 15 to September 15
- Museum Hours
- 10-4pm – Mon – Sat
- 11-3pm – Sun
- fish and animal mounts
- hands-on displays
- operated by volunteers
- Self-guided tours
- Volunteer-guided tours for groups; email museumtourdgo@gmail.com
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers – requires quarters
Description: The Durango Fish Hatchery, a cold water facility, raises rainbow, brown, Snake River cutthroat, and native cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon. Durango stocks approximately 150,000 catchable rainbows and 1.3 million sub-catchable fish each year in the southwest corner of Colorado.
This is the oldest state-owned fish hatchery in Colorado (Leadville National Fish Hatchery is the oldest).
More information can be found in the Durango Hatchery Brochure
| Toby Mourning, toby.mourning@state.co.us, or 970-247-4755 | Cold | | | | 2844 Highway 300
Leadville, Colorado 80461 | 39.225406,-106.390096 |
Features:
Educational programs and tours Two public fishing ponds Feed the fish! Many recreational opportunities in the area: Wildlife watching, wilderness access, biking, hike nature trails, and more Description: The Leadville National Fish Hatchery, established in 1889, is the second oldest federally operated fish hatchery in existence today. Located on 3,072 acres near the city of Leadville, the hatchery's subalpine forest surroundings, with its cold, clean water supply and nearby source of native cutthroat trout populations, provide the ideal spot for trout production. Originally, the hatchery produced trout that were distributed over the entire Rocky Mountain region. Waters which originally held only native cutthroat trout, or none at all, were stocked with additional trout. The Black Hills area and parts of Wyoming that held no native trout at all also were first stocked from this hatchery. | 719-486-0189 or e-mail mountain-prairie@fws.gov | USFWS | | | | 500 Pueblo Reservoir Road
Pueblo, Colorado 81005 | 38.264907,-104.722558 |
Features:
Visitor center with pamphlets and brochures From July 1 through the month of October there will be no trout available to be viewed by the public Self-guided tours 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers (requires quarters)
Description: The Pueblo Hatchery, the only cold water and warm water facility in Colorado, raises fry, fingerlings, and catchables of rainbow trout. The hatchery also raises crappie, bluegills, largemouth bass, brown trout, saugeye, wiper, and walleye. The hatchery was built by the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, but Colorado Parks & Wildlife is responsible for its operation and maintenance.
More information can be found in the Pueblo Hatchery Brochure
| Quentin Springer, quentin.springer@state.co.us or 719-561-5355 | Cold, Warm | | | | 7725 County Rd 154
Salida, Colorado 81201 | 38.544109, -106.020334 |
Hours: 8am to 3:30pm, daily, year-round
Features: - Visitor Center featuring local fish and wildlife
- Guided tours are given, daily, 10am to 4pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day. (For large groups, please contact the hatchery.)
- Self-guided tours year-round
- Fish and Wildlife brochures
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers
- Fishing at nearby Frantz, Sands, and Riverside lakes and on the Arkansas River
Description:
One of the largest trout units in the state, Mt. Shavano Hatchery annually produces approximately 520,000 Whirling Disease negative catchable (10 inch) trout, and about 2.5 million subcatchable (2-5 inches) trout and kokanee salmon. Rainbow trout, Snake River cutthroat, cutthroat/rainbow crosses (cutbow), as well as kokanee salmon are raised at the unit. Mt Shavano Hatchery personnel also operate the nearby Mt. Ouray Hatchery and Salida Isolation Unit. The Mt. Ouray Hatchery produces subcatchable rainbow trout and kokanee salmon and the Salida Isolation Unit produces the greenback cutthroat trout, Colorado's State Fish. | Bryan Johnson, bryan.johnson@state.co.us, or 719/539-6877 | Cold | | | | 35677 Road FF
Wray, Colorado 80758 | 40.085376, -102.265744 |
Features:
- Guided tours (best time of the year is April through September)
- Pamphlets and brochures
- Stalker Lake is adjacent to the hatchery
Description: The Wray Fish Hatchery produces both cool and warm water fish. It is one of just three in Colorado with warm water production. Brood fish are maintained for black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish; other species, including walleye, saugeye, channel catfish, wiper, tiger musky, and grass carp originate at other Colorado warm water lakes and hatcheries, or are traded from out-of-state.
More information can be found in the Wray Hatchery Brochure
| Tyler Baker, tyler.baker@state.co.us, or 970-332-5382 | Warm | | | | 14131 North Highway 135
Almont, Colorado 81210 | 38.715437, -106.852370 |
Features:
- Guided tours (please call ahead)
- Self-guided tours
- Pamphlets and brochures
- Stream and pond fishing available
Description: The Roaring Judy Hatchery is home to the largest kokanee salmon run in Colorado. Roaring Judy annually produces over 3 million kokanee fry, 100,000 subcatcatchable (2-5 inch) trout, and 180,000 catchable (10 inch) trout. Kokanee salmon, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout are the primary species raised here. Part of the hatchery property is an 783 acre wildlife area that is a popular destination for fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching.
More information can be found in the Roaring Judy Hatchery Brochure
| Seth Firestone, seth.firestone@state.co.us, or 970-641-0190 | Cold | | | | 33128 County Rd 5.5
Las Animas, Colorado 81054 | 38.115711, -103.316655 |
Hours: 7am to 3:30pm daily
Features:
- Self-guided tours
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers
- Large fish 'show' pond
- Wildlife books and videos
- Free posters and pamphlets
Description:
The Las Animas Hatchery is one of the two Parks & Wildlife warm water hatcheries, and the first established in 1937. (The Wray Hatchery is the other; the Pueblo Hatchery is a cold and warm water facility). Brood fish (mature females and males used to produce and fertilize eggs) are produced here—channel catfish and largemouth bass. Catfish and bass are also stocked in eastern Colorado lakes and streams from here.
The hatchery facility has 13 ponds, totaling more than 13 acres, 250 feet of raceways, a twelve-tank hatchery, and six 'nurse' basins.
| James Skipper, james.skipper@state.co.us, or or 719-456-0499 | Warm | | | | 5070 East County Rd 3 South
Monte Vista, Colorado 81144 | 37.531229, -106.057317 |
Hours: 7am to 3:30pm
Features:
- Visitors are welcome.
- Self-guided tours during business hours.
- Call ahead for guided tours.
Description:
The Monte Vista Hatchery, a cold water facility, raises fingerlings and catchables of rainbow trout and splake. Monte Vista is the most recent addition to the state hatchery system. Formerly a private fish producation facility, it was purchased by Colorado State Parks in 2004 and is operated by Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Many projects are scheduled for the hatchery to better utilize its resources and increase production. | Chris Crowder, chris.crowder@state.co.us, or 719-852-3078 | Cold | | | | P.O. Box 578
1362 132 Road
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602 | 39.578162,-107.370822 |
Features:
- Visitor Center
- Educational information
- Free pamphlets/brochures
- Self-guided tour with accompanying pamphlet
- Pre-arranged guided tours for groups
- 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispenser- requires quarters
- Day use parking for Mitchell Creek Trail
The Glenwood Springs Hatchery is located on Mitchell Creek, approximately 2 miles north of West Glenwood Springs. It is a cold water facility that raises rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon, and arctic grayling. Each year, Glenwood Springs stocks around 3 million sub-catchable fish in the waters of northwest Colorado. The facility also has broodstocks (mature fish for egg production and fertilization) of rainbow and cutthroat trout. Many of the eggs produced are shipped to other state-operated fish hatcheries to be hatched, raised and stocked at various sizes.
More information can be found in the Glenwood Springs Hatchery Brochure
| Josh Pulliam, josh.pulliam@state.co.us or 970-945-5293 | Cold | | | | 38195 Poudre Canyon
Bellvue, Colorado 80512 | 40.702298,-105.710384 |
Features:
Educational pamphlets and brochures Guided tours by appointment Self-guided tours during business hours 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers (requires quarters) Bighorn sheep, deer, and elk can often be seen nearby Many recreation and education opportunities along the Poudre River, designated a 'Wild and Scenic' river
Description: The Poudre Rearing Unit, a cold water facility, began operation in 1948. It is currently a brood unit producing millions of rainbow and greenback cutthroat trout eggs, and a production facility stocking 50,000 trout in public waters on the front range. One of the smaller units of the state, it is located in beautiful Poudre Canyon, 55 miles northwest of Ft. Collins at an elevation of 7,700 feet.
More information can be found in the Poudre Rearing Unit Brochure
| Marde Hersh, marde.hersh@state.co.us, or 970-881-2187 | Cold |
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