Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery

Located along Icicle Creek in the Cascade Mountains of central Washington, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery has been raising spring Chinook salmon since 1940.  When it opened, it was the largest fish hatchery in the world and was built as part of the Grand Coulee Fish Maintenance Project to help replace salmon runs lost after the construction of Grand Coulee Dam.  Today, the hatchery raises approximately 1.2 million spring Chinook salmon each year and also partners with the Yakama Nation to produce coho salmon.

Leavenworth serves as the headquarters of the Leavenworth Fisheries Complex, which includes Entiat and Winthrop National Fish Hatcheries.  The hatchery is one of the most visitor-friendly facilities in the National Fish Hatchery System, featuring over five miles of trails, a visitor center, fish viewing opportunities, educational exhibits, and year-round outdoor recreation.

⭐ Federal Fish Hatchery

🐟 Spring Chinook Salmon Production — Columbia River Basin Restoration

Address: 12790 Fish Hatchery Road, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Phone: (509) 548-7641

🔗 Official Hatchery Website

Species Raised

🐟 Spring Chinook Salmon
🐟 Coho Salmon (in partnership with Yakama Nation)

Services & Features

✅ Public visitor access
✅ Headquarters of the Leavenworth Fisheries Complex
✅ Visitor Center with salmon exhibits and mural
✅ Self-guided hatchery tours
✅ Over 5 miles of hiking and nature trails
✅ Fish viewing opportunities
✅ Birdwatching and wildlife viewing
✅ Photography
✅ Picnic areas
✅ Horseback riding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing
✅ Educational programs

Visitor Information

Visitors are welcome to explore the hatchery grounds year-round during daylight hours.  The site features a visitor center, self-guided walking tours, fish raceways, and more than five miles of trails through forests and along Icicle Creek.  Depending on the season, visitors can enjoy fish viewing, birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and educational programs, making Leavenworth one of the premier fish hatchery destinations in the country.

The hatchery grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round, while the Visitor Center is open daily from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM.