Willard National Fish Hatchery

Willard National Fish Hatchery is a key salmon production facility within the Columbia River Basin.  Established in 1951, the hatchery was built to help replace salmon populations impacted by hydroelectric development on the Columbia River.  Today, Willard plays an important role in salmon restoration, fisheries mitigation, and Tribal trust responsibilities.

Unlike many hatcheries where adult salmon return to spawn, Willard is a rearing-only facility.  Adult salmon cannot reach the hatchery because of natural waterfalls farther downstream, so eggs are collected at other facilities and transferred to Willard where young fish are raised before release.

⭐ Federal Fish Hatchery

🐟 Chinook & Coho Salmon Rearing — Columbia River Basin Restoration

Address: 5501B Cook-Underwood Road, Cook, WA 98605-9008

Phone: (509) 538-2305

🔗 Official Hatchery Website

Species Raised

🐟 Upriver Bright Fall Chinook Salmon
🐟 Coho Salmon

Services & Features

✅ Public visitor access
✅ Part of the Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex
✅ Salmon viewing opportunities
✅ Self-guided hatchery tours
✅ Fish viewing in raceways
✅ Educational programs
✅ Birdwatching
✅ Wildlife viewing
✅ Photography
✅ Picnic opportunities
✅ Nearby recreation in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
✅ Fishing access along hatchery-owned shoreline

Visitor Information

Visitors can explore Willard National Fish Hatchery and see young salmon at different stages of development in the hatchery raceways.  Because Willard is a rearing facility, guests will not see adult salmon returning to spawn, but they can observe millions of juvenile Chinook and coho salmon being raised for future release into the Columbia River system.

The hatchery is located in a scenic mountain setting near the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, offering opportunities for photography, birdwatching, picnicking, and enjoying the peaceful Little White Salmon River area.  Visitors can also fish along approximately 600 feet of hatchery-owned river shoreline for resident trout where regulations allow.

Willard National Fish Hatchery is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM–3:30 PM.