Durango Fish Hatchery

Durango Fish Hatchery

Facility Type:

Cold Water

Hours:

Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours:

  • Guided tours
  • Self-guided tours

Address:

151 East 16th Street
Durango, CO 81301
United States

Contact:

Toby Mourning

Phone: 970-247-4755

[email protected]

Subcatchable trout swimming in the waters at Durango Fish Hatchery.

Durango Fish Hatchery

Subcatchable trout swimming in the waters at Durango Fish Hatchery.

Facility Type:

Cold Water

Hours:

Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours:

  • Guided tours
  • Self-guided tours

Address:

151 East 16th Street
Durango, CO 81301
United States

Contact:

Toby Mourning

Phone: 970-247-4755

[email protected]

Navigate to:

A photo of Durango State Fish Hatchery in the 1920's.

A photo of Durango State Fish Hatchery in the 1920's.

Durango Fish Hatchery

This is the oldest state-owned fish hatchery in Colorado. The first building was constructed in 1893. During the expansion of the state of Colorado’s fish-stocking program in the early 1900s, a new building was constructed in 1927 and is now the Wildlife Museum. This was the main hatchery until a much bigger upgrade occurred in the 1970s. 

Annual Production 

Durango stocks approximately 125,000 catchable rainbows (8−12 inches in length) and 1.3 million subcatchable fish (1−5 inches in length) each year in the southwest corner of Colorado.

Visitors Welcome!

  • 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 [email protected]
  • 'Feed the Fish' fish food dispensers – requires quarters
Subcatchable trout swimming in the waters of the hatchery.

Subcatchable trout swimming in the waters of the hatchery.

Life Stages & Helpful Hatchery Terms to Know

  1. Egg - A mature female can produce up to 3,000 eggs. 
  2. Sac Fry - Newly hatched fish that have their yolk sac still attached. The yolk sac is a source of nutrition for the newly hatched fish. 
  3. Swim-up Fry - Fish that have absorbed the yolk sac and “swim up” in search of food. 
  4. Fingerling - A fish that is 2−3 inches in length. 
  5. Subcatchable - A fish that is 3−8 inches in length. 
  6. Catchable -  A fish that is 9−11 inches in length.

Your Fishin’ Is Our Mission!

Colorado’s Fish Stocking Program

Since 1881, Colorado Parks & Wildlife fish hatcheries have been dedicated to improving the fish populations of our beautiful state. Today, CPW operates 19 hatcheries that breed, hatch, rear and stock over 90 million fish per year. Many of the fish produced are to enhance angling opportunities, while others serve a critical role in native species recovery efforts. Colorado fish hatcheries support our angling pastime, which contributes 2.4 billion dollars annually to our state's economy!​