Poudre River Fish Hatchery
Facility Type:
Hours:
Contact facility
Tours:
- Guided tours
- Self-guided tours
Address:
38195 Poudre Canyon
Bellvue, CO 80512
United States
Poudre River Fish Hatchery
Facility Type:
Hours:
Contact facility
Tours:
- Guided tours
- Self-guided tours
Address:
38195 Poudre Canyon
Bellvue, CO 80512
United States
Poudre River State Fish Hatchery
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.
The Poudre Rearing Unit.
Raceways at the Poudre Rearing Unit.
Visitors Welcome!
- 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
Park staff helping to fertilize eggs.
Spawning Season
In this hatchery, rainbow and cutthroat trout spawn (lay eggs) in spring and summer. The hatchery staff starts preparing for spawning season in February by removing the thick ice from the raceways and separating the male from the female fish. Spawning begins in March and eggs are squeezed from the females, then milt (sperm) is squeezed from the males. Once eggs have been fertilized, they are taken to the hatchery building for processing.
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!