Norfork
Mountain Home, AR 72653-9799
Plan Your Visit
Love to fish? Do you want to see what makes North Arkansas' spectacular trout fishing possible? Even if you simply enjoy being outdoors, you should come visit us at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. At the Norfork NFH, you can learn about the local trout production and have fun too! At Norfork NFH, there are 96 raceways outside for visitors to walk around as they please. One of which boasts some trophy size trout! You can also step inside the hatch house and take a look at the earlier stages of trout production. We also have a visitors' center with some native animals, informative materials, and even a gift shop ran by the Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. The employees at Norfork NFH are always willing to help, so don't hesitate to ask questions. Don't forget to bring the kids and fishing gear as well. Dry Run Creek is right next to the hatchery and provides great fishing opportunities for your youngsters and mobility impaired individuals.
Driving Directions
1414 State Hwy 177, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653
Coming from Little Rock
- Take Hwy 5 N to Salesville. The hatchery is located 2 miles form the intersection of Hwy 177 S and 5 N. (3 hrs)
Coming from Branson
- Take Hwy 65 S from Branson through Harrison, AR.
- Turn east on Hwy 62/412 in Bellafonte.
- In Mountain Home, take Hwy 5 S 12 miles to Salesville.
- Bear left at the "Y" onto Hwy 177 S 2 miles to the hatchery. (2 hrs)
Coming from Springfield
- Take Hwy 65 S from Springfield through Branson, MO.
- Follow directions above from Branson. (2.5 hrs)
Coming from Mountain Home (northwest)
- Continue on Interstate 55
- Continue onto Arkansas Highway 177 for 1.2 mi
- Turn left onto Fish Hatchery Circle
Coming from Pineville (southeast)
- Head northwest on Arkansas Highway 177
- Cross Norfork Dam
- Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Circle
Activities
More Activities
Featured Species
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National fish hatcheries provide many opportunities for you to help your community and fish and wildlife by doing what you love. Learn more about how to get involved at Norfork by clicking the link below.
Services
At the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, our main service is mitigation stocking. We stock trout in the tailwaters of the White and North Fork Rivers. We do this to provide a fishery within the colder waters of the tailwaters. Most of our stocking locations are public boat ramps, so if you see us out and about, feel free to watch. We stock 11" rainbow trout (average length) year-round, and we also stock 9" brown and cutthroat trout (average length). We also deliver fish to Oklahoma, as well as raise 6 and 8 inch fish for the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. Read more at the links below.
About
Established in 1955 and opened in 1957, Norfork NFH is the largest trout hatchery in the country and a result of dams on the White River altering waters to a cold-water system. The facility primarily produces rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout to restock tailwaters below Norfork, Bull Shoals, and other dams. Serving a geographic area including northern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, the hatchery works to meet fishery mitigation needs and provide sustainable fisheries for the White River area.