Visit Us
We're open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm. To schedule a tour, please call the Hatchery at 509-538-2755 or the Columbia Gorge Information and Education Office at 509-493-2934.
Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery is located on the scenic Little White Salmon River and Drano Lake. Enjoy the river scenery with a peaceful picnic, get an up-close view of the river at one or our viewing platforms, wildlife watch along our entrance road or simply watch the salmon swim home to the hatchery in the fish ladder or underground viewing room! As the weather warms up and wildflowers brighten the Gorge, Spring Chinook salmon return up the Columbia River, swimming up the Little White Salmon River through Drano Lake to the Hatchery. Spring Chinook salmon continue to enter the hatchery fish ladder during the summer and are held in large tanks until spawning begins in August. Upriver Bright Fall Chinook salmon begin returning to the hatchery in mid-October and can be seen from our above-ground viewing deck or underground viewing room in the Visitor's Center. Fall Chinook spawning takes place in late October through mid-November. Call the hatchery at 509-538-2755 for exact days and times.
Activities
We offer numerous outdoor activities at the hatchery! Fishing opportunities abound along our entrance road, Drano Lake is one of the most popular salmon fishing sites in the gorge! We also offer fishing access to people with disabilities with our accessible fishing ramp. Walking along the entrance road to the upper hatchery provides beautiful views of the river and lake, unique wildlife viewing possibilities as well as opportunities to see salmon return to their natal stream and the hatchery.
Trails
The hatchery offers an interpretive walking trail along the hatchery road from the lower to upper hatchery. Pick up an interpretive brochure that will guide your walk at the Information Kiosk as you drive into the hatchery. Look down in the river for returning salmon. Also, watch for birds of prey feeding on the returning salmon; as well as larger mammal predators such as bear, mink, or river otters! This walk never disappoints!
Other Facilities in the Complex
We're part of the Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex, which includes the Carson, Eagle Creek, Little White Salmon, Spring Creek, Warm Springs, and Willard National Fish Hatcheries. Our Complex propagates, releases, and transfers to partners over 25 million salmon to meet the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's fisheries mitigation, restoration, and tribal trust responsibilities. Explore what each facility has to offer!
