Coleman National Fish Hatchery

Call Directions Website

Coleman National Fish Hatchery For official information visit: https://www.fws.gov/fish-hatchery/coleman Directional signs to the Hatchery are along the route.

Directions to the hatchery:
From Interstate 5 go east on Deschutes Road, turn right on Balls Ferry Road, turn left on Ash Creek Road, continue over the Sacramento River bridge, then turn right on Gover Road and then left on Coleman Fish Hatchery Road; the Hatchery is at the end of the road.

Did you know a single female Chinook salmon produces about 5,000 eggs? This season, our goal at Coleman National Fish Ha...
10/16/2026

Did you know a single female Chinook salmon produces about 5,000 eggs?

This season, our goal at Coleman National Fish Hatchery is to collect nearly 30,000,000 eggs to produce fall-run Chinook salmon for the Sacramento River watershed.

Whoa, that really is a lot of fish!

Two more days! Check the comments for the link to the event!
10/16/2026

Two more days!

Check the comments for the link to the event!

10/14/2026

Fall spawning season is in full swing here at Coleman National Fish Hatchery, and Battle Creek is bustling!

Join us this Saturday, October 17, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM for the annual Return of the Salmon Festival. It’s a full day of free family fun, hands-on educational exhibits, and a front-row view of our fall-run Chinook salmon operations.

🐟 THE SALMON ARE COMING HOME TO SHASTA COUNTY...Every fall, Chinook salmon make their way back into freshwater, returnin...
10/12/2026

🐟 THE SALMON ARE COMING HOME TO SHASTA COUNTY...

Every fall, Chinook salmon make their way back into freshwater, returning from the ocean to the waters where a new generation will begin.

And next Saturday, you can see it happening right here in Shasta County.

The Return of the Salmon Festival is coming back to Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Saturday, October 17th, from 9 AM to 3 PM.

This isn't just another fall festival.

October is typically one of the best times of the year to see adult salmon returning to Battle Creek, and the festival gives families an opportunity to get an up-close look at a process that has been taking place in our region for generations.

Live salmon viewing
Salmon spawning operations
Interactive informational booths
Activities for kids
A chance to learn about salmon, steelhead and the work being done at the hatchery

And there is no admission charge. Parking is also free.

The Return of the Salmon Festival has been a North State tradition since 1991, making this 35 years since the event began.

But the history of Coleman National Fish Hatchery goes back even further.

The hatchery was established in 1942 after the construction of Shasta and Keswick dams blocked salmon and steelhead from approximately 187 miles of their historic upstream habitat.

Today, Coleman National Fish Hatchery releases approximately 12 million fall Chinook salmon, 1 million late fall Chinook salmon and 600,000 steelhead trout each year.

That's roughly 13.6 million fish annually.

And on October 17th, you'll have an opportunity to see part of that story for yourself.
24411 Coleman Fish Hatchery Road, Anderson

If you've never taken the family out to Coleman during the fall salmon run, this might be the perfect weekend to do it.

It's educational. It's outdoors. It's something kids can actually see happening right in front of them.

And most importantly, it's part of a story that has been unfolding in the waters of the North State for generations.

Have you ever watched the salmon return to Battle Creek?

This next weekend the weather should be beautiful.

Make sure to tell your family and friends and let's bring the community together for some truly wholesome North State fun.
😉

One more week, see you there!
10/10/2026

One more week, see you there!

Have you seen any dead salmon along the Sacramento River or Battle Creek recently? Don’t be alarmed, this is a completel...
10/09/2026

Have you seen any dead salmon along the Sacramento River or Battle Creek recently? Don’t be alarmed, this is a completely natural (and vital!) part of their life cycle.

Chinook salmon spend years growing in the ocean before returning to their home waters to spawn. Once they’ve laid and fertilized their eggs, their journey comes to a natural end.

Far from going to waste, these spawned-out salmon give back to the entire river ecosystem by feeding local wildlife, delivering rich ocean nutrients directly into our local waterways and forest soil, and feeding the next generation by nourishing aquatic insects that newly hatched salmon fry will eat when they emerge from the gravel!

Visitors to the Coleman National Fish Hatchery are in for a show! Right now, salmon are actively jumping at the barrier ...
10/07/2026

Visitors to the Coleman National Fish Hatchery are in for a show! Right now, salmon are actively jumping at the barrier weir on Battle Creek throughout the day.

This weir is specifically designed to keep fish from swimming into upper Battle Creek. Instead, the salmon take the fish ladder, which guides them straight from the creek into our holding pond. From there, they enter the spawning building where eggs are carefully collected for the next generation.

Spawning starts tomorrow and continues on Tuesday and Thursday mornings through the month of October. If you would like ...
10/05/2026

Spawning starts tomorrow and continues on Tuesday and Thursday mornings through the month of October.

If you would like to view spawning activities, we typically recommend you visit before noon on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The only weekend day that we will be spawning during the month will be on Saturday, October 17 at the Salmon Festival. 

10/02/2026

This video shows many male (and one female) Chinook salmon swimming in Battle Creek. Look closely at those dramatic, curved snouts on the guys—that’s where their scientific name comes from!

Chinook belong to the genus Oncorhynchus, which translates literally to "hooked nose." As males prepare to spawn, their bodies transform dramatically: they grow a large, distinctive hooked jaw known as a kype. Beyond giving them their iconic appearance, this hooked snout acts as a badge of dominance and a biological tool used to fight off rivals while competing for a female's attention.

10/01/2026

Without a real-time counting system on Battle Creek or the Sacramento River, predicting the exact number of salmon returning each year is part science, part observation, and a whole lot of educated guessing!

Each fall, watching the creek fill with salmon and making our run estimates is always one of the highlights of the season.

Now we want to know what YOU think! How many fish do you think will return to Battle Creek this year?

Address

24411 Coleman Fish Hatchery Road
Anderson, CA
96007

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:15pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15303658622

Website

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