Dworshak National Fish Hatchery

Directions: Located 40 miles E of Lewiston. The nearest town to the hatchery is Orofino. Drive U.S. Highway 12 to Orofino, cross the Clearwater River and continue along the N side of the river 3 miles W to the junction of the Clearwater and North Fork rivers. The hatchery is located 1 mile below Dworshak Dam. The hatchery is headquarters for the Dworshak-Kooskia Hatchery Complex.

Primary Wildlife: Dworshak is the largest steelhead trout hatchery in the world. Annually, 2.5 million steelhead are reared in environmentally controlled ponds for 1 year before release for their journey to the sea. Two million spring chinook salmon are reared and released each year. Rainbow trout are reared for planting in Dworshak Reservoir.

Recreation and Education: The hatchery is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. A self-guided tour explains the features of the hatchery. Environmental education tours for larger groups are available on request. The best time of year to see the large returning adult steelhead is March through May; June through August to see adult spring chinook. Spawning of these fish may be viewed from an overhead balcony.

P.O. Box 18
Ahsahka, ID 83520-0018
(208) 476-4591