Nimbus Fish Hatchery

Located in eastern Sacramento County, Nimbus Hatchery raises Chinook salmon and steelhead for release to the American River. The Nimbus Hatchery Visitor Center offers free fun and educational activities for children and adults of all ages. Enjoy the on-site nature trail along the American River to view wildlife, as well as the American River Parkway trail directly adjacent to the Nimbus Hatchery.

The salmon run occurs in fall, with hatchery operations taking place from the beginning of November through mid-December. The steelhead trout run occurs in winter, with hatchery operations taking place from January through February.

Visitor Information

Cost: Free

Location: 2001 Nimbus Road, Suite F, Gold River, CA 95670

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The raceways (little fish ponds) close approximately 2:00 p.m. daily
The hatchery parking lot located at 2001 Nimbus Rd is open 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. daily.

Contact: (916) 358-2884, NimbusFish@wildlife.ca.gov

Directions: Off Highway 50, 18 miles east of Sacramento. Travel north on Hazel Ave. 0.7 mile, make a left hand turn at Gold Country Blvd. Travel 200 yards to the parking lot entrance on the right. MAP(opens in new tab)

See bottom of page for information about the visitor center's guided tour program.

Visitors Guide to Nimbus Fish Hatchery (PDF)(opens in new tab)

More about this Facility

Tours

2022-2023 Nimbus Hatchery Visitor Center Guided Tours

At a glance:

Free
For K-12 school groups & community-based organizations
1.5 hour in-person guided tours for grades K-12 & community groups
NGSS-aligned for K-12 groups
Content areas: salmon life cycle, water systems, human impact on the environment, river habitats

What to Expect for Fall Season:

The peak visitation season for salmon tours (November-December 2023) will be booked through a lottery system which will open in late August 2023. We are not yet taking reservations for the fall.

Schools and community groups can book now for a tour through summer 2023:

Submit a Tour Request

For questions, please call (916) 358-2884 or email Julia.Kaiser@wildlife.ca.gov. Do not call Nimbus Hatchery directly.

Tours for Community-based Organizations

If you are a community-based organization and would like to schedule a tour, you can submit a request using the link above ("Submit a Tour Request" button). This includes scout groups, professional and non-profit organizations, nursing care centers, etc. Email Julia.Kaiser@wildlife.ca.gov