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Nimbus Fish Hatchery

Notice: The Nimbus Fish Hatchery public parking lot is closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists until further notice, due to a public safety concern resulting from a mechanical malfunction which may cause flooding. Visitors may access the Visitor Center by walking through the raceway gate near the parking lot entrance.

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. 

Visit

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.
  • Hours are subject to change based on staff availability or inclement weather. Please check our Facebook Page(opens in new tab) for the most current updates.

Contact: (916) 358-2884, Molly Shea

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.

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Tours

At a Glance

  • FREE, including parking
  • For K-12 school groups and community-based organizations (scout groups, professional and non-profit organizations, nursing care centers, etc.)
  • 1.5 hour in-person guided tours for grades K-12 and community groups with more than 15 participants
  • NGSS-aligned for K-12 groups, covering salmon life cycle, water systems, river habitat, and human impact on the environment

Booking Tours

Beginning in August 2024, all guided tours will be booked through a new calendar reservation system. Peak season tours are offered from November-February, with Chinook salmon processing in November and December, and steelhead trout processing in January and February. Any tours booked between March-October are considered non-peak season as the hatchery fish ladder is closed during that time period.

Tours slots for March 2025 and beyond will become available for booking at the beginning of November.

Book a Guided Tour

The following instructional resources offer step-by-step instructions for using the new calendar reservation system.

For questions, or to schedule a virtual tour of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, please call (916) 358-2884, or email Molly.Shea@wildlife.ca.gov. Do not call Nimbus Fish Hatchery directly.

Educational Resources

Preparing for Your Field Trip

Hatchery-related Learning

Other CDFW Programs

Photos

5 APR
2023

Indoor Fish Raceways

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Fisheries Branch
1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605 | Fisheries@wildlife.ca.gov