Once the largest salmon hatchery in the world, the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery remains a vital hub for salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest, producing nearly 13 million salmon each year. Returning adult salmon are carefully collected, their eggs harvested, and then raised in a series of rearing ponds and pens. When the young fish are strong enough, they are released to begin their journey downriver and eventually to the Pacific Ocean, helping sustain salmon populations and regional fisheries.

Visitors can explore the hatchery’s award-winning Visitor Center, where interactive exhibits bring the salmon life cycle, habitat challenges, and restoration efforts vividly to life. Hands-on activities—such as guiding salmon eggs downstream, lifting life-size salmon models, and sorting fish—make learning engaging for visitors of all ages. Outside, a self-guided walking tour offers views of public hatchery areas and a closer look at daily operations. It’s an educational, family-friendly stop that connects people to the region’s rivers, wildlife, and conservation story.