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.

No matter what time of year you visit, the Nimbus Fish Hatchery offers a glimpse into the unique world of salmon and steelhead. Fall marks the return of powerful Chinook salmon and the opening of the fish ladder. Winter brings sleek steelhead trout.

The Nimbus Fish Hatchery is located in eastern Sacramento County, built on the downstream side of the Nimbus Dam. [1] It is one of the 21 fish hatcheries the California Department of Fish and Wildlife oversees. [2] Chinook salmon and steelhead are raised, and about 4 million Chinook salmon and 430,000 steelheads released each year. [3]

Nimbus Hatchery was constructed to replace the salmon and steelhead runs that were blocked by Nimbus dam. Annual CDFW counts of salmon spawning in the American River provided justification for construction of this hatchery.

The purpose of the hatchery programs is to mitigate for salmon and steelhead spawning and rearing habitat eliminated due to construction of Nimbus Dam in 1955, and to support river and ocean fisheries. The NIM conducts an artificial propagation program for fall-run Central Valley (CV) Chinook salmon and steelhead trout on the lower American River.

The Nimbus fish hatchery is only blocks from our home and along the American River Bike Trail. As such the expansive working fish hatchery at this time of year (fall) is a hubbub of activity. Through exhibits and professional guides one can learn about the history and the biology of fish - primarily salmon in the American River.

*The Nimbus Hatchery Visitor Center is open to the public weekdays from 8-3 and weekends from 9-3 (closed Christmas Day). The raceways are open from 7:30-3 daily. The river trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Casual visitors do not require a reservation. There is …