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Leadville National Fish Hatchery

Website
  • 719-486-0189
  • 2846 CO-300, Leadville, CO 80461

Built in 1889 and comprised of over 3,000 acres of land, the Leadville National Fish Hatchery is the nation’s second-oldest federal hatchery. The hatchery’s subalpine forest surroundings, with its cold, clean water supply, provide the ideal location for trout production.

The Hatchery Visitor Center and grounds are open daily to the public year round. For a close-up view of the fish production process, take a self-guided tour through the Visitor Center inside a historic brownstone building, with tanks of fish inside and out. Bring your quarters to purchase fish food from the dispensers and feed the trout in the raceways and pond in front of the Visitor Center building. Guided tours are available by appointment to organized groups.

The hatchery serves as a gateway to nature with recreational activity access for: hiking, fishing on rock-creek, hunting, birding and wildlife watching and snowshoe/Nordic ski access in the winter. The network of trails within the Fish Hatchery property and into the Mount Massive Wilderness Area offers out and back plus loop hiking options of various lengths and difficulty levels. Trail maps are available at the hatchery for a donation.

Walk the hatchery’s scenic one-mile nature trail or venture deeper into the mountains on a network of trails that pass lakes and streams, wind through pines, and lead into the Mt. Massive Wilderness. Venture along the nature trail or up the service access road to the Evergreen Lakes Picnic Pavilion and day use area.  A favorite for families the area including swings, a volleyball court, half-sized basketball court, horseshoe pits and lots of space to run around. Plan a picnic to remember the pavilion is located near the lake with views of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive. Or reserve the pavilion for an event.

WINTER & SPRING TRIPS

Visiting in winter or early spring? Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis!

If you venture past the nature trail, you’ll be in the backcountry. Please check our Colorado Backcountry Winter Safety Resources and the current avalanche forecast before you head out!

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A man fishing from a paddleboard on a beautiful day at Twin Lakes