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Plan Your Visit

Located in downtown Issaquah, the hatchery is open to visitors year-round, every day from dawn until dusk, and features 37 educational exhibits and interactive displays, an aquarium room that shows the salmon life cycle from egg to smolt, a theater room with a short film, native plant garden, a rain garden, fish rearing ponds, fish ladder with underwater windows, and viewing decks with a bridge over Issaquah Creek.

Hours & Information

Admission to the hatchery is free. 

Open year-round, every day from dawn to dusk.

Public restrooms, aquarium room and theater room with 8-minute informational film, are open daily from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. 

Location & Accessibility

125 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah WA 98027

The grounds are entirely ADA accessible. ADA parking spaces are available at the hatchery parking lot on Sunset Way.

Parking & Directions

Self-Guided Tours

Self-guided tours start at the aquarium room and last about 45-90 minutes.

An audio tour in English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese is available through your cell phone. 

Just click on the QR codes on exhibit displays. 

FISH Docent Led Tours

Add to the experience, book a guided tour of the hatchery.

  • Tours last 45 minutes.
  • We kindly request a $10/ person donation to FISH.
  • Tours should be booked at least 2 weeks ahead.
  • Please review our tips for an enjoyable and safe visit to the hatchery. 

Request a Tour

FISHop Gift Shop

Open during the spawning season from October- November for gifts, gear, treasures and souvenirs.

Closed until October, but available by appointment at 425-392-1118.

Explore the Gift Shop

Dining Options

The Hatchery is located in downtown Issaquah with many terrific cafes, restaurants and shops within walking distance. Learn more at Downtown Issaquah. 

Small groups can enjoy picnics at several tables and benches on hatchery grounds. Larger groups will find a covered eating area and picnic tables at Gibson Park, across the street on Newport Way.

hatcher map

What You Will See

Gilda and Finley, the hatchery’s two coho salmon statues (8-feet long) were created by artist Tom Jay. The sculptures rest among perfect salmon spawning habitat.

REACHING HOME

Gilda and Finley, the hatchery’s two coho salmon statues (8-feet long) were created by artist Tom Jay. The sculptures rest among perfect salmon spawning habitat.
The hatchery features 18 raceway ponds that house baby coho, Chinook, kokanee & trout. From spring to fall, visitors can feed the baby trout.

FISH REARING PONDS

The hatchery features 18 raceway ponds that house baby coho, Chinook, kokanee & trout. From spring to fall, visitors can feed the baby trout.
The life-cycle aquarium room is representative of a typical Northwest stream, much like Issaquah Creek. You will see salmon as they develop from fertilized eggs to smolt. The mural was painted by artist Larry Kangas.

Aquarium Room

The life-cycle aquarium room is representative of a typical Northwest stream, much like Issaquah Creek. You will see salmon as they develop from fertilized eggs to smolt. The mural was painted by artist Larry Kangas.
The theater room is open daily 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and visitors can learn about the hatchery with an 8-minute film, "Salmon, a Miraculous Journey."

STEVE BELL THEATER

The theater room is open daily 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and visitors can learn about the hatchery with an 8-minute film, “Salmon, a Miraculous Journey.”
The viewing bridge looks over Issaquah Creek. During the fall, hundreds of adult Chinook and coho can be seen migrating.

Viewing Bridge

The viewing bridge looks over Issaquah Creek. During the fall, hundreds of adult Chinook and coho can be seen migrating.
The glassed-in ladder and adult holding ponds let visitors get nose-to-nose with salmon during the spawning season. Part of a 1990’s hatchery remodel, major funding for the redesign came from the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the City of Issaquah.

FISH LADDER & VIEWING WINDOWS

The glassed-in ladder and adult holding ponds let visitors get nose-to-nose with salmon during the spawning season. Part of a 1990’s hatchery remodel, major funding for the redesign came from the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the City of Issaquah.
The fiber-optic map highlights the migrating salmon route from Issaquah Creek to Puget Sound as smolts, and the journey back years later as adults returning to Issaquah Creek to spawn.

SALMON MIGRATION ROUTE

The fiber-optic map highlights the migrating salmon route from Issaquah Creek to Puget Sound as smolts, and the journey back years later as adults returning to Issaquah Creek to spawn.
This interactive display features issues that face the salmon including predators, fishers and other challenges.

CAN YOU BEAT THE ODDS?

This interactive display features issues that face the salmon including predators, fishers and other challenges.
The hatchery’s Coast Salish plant garden shows visitors how they can use native plants to grow “salmon-friendly gardens.” These plants are labeled with their English as well as Lushootseed native names.

NATIVE PLANT GARDEN

The hatchery’s Coast Salish plant garden shows visitors how they can use native plants to grow “salmon-friendly gardens.” These plants are labeled with their English as well as Lushootseed native names.
The hatchery features over 54 pieces of public artwork including community murals and art installations.

Hatchery Artwork

The hatchery features over 54 pieces of public artwork including community murals and art installations.
This exhibit shows how the salmon nourish other animals after they die. A keystone species, 137 other species depend on the salmon for survival.

GIVING THEIR ALL

This exhibit shows how the salmon nourish other animals after they die. A keystone species, 137 other species depend on the salmon for survival.
You will find several mosaics at the hatchery. The stained glass salmon mosaic, opposite the fish ladder viewing windows, was created in 2017 by 87 community members ages 4-86 years old.

Mosaics

You will find several mosaics at the hatchery. The stained glass salmon mosaic, opposite the fish ladder viewing windows, was created in 2017 by 87 community members ages 4-86 years old.
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This organization is currently registered with the secretary's office under the charitable solicitation act - for information call 1-800-332-4483.

No goods or services are provided to donors for their contributions. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Tax ID #91-1640245.