The hatchery is a great place to catch a glimpse of many species of Alaskan wildlife. Bald eagles swoop down to grab salmon in their talons, harbor seals curiously pop their heads out of the water to view the daily hatchery operations, and sea lions swim by hoping for a snack.  In Alaska, everyone loves salmon.

Arriving in late June through early September? Experience the true awe of the masses! When explorers first visited Alaska, they spoke of salmon schooling so thick one could walk across the water on their backs. The stories were true, and you can see the crowding fish as they gather in the channel before making the difficult journey up our 450ft fish ladder (FYI: walking across their backs is NOT an activity we allow). We start seeing adult salmon return in late June or early July, and a few trickle in through mid October, but the big show is mid summer. 

Educational signage details the life cycle of Pacific Salmon and Alaska hatchery operations, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Explore the differences between the five species of Pacific Salmon with informational posters located on the windows of the hatchery.

We invite you to get up close to our favorite Alaskan critters. Feel slimy sea cucumbers, spiny urchins, crawly crabs, and a variety of different sea star species. A MUST for children and brave adults!

Salmon are available for viewing year round in our freshwater rearing facility. Get a bird's eye view of the millions of tiny salmon from the rearing facility cat walk and watch the feeding frenzy as our hatchery technicians hand feed the baby salmon throughout the day.

Expand your knowledge of Alaska’s wildlife and fool your friends back home with a life like close up next to this ferocious critter!

Have you ever wondered what lives under the sea in Alaska? Our saltwater aquariums are full with over 150 species for you to view and learn about. Our knowledgeable guides are always available to answer questions and provide fun facts about our amazing marine creatures.

Photo Credit- Juneau Empire

The bald eagle is the largest bird of prey in Alaska and the national bird of the United States. Learn all about these impressive animals. Do you know why the bird on the right doesn’t have a white head?