About this campground
Established in 1901, the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery (NFH) was one of several egg collection stations for the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Clackamas Hatchery, near Portland. As the human population of the Columbia Gorge increased, heavy fishing pressure and destruction of habitat resulted in the U.S. government establishing a fish hatchery at this site. Today the hatchery raises more than 15 million Tule Fall Chinook salmon annually. The hatchery uses water from several springs located at the base of the adjacent basalt cliffs, recycling the water through a unique, oyster shell filtration system to conserve water and reduce pollution. Ninety percent of the water used in the hatchery rearing ponds is recycled. The hatchery is also open on weekends in late August, September and early October, and from December through mid-May.
Getting there
Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery is located 4 miles west of the Hood River/White Salmon toll bridge on State Highway 14.
Activities
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
- FISH HATCHERY
- FISHING
- PICNICKING
- VISITOR CENTER
- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery ComplexFish And Wildlife Service2 mi
- Moss Creek campgroundGifford Pinchot National Forest7 mi
- Oklahoma campgroundGifford Pinchot National Forest11 mi
- Trailhead: Monte Carlo-UpperGifford Pinchot National Forest12 mi
- Trailhead: Monte Cristo-LowerGifford Pinchot National Forest12 mi
- Trailhead: Monte Cristo-UpperGifford Pinchot National Forest14 mi
Explore more Washington camping
Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Washington campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Washington camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.