Lookingglass Hatchery Visitors' Guide
Lookingglass Hatchery was constructed in 1982 as part of the Lower Snake River Compensation Program (LSRCP) – a program to mitigate for spring Chinook and summer steelhead losses caused by four federal dams constructed on the lower Snake River. Lookingglass is used to rear spring Chinook for the Grande Ronde and Imnaha rivers as part of LSRCP. Lookingglass Hatchery serves as an adult collection, egg incubation, and rearing and release site for the spring Chinook destined for the Grande Ronde River systems. The Imnaha Satellite Facility is used for the collection of spring Chinook adults returning to the Imnaha River. Adults captured at the Imnaha satellite facility are transported to Lookingglass Hatchery. Eggs are incubated and juveniles reared at Lookingglass Hatchery. Juveniles/smolts are then transferred back to the Imnaha facility for acclimation and release into the Imnaha River system.
Best time to visit: June – September
Visiting hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily
Fish raised: spring Chinook salmon
What to see and do: Lookingglass Hatchery offers a small, inside display area and viewing window, plus information signs on the grounds. Adult Chinook salmon are present during most of the summer.
- Wildlife: Birds of prey, fish, freshwater mammals, hoofed mammals, wading birds
- Facilities: ADA accessible, restrooms
- Nearby: The Blue Mountains offer hiking, camping, viewing, hunting and fishing opportunities for area visitors.
Directions: From either north or south on I-84: Take exit 261. Turn right at the stop sign. Go to the third stop light and take a left on Hwy 82 (toward Elgin and Wallowa Lake). Travel about 10 miles to the town of Imbler, continue on Hwy 82 to Elgin (eight more miles).
When you get into Elgin, turn left on Division Street (Hwy 204 – Tollgate Hwy). Go over the railroad tracks to the first cross street, which is N.10th Street. Turn right on N. 10th Street and go to the "Y" in the road. Stay to the right of the "Y" and travel three miles to a stop sign. Turn right onto Palmer Junction Road. Travel another 13 miles then, at the next "Y" is the Lookingglass Hatchery sign. Turn right. The road becomes a gravel road for two miles
Address and Phone:
Lookingglass Hatchery
76657 Lookingglass Road
Elgin, OR 97827
(541) 437-9723
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