Auburn Fish Hatchery

Hatchery information

Built on Webster Creek in the Caribou National Forest, the Auburn Fish Hatchery provides fish for anglers in waters across Wyoming and is surrounded by the West Hills and Caribou Mountains. Auburn Fish Hatchery is actually located in Idaho, but is operated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department through a mutual agreement with Idaho and the U.S. Forest Service. When the hatchery was originally constructed in 1941, access was only through Wyoming.

Address

2411 Fish Hatchery Road.
Auburn, Wyoming 83111

(208) 225-3457

Driving directions

Hours

Open to the public 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily.

Video tour

Fun facts

Auburn Fish Hatchery is actually located in Idaho, West of Auburn, Wyoming.

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The hatchery's water supply is from a spring that averages about 1,600 gallons per minute and fluctuates throughout the season.

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It was one of the first fish hatcheries to use the more efficient circular raceways.

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It is home to the Bar BC strain of Snake River cutthroat, which spawns from April to June each year.

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Hatchery broodstock

Auburn Fish Hatchery primarily raises kokanee and Snake River cutthroat trout.

Brook and brown trout, along with splake have been raised at Auburn in the past, and occasionally fall rainbow trout and Eagle Lake rainbow trout are raised for a short time providing a fish transfer to another hatchery.

A historical black and white photo of Auburn Fish Hatchery blanketed in snow taken on December 7, 1944.

History

Auburn Fish Hatchery was built for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to replace the Cokeville Hatchery, which was smaller and not able to be utilized for larger-sized fish. The facility came to fruition with a lease from the U.S. Forest Service and has existed in the Caribou National Forest since July 9, 1941. The original lease included 55 acres and approval for a hatchery, outbuildings, residences and rearing ponds. In the 1940s and 1950s workers built a hatchery, shop, residence for the hatchery superintendent and six ponds. By 1969 there were six 40-foot circulars, another residence, and two of the old ponds were still being used. Another residence was added in 1980. In 2000, a broodstock building was built, and in 2020 a brood recruitment building was added. Auburn Fish Hatchery was originally called the Western Wyoming Hatchery.