The front of the office at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery with a visitor kiosk and flag pole.

Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery

Fish Hatchery Information

 

Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery was constructed in 1939 and is nestled in the picturesque Ten Sleep Canyon. To visit Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery, travel ~7.5 miles east on US-16 from the town of Ten Sleep. Turn right onto WY-435 and travel ~1 mile. The hatchery will be on the right.

Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery Address


118 State Highway 435 unit D
Ten Sleep, Wyoming 82442

(307) 366-2404

Driving Directions

Fish Hatchery Hours:

The hatchery is open to the public 8 am - 5 pm daily.

 

Ten Sleep Fun Facts

  • Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery is an integral part of the state’s fish culture system, stocking approximately 250,000 fish into Wyoming’s waters and incubating between 1 and 2 million green, or just fertilized, eggs.
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  • Three springs provide Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery with its water and the largest provides 450 gallons per minute.
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  • The spawning population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout consists of approximately 2,600 fish that provide an average of 1.2 million eggs per year.
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  • The Yellowstone cutthroat broodstock is spawned weekly, beginning the first week of March and running through early May.
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  • Offspring from the Yellowstone cutthroat broodstock are used in trades to other states, stocking into popular fishing waters throughout Wyoming, and supplying fish for restoration efforts.
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Hatchery Broodstock

Yellowstone cutthroat trout illustration

Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery is home to the captive Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout brood stock.

 

A wide array of species are reared or incubated at Ten Sleep – Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Splake, Tiger Trout, Fall Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout all can call Ten Sleep home.

Where does Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery Get Its Water?

 

Ten Sleep gets its water from three underground springs. The largest of the three springs provides 450 gallons of water per minute at 57°F, while the two smaller springs provide 270 gallons at 46°F. These three springs can be mixed or used separately to provide a variety of hatching and rearing temperatures.

 

In February of 2008, routine disease testing at the hatchery found the parasite that causes whirling disease. As a result of this and to protect the hatchery from pathogens in the future, major renovations were completed in the fall of 2011. The renovations included concrete vaults around the hatchery’s three springs, equipment to condition the water for optimal fish growth and health and fiberglass tanks to replace dirt ponds and concrete tanks.

An inside look at the Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery water treatment building with uv water filtration units.

Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery Images

  • Exterior of the Ten Sleep hatchery building.
    The hatchery building at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery.
  • Dual-drain circular tanks at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery used for raising fish.
    Dual-drain circular tanks used for fish production at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery.
  • Yellowstone cutthroat trout broodstock in a tank covered with a dome-shaped roof.
    Yellowstone cutthroat trout broodstock tank.
  • A Fish culturist in red uniform in the egg incubation room at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery
    Incubation room at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery.
  • The exterior of the brown office building at Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery with an American flag in front.
    Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery main office and water treatment building.