As the weather warms up and wildflowers brighten the Gorge, spring chinook salmon return up the Columbia River, entering the Wind River on their journey back to Carson National Fish Hatchery. Others swim up the Little White Salmon River through Drano Lake to the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery. Anglers flock to the mouth of the Wind River and to Drano Lake to try their luck at catching the 15 to 20 pound fish. Adult spring chinook salmon return up the Wind River to the Carson hatchery beginning in May, continuing to enter the hatchery until spawning begins on Mondays and Tuesdays in August. Salmon fry are marked with coded wire tags in May, then held over through the winter and released as smolts the following April.
Visitors are welcome to tour the hatchery and watch the spawning and tagging operations.
Spawning takes place in August. During the summer, the hatcheries are good places to enjoy the park-like settings and see wildlife along the nearby rivers. Picnic facilities are minimal, but there are public restrooms and parking for cars and recreational vehicles. Spring Creek Hatchery releases the last of three groups of fall chinook salmon smolts each May, but they have an excellent information center in the administrative office with brochures and video programs available. Views from Spring Creek include a panoramic view of Mt. Hood, the city of Hood River, and the Columbia River Gorge.