DIPAC Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
About
DIPAC Macaulay Salmon Hatchery offers kids an unforgettable hands-on introduction to Alaska's fishing heritage and salmon life cycles. Children can watch millions of salmon at different growth stages through underwater viewing windows, feed fingerlings, and even touch marine life in interactive displays. This working hatchery combines education with excitement as kids witness the incredible journey from egg to adult salmon in action.
Highlights
- ✓Underwater viewing windows where kids watch salmon swim at eye level
- ✓Interactive touch tanks with starfish and other marine creatures
- ✓Fish ladder during spawning season with salmon jumping upstream
- ✓Feeding salmon fingerlings in outdoor tanks
- ✓Educational displays explaining the complete salmon life cycle
Pro Tips
- 1.Visit during salmon spawning season (July-October) for the most dramatic viewing experience with large numbers of returning salmon jumping up the fish ladder
- 2.Arrive early in the day when fish are most active and crowds are lighter, especially if visiting during cruise ship port days
- 3.Bring quarters for the fish food dispensers so kids can feed the salmon fingerlings in the outdoor tanks
- 4.Don't miss the underwater viewing windows in the main building,kids love seeing fish swim right past their faces
- 5.Wear layers and bring rain jackets as you'll be moving between indoor and outdoor areas, and Juneau weather can change quickly
Best Time to Visit
Visit weekday mornings from July through September when salmon are actively spawning and returning to the hatchery, and before afternoon cruise ship crowds arrive. The hatchery is quieter and staff have more time to answer kids' questions during these hours.
What to Know
Admission is very affordable (around $6 for adults, kids often free or discounted), with ample free parking on-site. There's no food service available, so plan to eat before or after your visit, though there are picnic areas if you bring snacks.
Seasonal Notes
The hatchery operates seasonally from May through September, with peak viewing during July-October salmon runs. August and September offer the most dramatic spawning displays. Closed October through April.
Nearby Eats
Head to The Sandpiper Café (about 10 minutes away) for casual family dining with burgers and seafood options, or try Deckhand Dave's Fish Tacos for quick, kid-friendly Alaskan fish tacos near downtown Juneau.
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