A million little fishies

Catch one, feed a few, observe many

As family-friendly activities go, a visit to the Kootenay Trout Hatchery is a good bet. Just a half-hour drive from Cranbrook, B.C., on the Wardner-Fort Steele Road, this is a fun and fascinating place to spend an hour or a day. As part of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C., the hatchery is the source of trout stock for up to 150 lakes in the Kootenays and many more throughout the province.

To access the hatchery you will cross a moat, where you get your first look at the fish. If you want to feed the trout there are treats available—and while some of the inhabitants of the moat are shy, a few are so bold and experienced they will nibble food right from your fingers!

Inside the building, the floor is covered in a beautiful tile mosaic that inspires the imagination; children frequently invent games and stories about the figures in the mosaic that entertain them even when the visit is long past. You may wander through the facility, looking at the taxidermy and other displays in the interpretive centre, observing the various stages of trout development going on in the huge metal troughs and inspecting the white sturgeon, which are the largest freshwater fish species in North America. Staff are available for guided tours in the summer and to answer any questions you might have about the facility and its programs, or the local flora, fauna and geography.

There’s lots to do outside, too. There is a pool where a number of painted turtles spend the summer, a charming pond where you can fish—it’s catch and release, of course—and lots of open space where you can picnic and play. If you like to hike or cycle, there’s easy access to a nearby ridge for a panoramic view of the Bull River. The nearby Bull River Forest Service Road leads to the Aberfeldie Generating Station and, if the time is right, a spectacular display of autumn foliage.

A visit to the hatchery has another pleasant feature for adults: there’s no set charge. Admission is by suggested donation, and there’s nobody selling merchandise. There is also no food outlet on the premises, so if you’d like something to eat or drink, you’ll need to bring it along. The facility is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May through September, with somewhat shorter hours during the rest of the year.