Norfork National Fish Hatchery

About Norfork National Fish Hatchery

Established in 1955, the Norfork National Fish Hatchery is a cold water hatchery primarily for the production of trout to restock the tailwaters below Norfork, Bull Shoals and other dams. The hatchery is responsible for raising three kinds of trout: rainbow, brown and cutthroat. In addition, Norfork National Fish Hatchery also provides trout to reservoirs and in cooperation with state game and fish agencies distributes fish throughout Arkansas and other nearby states. The Hatchery's geographic area covers eastern Oklahoma and the White River Basin in Northern Arkansas.

How to Get There

Norfork National Fish Hatchery is located below Norfork Dam and Reservoir approximately eleven miles southeast of Mountain Home in Baxter County, Arkansas. The hatchery entrance is on State Highway 177 approximately two miles south of its intersection with State Highway 5. There are several access routes. From Mountain Home, take Highway 5 south to Salesville, then Highway 177 north to the hatchery.

Plan Your Visit to Norfork National Fish Hatchery

Heading to Norfork National Fish Hatchery? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)