The Solomon Gulch Hatchery — Local services in Valdez

A short drive off the Richardson Hwy just on the outskirts of Valdez, along Dayville Road is an area where salmon pink and coho salon gather to spawn and try to run up the fish weir towards the waterfall beyond it. Sometimes bears await them, and sometimes you see sea lions swimming in the area catching them. There's a large parking lot there and parking is easy. When the salmon are running, it's best to wait for high tide if you want to see them. There's a self guided tour that starts on the other side of the river, with signs visible from the north end of the parking lot. If nothing else, the view of the bay and mountains makes this side trip worth while.The self guided tour has a fish ladder for the salmon to return to the hatchery where they were born to spawn, they climb up the fish ladder and eventually make it to the hatchery's pools and spawning area where they are artificially spawned. I was there in July and then back again in August at high tide and there were tens of thousands of salmon there trying their best to make it up the fish weir and the fish ladder.. Also saw a large black bear feasting on salmon eggs. Again, best time to visit is...

A great place to watch the salmon navigate the weir gate at the entrance to Solomon Gultch. There is a small but beautiful Waterfall right across from the parking lot and there's almost always something fun to see here. During the salmon run, you can almost always catch bald eagles, seller sea lions, and other beautiful birds in the area. If you're lucky, you might be able to watch a female black or brown bear feasting on the salmon that pile up near the hatchery. Bear sows and cubs are known to frequent the area, and perhaps you'll even catch sight of some otters, porcupines, moose or other wildlife in the area. If the aurora borealas are shinning, the views of the aurora over the city of Valdez against the backdrop of the mountains are Truely special!

As a word of warning though. The Steller Sea Lions (a protected species), and bears get very up close in this area. Make sure to keep close watch on your children and dogs (as well as yourself). The wildlife has a tendency to wander through the parking and...

Having been to smaller fish hatcheries that produce fish for pounds and lakes, I was surprised at what I found at the gulch hatchery. In order to give more salmon the chance to develop, the eggs are allowed to hatch here and given a shortcut to the ocean. This should mean a higher number make it to adulthood to maintain or improve the salmon numbers which suffer from overfishing.

Watching people sort fish by sex and the machinery control the flow of fish into the hatchery was fascinating.

The sea lions were enjoying their all-you-can-eat buffet but I was there at low tide and couldn't wait until high tide. Check your tide charts...