Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery is a 444-acre facility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service located in the quiet rural setting of Virginia's historic tidewater plantation country. Established and constructed in the 1930s to raise warm-water fish for stocking in lakes and ponds, Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery now plays a key role in the Service's efforts to protect and restore imperiled populations of freshwater mussels and restore migratory fish in Atlantic coastal rivers and their headwaters.

Visit Us

Come visit us. You can enjoy hiking, birding, wildlife watching, and picnicking at the hatchery grounds. 

We have a hike-walking trail that follows Herring Creek and travels up to the 99-acre Harrison Lake, where you can also enjoy boating (non-motorized) and fishing. Visit Virginia Fishing Regulations and Licenses for more information on fishing in Virginia. Our hiking trail also takes you around the hatchery and through a large loblolly pine forest, past wetlands, and Herring Creek. Insect repellent and protective clothing are suggested during warm weather due to the presence of biting insects and poison ivy.

Call 804-829-2421, or email rachel_mair@fws.gov to schedule a tour. We welcome schools, homeschoolers and youth groups.

Location and Contact Information

      Tours

      Call 804-829-2421, or email rachel_mair@fws.gov to schedule a tour. We welcome schools, homeschoolers and youth groups for tours anytime.

      Our Organization

      A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
      The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. From habitat restoration to aquatic invasive species prevention, captive breeding to population assessment and monitoring, our programs are driven by the...
      Program
      Falls Church,VA
      Orange fish eggs on a white background.
      The National Fish Hatchery System raises millions of fish and aquatic wildlife to improve sustainable recreational fishing, support fisheries that have been impacted by a federal dam, recover federally listed threatened or endangered species, fulfill our Tribal Trust responsibilities, and prevent...
      Program

      Projects and Research