WARREN COUNTY, NJ – This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pequest Trout Hatchery located in scenic Warren County.
Annually, the hatchery produces over 600,000 rainbow trout that are stocked in over 180 bodies of water throughout New Jersey. The hatchery is run by staff who operate and monitor the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Pequest facility offers a self-guided tour, a natural resource education center and an assortment of conservation and fishing programs for all ages to enjoy. Scenic trails can be hiked in the surrounding Pequest Wildlife Management Area.
Visitors can learn about the Pequest Trout Hatchery by following a self-guided hatchery tour, marked by green trout on the sidewalks that lead to two different hatchery areas.
The first sidewalk will take you up to the Nursery Building where you can look through the windows of both the Egg Room and the Nursery Area. The Egg Room is in operation from mid-September through early October. The Nursery Area is in use from Late September through mid-May.
The second sidewalk will take you the Observation Platform where you can overlook the raceways or pools filled with trout. The raceways hold fish year-round.
The Pequest Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) offers many recreational opportunities such as:
- Fishing in the Pequest River
- Hunting
- Archery Range
- Dog Training Area
- Hiking
- Bird Watching
- Nature Photography
The Pequest Natural Resource Education Center offers 3.9 miles of trails through a variety of habitats. The Red Trail offers interpretive signs about the habitat and is used to access the other two trails on site, the Yellow and Blue trails. Horses, bikes, ATVs and other motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Wildlife Management Area.
The hatchery’s main entrance is located off Route 46 in Liberty Township. For more information about the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, click here.
