DIPAC's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
DIPAC's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
DIPAC's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Visitor Center offers a unique variety of attractions & a truly Alaskan experience! In May through September, we are open every day there is a cruise ship in town. In October through April, tours are offered by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on hours. In the summer months, get a birds-eye-view of the outdoor hatchery operations while a local guide shares with you the life cycle of Pacific salmon and the workings of the hatchery. Adult salmon start returning in Late June and continue through October. Bald Eagles and seals frequent the hatchery and provide a wildlife viewing opportunity. Once inside, explore our salt water aquariums displaying over 150 species of marine life, including touch-tank aquariums. Venture through our gift-shop where we feature shelf stable salmon products from local processors. A fun, affordable, & educational experience for the whole family!
Duration: < 1 hour
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience DIPAC's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
76 within 3 miles
Attractions
65 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
562 reviews
Excellent
268
Very good
197
Average
78
Poor
10
Terrible
9
Randy L
29 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Salmon is one of the principal Alaskan industries. To understand the efforts to protect this industry, a trip to this fish hatchery makes absolute sense. This was part of a tour, so checking out its inclusion would be a good idea.
The hatchery affords visitors a chance to see a fish ladder in operation. You are also apt to see seals check out their next lunch. Continuing on will include a chance to see the huge tanks where the young fish are allowed to grow. They are then introduced to large netted areas in the river to grow larger before being released. A gift shop has about ten aquaria with living examples of other local fish
The hatchery affords visitors a chance to see a fish ladder in operation. You are also apt to see seals check out their next lunch. Continuing on will include a chance to see the huge tanks where the young fish are allowed to grow. They are then introduced to large netted areas in the river to grow larger before being released. A gift shop has about ten aquaria with living examples of other local fish
Written 1 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York4,337 contributions
Jul 2022
A visit to DIPAC is enjoyable. Learn about the salmon and see the young smolt. Watch the adults jump in the outdoor pools. Enjoy the videos and exhibits inside. A pleasant way to spend an hour.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for visiting, we're glad you enjoyed your visit!
Written 1 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
R W
Dahlonega, GA368 contributions
Jun 2022
A great place to take children and adults. Nice displays. A real nice aquarium with various large fish. Many salmon in various stages and tanks. We spotted several eagles outside. It was a good use of time and very reasonable prices.
Written 18 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1964Sara
Portland, ME20 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
It was an excellent lesson on what happens to a salmon in its lifetime .
I never knew they come back to spawn in the same area they were born.
Every one there was very knowledgeable. They care a great deal about continuing the salmon life cycle.
I never knew they come back to spawn in the same area they were born.
Every one there was very knowledgeable. They care a great deal about continuing the salmon life cycle.
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We're glad you enjoyed your visit!
Written 28 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mgmcpa
San Jose, CA229 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
We came here on our own to see the salmon running up the ladder ... incredible! We just got the basic ticket and checked out the ladder (3rd week of July) ... so amazing to see in person! Inexpensive ticket, cheap taxi ride from the port ... do this if you are here during the run!
Written 4 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RLRaceGirl
Sutter Creek, CA293 contributions
Great opportunity to understand the idfference between farm raised and hatchery fish. And you will want to understand that difference before you go to Alaska. The tour is good, great aquarium of local sealife that they do not advertise, and they should. The giftshop, however, is truly the tourist rip off shop. Fortunately, we had been in town and understood prices....too bad for those folks off the ships that thought they were getting a deal!
Written 13 June 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James W
Plainfield, IL31 contributions
Jul 2017
This place was nothing like I had imagined. There are so many salmon in the hatchery area and coming in from the forge that it sits next to. The staff there is very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have. I would recommend to children also I believe they would be excited to see all the salmon
Written 5 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello James W,
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you enjoyed your time here!
Written 8 January 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Scotty18721
Cottonwood, AZ29 contributions
Jul 2015
We weren't sure what to expect when we got there, but it turned out to be a great stop! We did the deluxe tour which included a tour of the facility and the process of everything. It was a great educational experience on salmon and how they impact the salmon population in Juneau area. This is great for kids as they have an aquarium inside with an area to touch star fish, small crab and other marine animals. This is must do when you are in Juneau!
Written 3 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your review. We are so glad you enjoyed your time learning about our hatchery. You came at a perfect time to see everything in full swing and really experience the excitement of the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. We love having younger visitors that we can play in the touch tanks with. We love having fun and educating! Thanks for making us a part of your visit to Juneau.
Written 5 August 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Texasmom04
Arlington, Texas366 contributions
Aug 2011
We were absolutely fascinated by the salmon harvesting process at the hatchery. Be sure and pay for the basic tour ($3.25 per adult and $1.75 for children 12 and under) as it made the whole experience worth the trip. Not sure if you'd get much out of it without their explanations of what is going on. From the outside decks they walked us through the process of harvesting and fertilizing eggs,the growth of the baby salmon, releasing them into the ocean and their return years later. We were there the first part of August when there were thousands of salmon returning, working their way up the fish ladder. It was truly amazing. We watched as they sorted the King Salmon from the others. They did a great job explaining how this process benefits the state of Alaska to sustain and enhance the valuable salmon resources. You can see everything in less than an hour but we were so fascinated that we stayed much longer. What an incredible process. We took a taxi from the dock downtown. It is very difficult to get a return taxi and we were told that the taxis in Juneau are notoriously unreliable, so be sure and have them call a taxi for you well before you are ready to leave.
Written 17 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarlanneNewJersey
Manahawkin, NJ135 contributions
Inexpensive attraction ($3.09 per) with an interest display of undersea life, and the life story of salmon. We went in early June and the fish ladders were still quiet, but when they are in action it would be more fun to visit. The money goes to a good cause also.
Written 19 June 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We will be visiting Juneau on a NCL cruise in June, 2020, We are scheduled to be in Juneau on June 23rd. Is that late enough in June that we might see some salmon in the salmon ladders? We have 4 children, ages 5 to 10, in our group of 12, and they are very excited to see the salmon.
Written 3 March 2020
Hello! Thank you for your interest in visiting us this summer. Adult salmon typically start returning in late June and we continue to see more and more fish through mid-late July. If adult salmon have not started to return yet, you will still be able to see hundreds of thousands of baby salmon in our public rearing facility. We hope to see you in June!
Written 4 March 2020
Did not find info on amount and species released. What percent of Kings are released at your four? Sites
Written 23 June 2019
Hi, We release king salmon at Fish Creek (on Douglas), Lena cove, Auke Bay, Macaulay Salmon Hatchery and Thane. Depending on survival, we typically release the following amounts per location in order of listing above: 280 thousand, 150 thousand, 90 thousand, 215 thousand, 150 thousand.
Written 24 June 2019
How far are you from the cruise terminal? My wife and I will be visiting on a cruise in June.
Thank you
Written 11 May 2017
Hello ggd!
We are located 3-5 miles from the cruise ship terminals, depending on where your ship moors. There are several options for getting to the hatchery including taxis, trolleys and buses. But the best option is to sign up for a tour package offered on board your cruise ship. If you're here in late June, you may be able to see the salmon returning. We look forward to your visit!
Written 12 May 2017
I will be in Juneau early May. Do you have scheduled tours? If so, at what times? How long are the tours? We don't have much time in Juneau and would like to take another excursion as well. Also, what is the best way to get to hatchery from pier?
Thank you
Angie
Written 17 February 2017
Good Morning Angie, thank you for your interest in the hatchery! In regards to your questions, there are several transportation options. If you are arriving via cruise ship the best option is to buy a tour on board your cruise ship that includes the hatchery. Every cruise line has a tour option that includes the Mendenhall Glacier, the hatchery, and sometimes one other location. You can also purchase from an independent tour vendor that will pick you up downtown. We recommend a tour with Dennis Harris of 12th Street Tour Company, which can be booked online. Our facility is conveniently located just 3-5 miles from downtown, so taking a taxi is also an option, but they are not very reliable on timing in Juneau. Some people choose to use the public transit system but that can take a bit of time and will include a quarter-mile walk to our facility across the main highway. If you sign up for a cruise ship tour, your group will receive a brief, 10 minute guided commentary upon your arrival at the hatchery and you will spend about 30-45 minutes here in total, with extra time to explore our exhibits, aquariums and touch tanks filled with local critters, view our slide show with more details on our operation and shop in the gift shop! If you arrive independently, the guided commentaries take place on the hour and half hour and also last about 10 minutes, following which you can take as much time as you would like here. Let us know if you have more questions. You can also find our website by google searching DIPAC. We look forward to your visit!
Written 21 February 2017
July is a great month to visit the hatchery!
Our chum salmon are typically here in full force, and we usually have quite a few large adult king salmon in the holding tanks outside as well. If you scroll through our photos on the tripadvisor page, you can see some of what I'm talking about. In a normal year, it will seem as if you could walk across the water on the backs of the returning adult salmon.
Inside the visitors center our Aquariums are well stocked with over 150 local species, and our baby king and coho salmon can be seen from the sky bridge in their rearing facility.
Hope to see you in July!
Written 30 December 2016
Hello, we will be in Juneau in June on a cruise and we have a rental van to our Juneau. I have read we do and do not need to make a reservation to visit. Please clarify, do we need to make a reservation for 9 of us, all adults? Thanks!
Written 25 April 2016
Hey There!
We ask for reservations with groups larger than 15. No reservations are necessary for 9 people. However, if you like, you can give us a call on the day of to let us know you're coming and we'll be ready for you!
We're glad you're coming to Juneau! See you at the Hatchery!
Written 26 April 2016
Hi,
We are going to be in Juneau on a Holland Cruise in early August. None of cruise tours seem to accomodate those individuals with handicaps. My husband uses a scooter for mobility. Is your tour ADA accessible if we arrived by taxi?
Written 4 July 2015
Hello and thank you for your question. Yes! We are ADA accessible. We have a ramp that leads into our visitor center and a lift that can get you to the upper level rearing facility to see millions of baby salmon. We look forward to seeing you in August.
Written 5 July 2015
How much does it cost per head? Planning not to book any tours and explore Juneau on our own. Reply soon please. :) Will be in Alaska late May.
Written 2 May 2015
Hello,
Our admission costs $3.25 for adults and $1.75 for children. There is no need to make a reservation. We look forward to seeing you in May!
Thank you,
Megan
Tourism Supervisor
Written 4 May 2015
Hi Reba,
Thanks for your question. There are a couple options for transportation to the hatchery: City bus- the bus picks up downtown near the cruise dock and drops off across the highway from our hatchery. From the drop there is a 10-15 minute walk. The bus costs $2 per person each way. You can also take a taxi which would cost around $15 each way.
The cruise ships also offer many bus tours that stop at the hatchery.
We look forward to seeing you this summer.
-Megan, Tourism Supervisor
Written 6 April 2015
We will be visiting Juneau the week of May 17. Is there any activity in fish ladders or hatchery then or is this later in season??
Bruce
Written 21 February 2015
Hi Bruce-
Thanks for your question. If you are at the hatchery in mid May you will have the opportunity to see smolt salmon in net pens and baby salmon in the raceways. Adult salmon do not start returning and making their way up the ladder until late June. May is a nice time to visit the hatchery because their are less crowds and you will receive a short, fact-filled commentary from one of our knowledgeable guides. We also have beautiful aquariums that are filled with over 150 species of local marine life.
We hope to see you in May!
-Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Staff
Written 24 February 2015
Showing results 1-10 of 10
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing