Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Group Hike and Fly Tying Clinic
Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Group Hike
Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in New Marlborough
Group Hike, Barbecue and Fly-Tying Clinic
April 25th at 10:00 am
Barbecue Lunch on the grill sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery
Optional Fly-Tying demo/lesson after lunch
Hike Rating: Easy to Moderate 2.5 mile loop with 435 ft of elevation gain. Sights to see: cellar holes, charcoaling site, glacial kettle, town boundary post
Location: Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough, MA 01230
The Berkshire National Fish Hatchery was established along the Konkapot River in the late nineteenth century by Dr. Samuel Camp. He selected the site for its immediate proximity to the spring at the base of the mountain that flowed through a 10-inch pipe and ran a cool 48 degrees year-round. Much of Dr. Camp’s original vision and structure remains today. The Berkshire National Fish Hatchery is situated on 148 acres of forested land that is the source of a pristine aquifer, supplying 200 gallons per minute of the pure oxygen-rich water trout love through various pools. The woodland trails that surround the aquifer are home to many diverse species of wildlife, making the Hatchery a special place for learning about not only fish culture, but also about the natural history of the Berkshires.
The Berkshire National Fish Hatchery is a cold-water aquaculture facility that lies on 148 acres in Berkshire County, in northern New Marlborough, Massachusetts. Its primary mission is supporting the restoration of lake trout populations in the Lower Great Lakes by supplying lake trout eggs to other federal hatcheries and rearing native brook trout for stocking in local waterways to support recreational fishing and educational programs. They operate under the supervision of the USFWS and the Berkshire Hatchery Foundation to support the restoration of lake trout populations in the Lower Great Lakes by supplying lake trout eggs to other federal hatcheries. These eggs are hatched, grown and stocked into Lakes Ontario and Erie. The restoration efforts are part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. They produce upwards of 1.2 million fertilized Seneca lake wild strain lake trout every year. The conservation efforts both enhance the lake trout population and habitat, but also provide recreational fishing opportunities to anglers in the area. The hatchery contains a shop, a fish-rearing hatchery including ten circular pools, two raceways, and three ponds, trails for recreational use, an outreach pond, and visitor parking areas.
Please Register per vehicle onwww.hilltownhikers.com. Maps and bottled water provided. Well behaved dogs welcome. Event is volunteer lead. Suggested donation is $15. Please email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call/text 413-302-0312 if you have any questions. As always be prepared for rocks, mud and roots, bring trekking poles and a snack!
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GROUP HIKES AND TOURS SINCE 2010
