Fun Free Family Activity in Fresno, California

San Joaquin Fish Hatchery is a great free family activity in fresno, CA.

I attend my son’s first-grade field trip this year. On this half daytrip we took two stops. First, we stopped at Woodward Park to release baby trout my son’s class was raising, into the lake (don’t worry they had permits).

Then we stopped at the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery to end the trip. I had never been to the hatchery before and it was a pleasant surprise! My husband and I are always looking for fun and free family activities in Fresno so I was so excited to learn that the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery is FREE and open 7 days a week.

free family activities in fresno California

Free Family Activity in Fresno

The San Joaquin Fish Hatchery is just north of Woodward Park in Northeast Fresno. I have lived in Fresno for almost 2 decades and I had no idea it was here, and definitely didn’t know it was free. I am excited to take you on a photo tour from one of my new favorite Free family activities.

We spent about 3 hours at the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery but we could have easily spent another hour there.

san joaquin fish hatchery fresno family activity

Our Favorite Parts

My son’s favorite part was being able to feed the fish in the large troughs. We toured the entire facility on a self-guided tour. First we visited the area where the freshly born trout were raised. Next, we feed the more developed fish that are kept in an open-air trough and this is FREE. There are cups in one bin and the fish food is in another and guest to the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery are welcome to help themselves to the fish food and cups to feed the fish.

Inside another building are the baby trout from eggs to little tiny inch long fish. The tour guide shared that there were over 2.5 million fish inside the facility. Be warned… 2.5 million fish definitely have a distinctive aroma.