🌤 Weather at Quinebaug Valley State Fish Hatchery by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25–68 °F | 54–80 °F | 31–72 °F | 17–41 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Hampton, 7 mi away, elevation 490 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
The Quinebaug Valley State Fish Hatchery at 145 Trout Hatchery Road in Plainfield, Connecticut, is a state fish hatchery of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and its Fisheries Division. It is not a state park. According to DEEP, the hatchery is responsible for the production of the majority of Connecticut’s trout.
If you are looking for the lake with the car-top boat launch in Killingly, that is Quinebaug Lake State Park, a separate state park with its own page.
Visiting the Hatchery
As of October 2026, DEEP lists the following visitor information:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 145 Trout Hatchery Road, Plainfield, CT 06374 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 7 days a week |
| Tours | Open to the public; groups interested in tours starting on or after June 1 should call ahead |
| Phone | 860-564-7542 |
| Operator | CT DEEP, Fisheries Division |
For general questions, DEEP’s Fisheries Division can be reached at 860-424-FISH (3474) or [email protected]. Check the DEEP State Fish Hatcheries page before you go.
The Facility
The hatchery sits on approximately 2,000 acres of state-owned land and was constructed in 1971 at a cost of $2.5 million. Its water comes from 14 wells, each producing 100 to 800 gallons per minute, which together provide the 5,000 gallons per minute needed for fish production.
DEEP describes the plant as a numerically controlled facility run from a control center in the main office, where the operator can watch water quality, monitor the well pumps, program feeding systems and review historical trends. An onsite backup generator can power the whole complex. The spawning area and the hatch house are managed for disease prevention, and the fish’s daylight period is adjusted to control growth for fisheries management needs.
How the Trout Are Raised
DEEP divides the hatchery into four main areas:
- Hatch House: fish eggs are incubated and hatched here. At 3 inches the fish move to the intermediate tanks.
- Intermediate Tanks: 30 circular tanks, 20 feet in diameter, each holding up to 30,000 fish of 3 inches, until they reach 6 to 8 inches.
- Grow Out Tanks: 40 outside circular tanks, 50 feet in diameter and covered by netting against predatory birds, each holding up to 13,000 fish of 6 to 8 inches until they are ready for stocking.
- Brood Stock Raceways: 20 raceways, 50 feet long by 6 feet wide, for the brood stock that provide the eggs for the hatch house.
The hatchery also produces brown trout eggs for the Trout in the Classroom program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Quinebaug Valley hatchery a state park?
No. It is a state fish hatchery run by CT DEEP’s Fisheries Division, not a unit of Connecticut’s state park system.
Can I visit the hatchery?
Yes. As of October 2026, DEEP lists the hatchery as open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 7 days a week, with tours open to the public. Groups should call 860-564-7542 about tours starting on or after June 1.
Editor’s note: We replaced the earlier version of this page in October 2026. Its text described a lake in Killingly, with acreage, fish species and boating rules that belong to a separate state park, rather than the state fish hatchery in Plainfield named in the title. This version uses DEEP’s own information about the hatchery.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Quinebaug Lake State Park (a short drive away) and Old Furnace State Park (a short drive away).
Park Map
Plan your gear for Quinebaug Valley State Fish Hatchery
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
