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Steelhead School Tours

Elementary students walking down the fish ladder path with a Sonoma Watertour guide. US Army Corps tour guide and students looking over the railing in the fish hatchery to see the sorting area for adult steelhead. Elementary students sitting in chairs in front of the Coho Theater installation inside the fish hatchery, watching a video about the steelhead life cycle.


Bring your class to the Lake Sonoma Visitor's Center and Warm Springs Hatchery!

Steelhead School Tours will be available January 2027- June 2027.  
Tours begin promptly at 10:00am at the Lake Sonoma Visitor's Center and last for approximately 90 minutes.
Transportation is not provided by Sonoma Water.

The Steelhead School Tour is a seasonal K–12 educational program that teaches students about the life cycle of
steelhead trout and how the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery helps protect this species within the Russian River Watershed. 

During the spawning season, students tour the hatchery with guides from the US Army Corps of Engineers and Sonoma Water. They follow the journey of adult steelhead as they swim upstream, climb the fish ladder, and are sorted for spawning. California Department of Fish & Wildlife biologists then fertilize the eggs to help create future generations of steelhead.  

Grade recommendations:
All grades (TK-12) are welcome!
Spawning days (one day per week) are recommended for grades 4th grade and up.  
Sorting days (other weekdays) are ideal for grades TK-3rd.
Tour Scheduling: 
One tour offered each day, Tuesday- Friday.  
Up to 2 classes may participate in a tour (60 students maximum)
If your group exceeds 60 students, please note this as a special request on the booking form.
Steelhead Release Option:
If your class is raising steelhead, our guides can assist with your release into Dry Creek during your visit. 
Please indicate on your booking form if you are intending to do a steelhead release. 

Book a Tour
Registration will open September 2nd, 2026.

The best time to see adult steelhead is during the spawning season, which lasts 16 weeks, from January- March
Tours are available April through June, but sorting and spawning activities will not take place during these months.

To learn more about Lake Sonoma, visit www.lakesonoma.org
or visit the Lake Sonoma Visitor's Center 
3288 Skaggs Springs Road, Geyserville, CA 95441
Open daily from 10:00AM- 4:00PM
(707) 431-4533

Questions? Contact the Program Coordinator

This FREE Program is provided thanks to support from these partners:

US Army Corps of Engineers' logo next to Sonoma Water's logo