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Visiting the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

Open

Monday – Friday

9:00 a.m. to  4:00 p.m.

Licenses and permits are available for purchase. We accept credit card, debit card, check or money order. Make checks or money orders payable to NJ Fish and Wildlife.

Visiting the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

Behind the Scenes at the Pequest Hatchery (Facebook LIVE, 10/11/17)

The Pequest Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) offers many recreational opportunities such as:

  • Fishing in the Pequest River
  • Hunting
  • Archery Range
  • Dog Training Area
  • Hiking
  • Bird Watching
  • Nature Photography

Trails

The Pequest NREC offers 3.9 miles of trails through a variety of habitats. The Red Trail offers interpretive signs about the habitat and is used to access the other two trails on site, the Yellow and Blue trails. Horses, bikes, ATVs and other motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Wildlife Management Area.

Pequest Trails Guide (pdf, 212kb)

Self-Guided Hatchery Tour

Learn about the Pequest Trout Hatchery by following the self-guided hatchery tour, marked by green trout on the sidewalks that lead to two different hatchery areas. The first sidewalk will take you up to the Nursery Building where you can look through the windows of both the Egg Room and the Nursery Area. The Egg Room is in operation from mid-September through early October. The Nursery Area is in use from Late September through mid-May.

The second sidewalk will take you the Observation Platform where you can overlook the raceways or pools filled with trout. The raceways hold fish year-round.

Pequest Trout Hatchery Self-guided Tour Booklet (pdf, 1.4mb)

Pequest Trout Hatchery Virtual Tour (pdf, 1.3mb)
Pequest Trout Hatchery Virtual Tour (pps, 9.2mb)

Please note that Pequest and all state WMAs are “carry in – carry out” locations and trash/recycling receptacles are not provided; please plan accordingly to not leave any trash or recyclables behind.

NOTE: Licenses, stamps and permits are sold at Pequest, but only checks or credit cards are accepted.

Hours

Interpretive Center

Open 9:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday – Friday

Trails
Open daily, dawn till dusk
Pequest Trails Guide (pdf, 212kb)

Wildlife Management Area

Open 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily

Open 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities ONLY

WMA Topo Map (pdf, 3.7mb)
WMA Road Map (pdf, 275kb)

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Copyright © State of New Jersey, 1996-2023
Department of Environmental Protection
P. O. Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-777-3373
Last Update: June 29th, 2023