Heath Township Sportsmens Club Co-Op Trout Nursery in the Clarion River Valley & Jefferson County

I always love stopping at fish hatcheries, and the Heath Township Sportsmens Club Co-Op Trout Nursery is no exception. From they have tiny fish all the way up to trophy sized large fish. They have fish food available for purchase with a donation, and it is always entertaining to feed them. The pups also had a blast looking at the fish in action. 

The club raises fish for a youth fishing tournament every year at nearby Clear Creek State Park. 

We stumbled upon the nursery while driving up the Clarion River on a scenic drive during a stay in the beautiful cabins at Clear Creek State Park. This is the perfect kind of area to go on long and rambling scenic drives. The Clarion River Valley is so scenic and perfect for getting away at.

I noticed both palominos and rainbows, though I was not looking too hard at the markings on the fish.

The waterfall created by this old dam is really striking. The Callen Run Dam is a century old and slated for removal, which could threaten the future of the nursery for having a constant water source, though removal would help the stream be better for wild trout populations and help the colder water enter the river to sustain the trout within the Clarion River and the overall ecosystem. 

We also saw an eagle while we were at the hatchery, though they have decent netting over the hatchery pools in order to protect them. 

We definitely recommend checking this out as part of a scenic ride through the area. It would be a great place to bring a picnic lunch.