Tucked beside the tributary of the main Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, the Rapid River Hatchery is the largest collecting, spawning and rearing facility of spring Chinook salmon in Idaho.

Rapid River Hatchery has the ability to produce three million spring Chinook salmon smolts (juveniles) annually.

Juvenile spring Chinook salmon spend nearly two years at the hatchery. They grow to a length of four to six inches and are then released for their 45- to 60-day, 600-mile journey to the ocean.

One to three years later, as adults, they return to Idaho where they contribute significantly to both sport fishing and Native American fisheries.