Fish Ladder and Visitor Center

Fish Ladder and Watershed Visitor Center
Exhibits, Displays and Activities Focusing on The Connecticut River and Its Watershed
Free to Visit!

The Nature Museum staffs the Fish Ladder and Watershed Visitor Center in Bellows Falls, VT. The facility is owned and operated by TransCanada which also owns the hydroelectric facility. The Nature Museum has added displays and exhibits to the Fish Ladder Center that focus on the plants and animals of the Connecticut River watershed. The operation of the Center is made possible by a grant from TransCanada, and through the cooperation and support of Ken Alton, the External Affairs Officer for TransCanada. The Fish Ladder is located in the village of Bellows Falls, Vermont next to the post office building on Bridge Street. If you would like more information please call 802-843-2111

Open Weekends from May 26- August 26
While the visitor center is open all summer, the water does not run through the fish ladder throughout the open season. TransCanada is instructed to open the ladder by the Fish and Wildlife Service when the Atlantic Salmon has been spotted passing through the Vernon facility. The ladder is most likely to be open between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Dates vary widely year to year. Call the Nature Museum for more information 802-843-2111.

Visitation Hours 10 AM-4 PM
Sundays 12 PM-4 PM

If you are interested in the “Fish Passage schedule” information visit the Fish and Wildlife Service has a website that lists the fish that pass through the various sites along the CT river.