After three filled-to-capacity guided tours of Kinzua Dam and the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery in 2018, Audubon Community Nature Center is offering the experience again on Saturday, July 20. Some on the initial tour posed here with a banner held by U.S. Forest Service fisheries biologist Nate Welker. Photo by Matt Hoff

In the spring of 2018 Audubon Community Nature Center presented an Audubon Exclusive: a guided tour of Kinzua Dam and the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery. The response was so great that a second tour was arranged for the same day. When there was still a waiting list, the opportunity was offered again in the fall.

Now the adventure is being offered one more time, on Saturday, July 20. Reservations are required by Thursday, July 11, but spaces could fill up before then.

Guests will begin the day at 8:30 a.m. with a guided tour inside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Allegheny National Fish Hatchery. Located at the base of USACE’s Kinzua Dam in Warren County, Pa., the hatchery is one of 11 national fish hatcheries working to restore, enhance and maintain heritage fisheries throughout the Northeast Region. The Allegheny Hatchery produces lake trout for restoration in Lakes Erie and Ontario.

Following the hatchery tour the group will take a rare, scenic drive across the top of Kinzua Dam followed by a picnic lunch at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. Lunch is bring-your-own or a box lunch can be ordered with registration.

The afternoon tour is inside the heart of Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River. One of the largest dams in the United States east of the Mississippi River, its 26,541-acre Allegheny Reservoir is up to 135 feet deep and extends 25 miles to the north, nearly to Salamanca.

At the 2:30 p.m. completion of the guided tour of the dam, those attending are welcome to explore the area on their own. It is only a short walk to the base of the dam where one can experience a cooling mist or do some fishing. Then enjoy a scenic drive east on Route 59 along the reservoir to the Jakes Rocks or Rim Rock Scenic Overlooks.

Those attending should dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Due to number of steps and amount of walking required, the trip is not considered a handicap-accessible experience.

Children aged nine and up are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

Because Kinzua Dam is a secure federal facility, preregistration is required in order to secure clearance from the USACE for admission. Adult visitors (age 18 and older) must be U.S. citizens. To obtain clearance, each adult guest will need to provide their full name, their date-of-birth, their home address and their driver’s license number upon registration. Children need only provide full name and date-of-birth.

The behind-the-scenes tour of Kinzua Dam and the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery is an Audubon Exclusive: a distinctive opportunity and unusual experience created to help fund programs at Audubon Community Nature Center.

Donation to ACNC is $50 and space is limited. An optional box lunch is $10.

Reservations are required by Thursday, July 11, and can be made by calling 569-2345 during business hours or going online to AudubonCNC.org/Exclusives.

Additional details are also on that webpage.