The Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery in the Highland Lakes is a hidden hiking gem and a nature nerd’s dream. The terse trails surrounding the facility offer terrific views of the Colorado River and invite hikers to engage with the land’s natural aspects. You can also fish the shoreline, birdwatch, paddle, and picnic — all for free.
The Inks Dam hatchery is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal agency tasked with managing and protecting native plants, animals, and habitat across the country. The hatchery’s main purpose is the study of freshwater critters such as mussels, crawfish, and minnows. It also has the wild function of raising massive amounts of channel catfish, which are shipped to Native American reservations and nations in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas to fulfill a multi-decade agreement between the federal government and the tribes.
While the facility tackles its scientific duties, the surrounding land is open free to the public seven days a week from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The hatchery is located at 345 Clay Young Road in the scenic borderlands of Burnet and Llano counties.
The Overlook Trail is just a quarter-mile hike, but the view outstanding. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The trails total only a couple of miles, but the scenery is huge. The quarter-mile Overlook Trail gives you a superb view of the area. The winding Colorado River stretches into the distance, you can see the sky’s reflection in the 30 hatchery ponds below, and it is the best place to spot Inks Dam. It feels like a mini-Enchanted Rock, covered in lichens, ferns, and mosses against a mosaic of pink and black granite.
A native plant garden puts names to the leaves and petals we see on Highland Lakes hikes. A spiny sotol is surrounded by native flowers. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The rest of the trails wind through the property’s creeks and draws, highlighting Highland Lakes ecosystems. Along the shaded paths, you’ll periodically come across informative panels that identify native plants. The remains of century-old government buildings line the trail sides, a reminder of the Civilian Conservation Corps that helped build America’s public lands during the Great Depression.
All of the trails are dog-friendly. You’re never far from a parking lot or water, and you likely won’t bump into many other hikers or dog walkers.
A checkered white butterly slurps on the blooms of mealy sage in the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery butterfly garden. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery maintain an incredible butterfly garden that is in full bloom in the spring. Dozens of species of native flowers attract a variety of pollinators, which can be identified using the handy signage nearby. A native plant garden and a simple bird blind offer great opportunities for birding in the shade. I went midday and managed to see several cardinals darting through the mesquite and a dozen hummingbirds jousting around the flowers.
A fun mural coats the wall of the Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery Visitor Center. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
I’ve visited Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery on multiple occasions, weekends and weekdays, and it has never felt crowded. The wildlife is abundant, the trails are luscious and well-maintained, and I’ve learned something new on every trip. It is a great place for a nature hike or to experience the Highland Lakes without battling the throngs of visitors in the warmer months.
For how compact it is, the hatchery packs in a ton of activities and opportunities to engage with the outdoors. If you’re visiting the Highland Lakes, consider adding it to your list of stops. If you live here and you’ve never been, go see what you’ve been missing.
dakota@thepicayune.com