Branson · Lake Taneycomo · Free trout hatchery and nature center
Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
See how a million trout a year are raised below Table Rock Dam, feed them for a quarter, and walk the trails along Lake Taneycomo, all for free.
Opens the Missouri Department of Conservation page. Admission is free; the center is open Tuesday to Saturday.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Fish hatchery & nature center
Missouri Department of Conservation
Admission
Free
Fish food is a quarter
Hours
Tue–Sat 9 am–5 pm
Education center; grounds open 4 am–10 pm daily
Time needed
About an hour
Our estimate; longer if you hike or fish
Parking
Paved and gravel lots
Stay on roads and in marked parking areas
Trout raised
About 1 million
Per year, Missouri’s largest trout hatchery
What you’ll see
Trout, a new center and lakeside trails
The hatchery sits on a 155-acre Conservation Department area just below Table Rock Dam, where cold water from the bottom of Table Rock Lake feeds the trout raceways and Lake Taneycomo.
Photo: Tequask on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Start here
The new education center
The $7 million Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center opened on December 19, 2024. It’s more than twice the size of the old building, with a 7,500-gallon trout aquarium and new exhibits on how the hatchery works and the wildlife of the Ozarks.
RV tip: the center is closed Sundays and Mondays, but the grounds, raceways and trails are open every day.
More to see
- Trout racewaysWalk the outdoor raceways where rainbow and brown trout grow, and bring quarters for fish food.
- Hiking trailsAbout 3 miles of trails, including the 1.6-mile White River Bluff Trail and the short Canebrake and Fisherman’s trails.
- Trout fishingLake Taneycomo below the dam is known for cold-water trout fishing; part of it is an artificial lure and fly zone.
- Summer hatchery toursFree guided tours run Tuesday to Friday in summer; the 2026 tours ended September 4.
Why go
A free, easy stop below Table Rock Dam
The Conservation Department began building the hatchery in 1957 and started raising trout in 1958. It’s the department’s largest trout-rearing facility, and most of its fish are stocked in Lake Taneycomo.
For RVers it’s an easy free hour. The Embers is about 3 minutes away, and the hatchery is next to Table Rock Dam, Moonshine Beach and the Dewey Short Visitor Center, so it fits into a lake day.
Leashed pets are welcome on the grounds and trails, which makes it a good walk with the dog. Pack a fishing rod, too; Missouri fishing permits and trout rules apply.
Photo: Vawgahan on Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Why it made our list
- Free admission
- A new education center opened in 2024
- About a million trout raised each year
- About 3 miles of trails by the lake
- Leashed pets welcome outdoors
For RVers
Taking the rig to the hatchery
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Use the marked lots
Vehicles must stay on paved and gravel roads and in established parking areas. The Conservation Department doesn’t publish RV size limits, so big rigs do best early in the day.
Watch the speed
The speed limit on the area is 45 mph, and Hatchery Road sees boat trailers heading to the ramp. Take it easy near the parking areas.
Bring the dog
Pets are allowed on the area but must be leashed or confined at all times. Rules for inside the center aren’t posted, so plan for one person to walk the dog.
No camping here
Camping isn’t allowed on the hatchery grounds. The Embers and Table Rock State Park are both a few minutes away.
What visitors say about Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 28, 2026.
The largest trout-rearing facility operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation · mdc.mo.gov
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
TroutFeeding the fishFree admission
Google’s review topics point to the trout (96 reviews), feeding the fish (96) and the free admission (47). Checked October 28, 2026.
The hatchery’s trails
Trail lengths from the Missouri Department of Conservation area map. The White River Bluff Trail also has a 0.6-mile short loop.
Good to know
AdmissionFree center and grounds
Fish food$0.25 bring quarters
Summer toursFree no registration
OpenCenter Tue–SatGrounds dailyTrails 4 am–10 pm
From the Missouri Department of Conservation, checked October 28, 2026. The 2026 guided tours ran Tuesday to Friday from May 26 to September 4.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
- Address483 Hatchery Rd., Branson, MO 65616
- HoursTue–Sat 9 am–5 pm
Education center; grounds open 4 am–10 pm daily - Phone(417) 334-4865
- AdmissionFree. Fish food is a quarter. Visitor info
- Getting thereFrom Branson, take Highway 165 southwest about 6 miles toward Table Rock Dam and turn onto Hatchery Road.
- ParkingPaved and gravel lots by the center and along the trails. Stay on roads and in marked parking areas.
The education center is closed Sundays and Mondays, so call ahead around holidays. The grounds and trails stay open daily from 4 am to 10 pm.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
The Embers is the closest park we’ve written up; Branson View and Table Rock State Park are a few minutes farther.
The Embers Glamping & RV Resort
50 big full-hookup sites near Table Rock Dam, with pull-thrus to 90 ft and a heated pool.
Branson View RV Park
50 full-hookup sites with hilltop views on MO-265; fewer sites for rigs over about 35 ft.
Table Rock State Park Campground
Two lakeside state park campgrounds by the dam, with full hookups from $33 and a marina.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Center Tue–Sat 9 am–5 pm · grounds daily
Ready to meet a million trout?
Bring quarters for fish food, walk the bluff trail with the dog, and pair it with Table Rock Dam next door.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Tequask (Lake Taneycomo below the dam; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Vawgahan (Table Rock Dam; CC0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Branson Fam on YouTube (Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery Reopened 2025). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Missouri Department of Conservation’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the department and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery at mdc.mo.gov or (417) 334-4865. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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