{"id":2984,"date":"2022-02-07T01:32:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T01:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=2984"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:54:32","slug":"visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-and-natural-resource-education-center","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-and-natural-resource-education-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"subhero\" style=\"padding: 15px;border: 2px solid #006C92;border-radius: 5px;background-color: #ebebd8\">\n<font style=\"margin: auto;text-align: center\">\n\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\"><i class=\"fa-regular fa-circle-info\" title=\"Information\"><\/i> <strong>Regular Hours<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Monday &#8211; Friday: 9:00 am &#8211; 4:00 pm<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><i class=\"fa-regular fa-circle-info\" title=\"Information\"><\/i> <strong>Licenses and permits are available for purchase. We accept credit card, debit card, check or money order. Make checks or money orders payable to NJ Fish and Wildlife.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">The main entrance to the\u00a0Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center\u00a0is on Rt. 46 between Great Meadows and Buttzville, approximately 9 miles west of Hackettstown in scenic Warren County. The mailing, 911 and GPS address is 605 Pequest Rd., Oxford, NJ 07863 \u2013 the hatchery\u2019s rear entrance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/NnCXH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Google Map Directions to Main Entrance\u00a0<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-map-location-dot\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/pequest-summer-college-program-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">2026 Pequest Summer College Program<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf text-danger\" title=\"Adobe Acrobat PDF File\"><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Application Deadline: <strong>April 17, 2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/font>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NJFishandWildlife\/videos\/1651716561517290\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Behind the Scenes at the Pequest Hatchery<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;(Facebook LIVE, 10\/11\/17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\">Visit Pequest<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/programs-and-events-at-the-pequest-trout-hatchery\/\">Attend a Program<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/group-programs-at-the-pequest-trout-hatchery\/\">Schedule a Group Program<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/education\/fishing-education-instructor-program\/\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/education\/fishing-education-instructor-program\/\">Volunteer as a Fishing Education Instructor<\/a><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/education\/email-lists\/\">Join the Freshwater Fishing and Education E-mail Lists<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-andnatural-resource-education-center\/\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/pequest-hatchery-operations\/\">Operations<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pequest Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) offers many recreational opportunities such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fishing in the Pequest River<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hunting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Archery Range<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dog Training Area<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hiking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bird Watching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nature Photography<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trails<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pequest NREC offers 3.9 miles of trails through a variety of habitats. The Red Trail offers interpretive signs about the habitat and is used to access the other two trails on site, the Yellow and Blue trails. Horses, bikes, ATVs and other motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Wildlife Management Area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/peqtrails.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pequest Trails Guide<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Self-Guided Hatchery Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn about the Pequest Trout Hatchery by following the self-guided hatchery tour, marked by green trout on the sidewalks that lead to two different hatchery areas. The first sidewalk will take you up to the Nursery Building where you can look through the windows of both the Egg Room and the Nursery Area. The Egg Room is in operation from mid-September through early October. The Nursery Area is in use from Late September through mid-May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second sidewalk will take you the Observation Platform where you can overlook the raceways or pools filled with trout. The raceways hold fish year-round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/pequest_tour.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pequest Trout Hatchery Self-guided Tour Booklet<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note that&nbsp;<strong>Pequest and all state WMAs are &#8220;carry in &#8211; carry out&#8221; locations and trash\/recycling receptacles are not provided;<\/strong>&nbsp;please plan accordingly to not leave any trash or recyclables behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No dogs allowed except service animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NOTE:<\/strong>&nbsp;Licenses, stamps and permits are sold at Pequest, but only checks or credit cards are accepted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div style=\"padding: 25px\">\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Hours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-vivid-red-color has-text-color\"><strong>Interpretive Center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-vivid-red-color has-text-color\">Open Monday &#8211; Friday<br>9:00 am &#8211; 4:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Trails<\/strong><br>Open daily, dawn till dusk<br><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/peqtrails.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pequest Trails Guide<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wildlife Management Area<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Open 5:00 a.m. &#8211; 9:00 p.m. daily<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Open 9:00 p.m. &#8211; 5:00 a.m. for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities&nbsp;<strong>ONLY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/pequest.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WMA Topo Map<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><br><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/pequest_rd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WMA Road Map<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Behind the Scenes at the Pequest Hatchery&nbsp;(Facebook LIVE, 10\/11\/17) The Pequest Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) offers many recreational opportunities such as: Trails The Pequest NREC offers 3.9 miles of trails through a variety of habitats. The Red Trail offers interpretive signs about the habitat and is used to access the other two trails on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":12,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2984","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2984"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65098,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2984\/revisions\/65098"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}