The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering free tours to the public and school groups this fall at the Boardman River Weir in downtown Traverse City, the Little Manistee River Weir in Manistee County, and the Platte River Weir in Benzie County. Tours are available now through the end of October.

Fall tours are will be run by staff from the DNR’s Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center and Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center. Students and visitors will learn about salmon, how weirs and fish ladders work, invasive species, state fish hatcheries, and the DNR’s annual egg-collection efforts and their impact on Michigan’s fisheries.

Tours at the Boardman River Weir are offered at various times on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Group tours are available by appointment. Platte River Weir tours will run during the egg-take season, slated for Oct. 19-20 and 26-27. Public tours also will be offered Saturdays and Sundays while the weir is in place. Tours will be offered at the Little Manistee River Weir Oct. 4-6. To check the status of activity, call the weir hotline at 231-775-9727, ext. 6072. This year’s egg-take efforts will be affected by the readiness of the fish, and tour dates are subject to change based on fish movement.

To schedule a tour at any of the locations, click here and click on any of three locations under the School Group Programs section.