Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Wildlife refuge · Anchorage ·

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Wildlife refuge · Anchorage ·

See bears, moose, caribou up close; hand-feed wildlife

bears
gift shop
drive or walk
friendly staff
animals
wood bison
food
worth the fee
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center by null

Information

43520 Seward Hwy, Girdwood, AK 99587 Get directions

Credit card accepted
Debit card accepted
Contactless accepted
LGBTQ friendly
Trans safe

Information

Static Map

43520 Seward Hwy, Girdwood, AK 99587 Get directions

+1 907 783 0058
alaskawildlife.org
@akwildlife
𝕏
@akwildlife

Features

•Credit card accepted
•Debit card accepted
•Contactless accepted
•LGBTQ friendly
•Trans safe
•Wheelchair accessible entrance
•Wheelchair accessible parking lot
•Wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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"At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center I found an opportunity for close-up views of native fauna — including reindeer, lynx, moose, and brown bears — that have been injured and can no longer survive in the wild." - Skye Sherman Skye Sherman Skye Sherman is a travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Aside from traveling, she's also a pilot, scuba diver, bookworm, and fourth-generation Floridian. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Palm Beach Illustrated, Atlas Obscura, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/winter-vacations/americas-best-winter-drives
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

jason K.

Google
I really want to give this place 5 stars but there were some issues that kept me from doing so. First they had hours posted. I arrived just at opening time and the gates were closed. Myself along with a few other vehicles waited at the gate for about 20 minutes. Finally a car came and told us they would not be opening until 12:30. So I left and came back. Upon coming back I was greeted by a friendly person at the toll booth. I paid my fare and entered. The first thing I noticed were a lot of the exhibits were vacant. Not sure if it was the time of year or if they had lost or removed some of the animals. I watched the crew feed bears and that was great and absolutely the highlight of the trip. In all I would say it took me about 40 minutes to see everything including the 15 minutes or so I spent watching the bear feeding. It was neat but don’t think I’d come back.

Savanah E

Google
I’ve always loved this place — not only as somewhere to bring out-of-town guests, but also for a fun day trip with my daughter and her friends. The mission behind the center is truly meaningful, and I really appreciate that the animals are kept in large, natural, and humane enclosures. The staff are always friendly, welcoming, and clearly care about the work they do. It’s a wonderful experience every time we visit!

Samantha T.

Google
My husband and I visited the conservation center as part of a Glacier and Wildlife tour. We had an absolute blast. The bears were our favorite and we got some wonderful pictures. I enjoyed seeing animals up close that are normally behind glass at a zoo. I love the conservation efforts for the wood bison as well. We got to see some very new baby bison while we were there. I highly recommend visiting if you're in Alaska.

Chirag S

Google
Had higher expectations in terms of number of bears and moose we will get to see here but turned out to be not as great as we expected. We thought of the entrance fee as a donation for the care of the amazing animals they have. We did not see a bull moose which was our main goal. We did get see musk ox and lynx which were quite cool.

Subhankar D.

Google
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is an absolute gem! Watching bears roam freely in their natural habitat was breathtaking, and seeing coyotes, caribou, and other native animals up close made the experience unforgettable. The center is beautifully maintained, educational, and truly dedicated to wildlife preservation. A must-visit for anyone exploring Alaska!

Harlow B.

Google
I did the Walk on the Wild Side tour as a birthday gift to myself, and it was amazing! Ivie was a great, knowledgeable guide who was able to help me spot well hidden animals. Knowing each animals story made the visist even better. Learning about their conservation efforts through the visist gave me more insight as well. AND I got to feed Twix the porcupine! I cannot recommend this center enough. I highly recommend a tour- it gives you so much more insight to how this center is helping not only their animals, but the Wood Bison population in Alaska.

Ellen Van R.

Google
Very nice visit, the park can be walked as well as driven. Though walking offers a much better chance to see the animals. We were very lucky and saw both black bears within two hours of our arrival. (The walking route when done fully and slower to watch for the animals takes about an hour and 45 minutes).

Sarah B.

Google
This is *always* a highlight for my guests on-tour in Alaska. The day we went, the weather was perfect ❤️ We even caught a brief, daily talk @ the bear enclosure. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of zoos BUT this isn’t that…at all. This is a non-profit—a sanctuary—that takes in injured & orphaned Alaskan animals. To read some of the animals stories and how they ended up here is heart wrenching—but I’m happy this place exists. Thank you for caring for these amazing animals ☺️
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Nicki M.

Yelp
I'm a big fan of visiting animal conservation/preservation centers over zoos, so I actually did a Google search to find this place, because I wanted the chance to see some local animals that I don't get to see in the lower 48. This place didn't disappoint! When we pulled up to the front gate, Drew greeted us and explained the process. We could drive through the area, or park and walk around (we saw people doing both), but it was recommended that we walk, since you DO get to see everything better that way. I definitely agree with this recommendation, although DO come prepared for colder weather, even if your trip is in the summer. Layers help! We got to see all kinds of animals, and we even got to see one of the bears as it prepared to hunker down and sleep for the night. It was absolutely breathtaking. I have a BUNCH of pics, but I apparently didn't get pics of all of the signs naming the animals, so I had to omit some. I will definitely add more as I better organize them. We ran into Drew again on our way out and chatted with him for a while (it was closing time, but he was really nice and told us to take our time), asked us about our visit and what our favorite moments/highlights were. As it turns out, he's originally from the Houston area! No wonder we all vibed like we did, he was great. Overall, we would 100% visit this place again, and we'll definitely do that during our next trip to Alaska--and there WILL be another trip!
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Laura G.

Yelp
This is a great way to safely see the native wildlife of Alaska. This is a conservation center, so the animals here have been rescued and most cannot live in the wild. We walked the loop so we could take our time. We must have timed it just right because as we were leaving, a huge crowd came in, so you may have to contend with that. All the animals were visible. Some were very close to the fence. They are building a new spot for spotting beluga whales at high tide, but it's not finished yet. There is a little gift shop if you want to take a souvenir. We had a good time here and spent 2 hours.
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Georgia P.

Yelp
Very cool place to drive around- if you're going to walk around, it might be a little far. Nice gift store with snacks available for purchase. The merch is not that cute and it's kinda expensive but it's for a good cause. Got really close to the animals!
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Matthew J.

Yelp
Fully worth the time and money. It was about $100 for the five of us. 3 adults and 2 kids. We saw pretty every animal that was available and got great views of them! They have many food and souvenir options and the staff are all friendly and helpful.
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James R.

Yelp
Love the experience. We learned a lot about wild animals in our 49th state. This is a place all schools in the area should come and get a tour of. If you come to Anchorage, make it part of your tour.
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Cindy S.

Yelp
We came to check out the conservation center on a recent trip to Alaska and enjoyed it immensely. The views were top notch (I'll never see a more scenic playground, that's for sure!). Don't forget to pack your mosquito repellent. I like that you can drive around to see the exhibits. Lots of parking on the sides. Alaska residents get a small discount on tickets!
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Johanna C.

Yelp
What an amazing experience, hope we had enough time to see all the animals. A wonderful experience and very nice staff. It completed our AK wildlife experience.
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Stella C.

Yelp
Its nice that these animals are rescued and would otherwise not make it, but given the price for entry it would be nice to see some larger spaces for the animals. We came from anchorage on our way to seward so this was a good stop over.
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Nithin R.

Yelp
This place is a must-see. We loved seeing and learning about all the Alaskan wildlife, from bears to bison to musk oxen. It's a great way to get a close look at animals you might not spot in the wild. There are picnic tables if you want to take a break for lunch. We didn't do any of the guided tours, but it looked like they would've added a lot--we'll definitely make time for that next time.
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Herbert E.

Yelp
'Ello chaps, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located approximately 45 minutes south of Anchorage, to which you pass if headed toward Whittier or Seward region. A refuge for sick and injured animals, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center gives visitors the opportunity to see many of Alaska's wildlife species up close, including brown bears, black bears, coyotes, bison, reindeer, and more. The exhibits and animals appear well maintained and cared for. We came to the park when there were minimal crowds so it was easy to get around. There are restrooms, a gift shop, and a small outdoor food stand with hot food. Overall I give Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center 5 stars out of 5. It's well maintained, and certainly worth the draw if you're not able to trek out to Denali or other areas to see wildlife first hand.
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Suzanne T.

Yelp
We arrived late in the day on a Saturday in September. What an awesome way to spend a few hours!!! The entry fee for adults (non AK, non-military) is $25 in 2024. Definitely worth the fee. We were able to see and enjoy animals who need a helping hand due to various injuries or situations that would have otherwise meant lead to non-surviving situations. The team clearly cares deeply for their charges and are committed to a wonderful educational experience for all visitors. Very good restroom facilities in several spots in the "park" as well as port-a-potties, which makes it a great spot to stop and walk around, have a bathroom stop, get a snack, etc. when on the way to/From Anchorage to Seward.
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David S.

Yelp
What an absolutely amazing experience. First, the drive down from Anchorage was just spectacular as was the drive back. Worth it for that reason alone. But then you get there and it's brilliantly done. Plenty of room for the animals to be out and about. It's really hard to say what was my favorite moment, seeing the porcupines up close, watching the wood bison, caribou and elk roam about, seeing the coyotes playing tag with each other, seeing the black bar twirling a tree branch like a small baton or watching a wolf survey the mountains from a small hill. This was worth every penny, especially since I only had a day in Alaska!
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Shirley W.

Yelp
Enjoyable walk encountering wildlife up close. Great photo opportunities and valuable lessons to be learned about Mother Nature. Worth the stop.
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Korey A.

Yelp
We debated on whether or not to stop here on our way back into anchorage, and ultimately decided to give it a shot. It's definitely a fun place to check out the local animals and to be able to see things a bit closer up than you would in the wild. They do have a lot of educational information around that was really interesting to read about. The animals appeared really well cared for. Our favorite animal to watch was the brown bear, who loved to use his stick to scratch himself. Apparently, this is pretty common for him, as our friends went two days later and saw the same exact thing. Most of the animals were pretty active when we went.So I feel like we got a really good experience. My only complaint was the cost as it cost our family about a hundred dollars to go there for about two hours.
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Yih R.

Yelp
I definitely recommend this place. We booked a private tour and had the opportunity to feed a porcupine. The tour was about an hour and a half. With a tour guide in their education department, you will learn a lot about the wild life in AK. The quality of the tour was definitely worthy it. You also get to ask any questions about their life here too. After the tour, I felt more connected to the place. The value of this place is high and i recommend this place.
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Caitlyn B.

Yelp
Absolutely love this place!! I visited the sanctuary today and it's never brought me so much inner peace. Drew was very welcoming and made sure to point out the must see parts of the center! He also made sure to let us know the best activities and restaurants to do and visit in Anchorage! We saw so many different gorgeous animals, especially the reindeer and moose! Can't wait to visit again!
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Nathan J.

Yelp
Got to stop in as part of our transfer from Anchorage to Whittier before our cruise. Such a cool place. We have driven past on 2 other occasions and didn't even know it was there. Worth a visit.
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Adrienne B.

Yelp
The website for the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center reads: "The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round and provides them with spacious enclosures and quality animal care. Most of the animals that arrive at the AWCC become permanent residents and will always have a home here." In actuality, AWCC is nothing of the sort. The fact that they even have the audacity to list "spacious enclosures" makes me wonder what their understanding of "spacious" means especially given the fact that MULTIPLE animals had cards on their enclosures indicating that staff was aware that they were distressed in part due to their current enclosure. The enclosure for the black bear lacked any meaningful form of exercise/stimulation. We watched for several minutes as the bear attempted to scratch his back with the equivalent of a large wooden water bottle bristle brush. Quite frankly the enclosure reminded me of an incarcerated person in solitary confinement, not a bear in a rescue center. The wolves were also in a ridiculously small enclosure and the area referred to as the "den" was laughable. The eagle although without flight (amputated wing) was in a smaller enclosure than the one my parents keep their SUN CONURE in. It was sickening. I cannot speak for the admission cost here as it was a stop added in part of a land tour package with NCL but I can assure you that with the exception of the bisons and moose none of these enclosures are at all adequate in size, especially given the fact that it may be their forever home. If you want to support animals, you'd be better off giving your money somewhere else.
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Jonathan H.

Yelp
It's a great place with a great mission, taking in animals that couldn't otherwise live in the wild. Going in the morning is the best since animals are so active then! You can drive or walk, but walking gives you best chances to see animals. It can be a little harder to see in a car for the smaller animals. It takes about 1.5 hours to walk through. The price makes sense for what it is, and you should definitely check it out if you're in the area! They have some good food options there too.

Samantha J.

Yelp
Great views, great staff, great cause. Travis was out Walk in the wild side tour guide. He was fun, energetic and very knowledgeable !
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Meg V.

Yelp
Fun little spot to go for an indoor/outdoor activity and get to see some Alaskan wildlife. The route can be driven in your car but there are spots to park and walk around closer to the animals. It is really fun to see them interacting with each other, eating, drinking, etc. I will say it is a bit pricey. You pay per person, not per vehicle, and the cost is more than I was expecting. That being said, it takes time and money to care for the animals and I'm sure that is the reason behind the cost. Also, note that in the different seasons some animals may not be visible and/or have different temperaments.

Victoria P.

Yelp
THIS IS A NO HO UNLESS YOURE FROM NYC OR LA, CALIFORNIA AND HAVEVNEVER SEEN WILDLIFE. Tge overgrowth is so bad it prevents you from seeing many of the animals. It's basically a dirt parking lot with dirt walkways and animals are fenced in with tall wire. Tye Eagle and Owl looked sickly. I appreciate what they're attempting to do, but that certainly wasn't worth the price I paid for.
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Jerry W.

Yelp
Really great place to go. You will need to schedule a couple of hours to do this place justice. Be Prepare to walk... but you have a option to drive around and see the various animals, but I suggest walking... if you can. You can see: Bison, musk ox, moose, caribou, elk, red foxes, wolves, brown and black bears, lynx, a bald eagle and a beautiful scenic location. There is a gift shop and a food area to purchase Buffalo Brats and Reindeer hot dogs.
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Robert L.

Yelp
This was a great stop in my trip through Alaska. There were many animals that I saw in the wild, but not all of the animals on my "bingo card". Yes I actually made my own bingo card for my travel companions to see as many animals as possible. The wildlife center allowed me to fill the rest of my card (yes, I know that's cheating). The wildlife center is conveniently located outside of Anchorage on the drive around Turnagain Arm, a beautiful drive. The wildlife center has a great set up for the animals and made for a leisurely stroll through the grounds. They offer a military discount, an added plus.
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Lee B.

Yelp
I really enjoyed my visit to the wildlife conservancy. As much as I hate seeing animals in captivity, this place made it bearable. Most of the animals seemed to have a good amount of room and some may get released into the wild one day (though most won't). We visited March 7 and while the black bear was still hibernating, the three Grizzlies were out and playing together! We also saw moose, wolves, musk ox, elk, caribou, reindeer, porcupine, bald eagle and more. Check it out, it's all for a good cause. Also, the onsite naturalist was really helpful!
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Stacey P.

Yelp
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a great facility. The Center is a sprawling property with the intent of educating people on native Alaskan animals. We were able to see large brown bears, black bear, bugling elk, deer, wolves, muskox, and a bobcat. Everything else was bedded down or the exhibit empty. Still we learned plenty including that the resident beluga stayed their year round. The Center has a very large gift shop that has all sorts of fun items. I bought a few vials of salt that was from the area and a fun sticker. It was an enjoyable shop to look around. I was very pleased with this visit!
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Charles C.

Yelp
Absolutely amazing experience! Worth the trip, hands down. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The facilities are well maintained. As we made our way through the entire complex, each animal enclosure had animals, and many of them seemed to be intentionally giving us a show, which was so cool!! We absolutely enjoyed every thing about this place!!!
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Leslie H.

Yelp
Had an enjoyable trip here. We have been before and not much has changed (which is good!) If you watch Dr Oakley on Disney +, she comes out here and attends to lots of the animals so when we got here, we knew a lot of the animal's names and their back stories. It made it fairly enjoyable and fun. The staff is pretty welcoming and like to give tours and talk about the animals. Depending on the day, the animals can be really active which is always fun. The road coming in needs to be redone. Really watch your speed with all the gigantic holes. Would recommend.
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Traci F.

Yelp
This place is located in Girdwood about an hour away from Anchorage. The drive is scenic and beautiful! There was some road work when we went so it added about 20 minutes to our drive time. The nice thing about this place is that you can either walk the whole park or drive and park at designated spots along the way to get out and see the animals. We got an awesome view of the brown bears while we were there! We also got to see moose, bison, muskox (reminded me of mini wolly mammoths), elk, caribou, deer, and wolf. So nice to get to see so many animals in a single location! Warning: There were tons of mosquitoes so bring mosquito repellent!
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Tank G.

Yelp
I have mixed feeling about this place. I think it is cool, but a bit overpriced. I like that the proceeds goes to the care of these recused animals though. You can walk the entire property, which will take a long time or you can drive to the individual habitats and check them out from there. Unless you have a lot of time to kill, I suggest the driving option. The first group of animals that you will see as you are approaching the place are bison. Please not that cellular service is poor here. For me it was a good break from my electronic leash. The animals that reside include: caribous, muskoxes, black bear, grizzly, wolves, an eagle, bison, an owl, coyotes, elk, a lynx, and deer. I wish they had at least some habitats that allowed for interaction with the animals. You view most of the animals through a fence or a cage. The cool thing about this place is that you will see an occasional free animal, that is not a resident, there. We were fortunate to see a bald eagle perched on top of a pole near the grizzly bear habitat. You tour is self guided, so spend as much or as little time as you want at each habitat. Some places you will find on the complex include a pier off of Turnagain Arm, an animal infirmary, a bear watching station/restroom facility, a gift shop and a banquet hall. The backside of the complex is along Turnagain Arm and rumor has it that you may see beluga whales during salmon migration season. The gift shop is also a bit pricey, but once again, it is all for the animals. The woman working there is very friendly. They have drinks, snacks, shirts, stuffed animals, refrigerator magnets, and much more. The lynx habitat is directly behind the gift shop. You will find the eagle, owl, and wolves in that area as well. The other larger animals are along the driving portion. Even though I wish this could be a more intimate trip and allow you to get up close and personal with some of the less dangerous animals. I think that it is still a must visit when visiting anchorage. It is not only neat to see these animals, but you are supporting a good cause. You can even "adopt" one of the animals if you like for as little as $30. On a side note, they also offer a military discount, so you can save a few bucks if you qualify. I recommend setting aside 2 to 3 hours or so and checking this place out
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Kathryn C.

Yelp
This was the highlight of our recent trip to Anchorage. We were so impressed by the variety and habitats of the rescued animals who live here. We were especially fascinated by the bear who was in the tree near the parking lot, the black bears who roamed another area, and the porcupine who stank just as much as a skunk. Be prepared to walk, and be sure to do it in shoes that can get a little bit dirty. Don't miss the nice gift shop.
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Sean G.

Yelp
Love this place! Come down check it out! It's an amazing local non profit that has helped a lot of animals! I have nicknamed it "The Drive Thru Zoo" you don't have to drive but can on a rainy or snowy day, we like to drive it and then park and walk it all. They have some rescues here and you can read about them on the signs. highly recommend! They have all kinds of Alaska locals! Tips and tricks! Come early and hang out for some time. summer they have a food truck so check that out. Check feeding times online so you can come and see your favorite when they feed. Prices are fair and know that anything you pay go to help the animal's. a lot of volunteers work here and minimal paid staff! The staff here are friendly and so helpful!
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Maria M.

Yelp
The conservation center is about 50 minutes from Anchorage on the famous Seward highway. It is $20 per adult to get in and boasts some of Alaska's most common wildlife including bison, moose, reindeer, and more. They also have a mac and cheese food stand. It was $8 for a container of mac and cheese that we washed down with a can of alaskan blue berry cream soda 10/10 recommend the cream soda at $4 a can it is 100% worth the cost if you can't find it anywhere else.
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Adam D.

Yelp
Located on Seward Highway mile 79, about 12 miles past Girdwood, this is probably your best bet at a zoo, and a mini preview of the wildlife at Denali. Except at AWCC, you are guaranteed to see wildlife. In fact, I had originally planned to take family to Denali, but after having already gone twice myself and knowing you can never know what to expect as far as wildlife viewing, I opted for the much shorter, cheaper trip to AWCC. The 2022 rates, which are going up in 2023, were $18 for adults, $16 for residents, and $14 for 5-17 year olds. Four and under are free. You can either walk or drive the loop in about one hour our less, but I would recommend walking to get closer to the fence lines. You should see: two bears, lots of caribou, elk and moose, bison, foxes and reindeer. You're likely to see the caribou and/or elk duke it out head-to-head.
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Bob A.

Yelp
And amazing experience. Whether you like wildlife or not, seeing it up close will change your perspective forever. The noble mission this organization is trying to accomplish by rescuing animals is beyond belief. Just being next to an 800 pound grizzly will put its strength an power into perspective. This sanctuary is huge with everything from lynx to the bald eagle, from byson to moose. If you're not an animal lover, you will become one after your visit.
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Brittney B.

Yelp
I visited with my husband and dad and we had a great time. The gift shop is cute and has everything from food to jewelry to clothing. The staff were very nice and we even got to eat a Reindeer hot dog which was hot and juicy. We visited in the evening and got to see the brown bears being fed which was a fun experience. Some of the animals at the center we saw on our hikes and tours, but most of them we hadn't seen so it was a great opportunity to see them and learn more about them. We have seen plains bison in Yellowstone national park, but had no idea that the Bison in Alaska were wood bison and had many differences from plains Buffalo. Rating from F to A+++ I give it an A+++ and definitely recommend visiting.
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Stephanie K.

Yelp
I highly recommend coming here. In spite of it being a very cold day we were able to see lots. The bears were out of hibernation and out playing. We had the fortune of being at the bear enclosure as the same time as a photographer that worked there. He shared lots of fun information with us about the bears. The facility is clean and well maintained. The gift shop had lots of fun things available for purchase. There was also a food truck outside the gift shop that had some drinks and snacks for purchase. Everyone we encountered working there was super friendly and helpful.
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Scott K.

Yelp
Stopped in here on bus transit from Seward to Anchourage. They had a bunch of different wildlife to view eagles, bison, and wolves to name a few. They have a gift shop and food vendor on site. Worth a look if you have time to kill.
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Courtney P.

Yelp
After a different honeymoon activity fell through due to inclement weather, my husband and I went on a "walk on the wild side" tour at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. With it being the off-season and a slower season due to COVID-19, my husband and I were the only two people on the tour with our guide. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. It was wonderful to hear about all of the hard work and effort put forward by the conservation center in addition to information about each species of animal. The best part of our tour was hands-down being able to hand feed some of the animals. I was a little intimidated feeding the porcupine but our guide made me feel at ease. Despite it almost being winter, we were able to see some bears who had not gone into hibernation yet. This is an absolute must-do activity if you find yourself in the Anchorage area.
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Tim L.

Yelp
A beautiful sanctuary for wildlife. IMHO, this is a must see if you visit Anchorage. You can either park your car and walk around or just drive your car around. I believe the most efficient way is a combination of both because it is a rather big place. What this place is doing for these animals is fantastic and I highly recommend paying this sanctuary a visit.
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Chelsea G.

Yelp
Wow! They have made a ton of upgrades since my last visit! Granted it's been a number of years, but I was thoroughly impressed. It seems 10x bigger than before, very spread out for the animals to roam. The entrance fee was fairly priced in my opinion, and we appreciated that toddlers (under the age of 5) were free. We felt that the money being spent is obviously being put to good use with all the notable upgrades and the fact that you could spend hours here - we did! You have the option to drive to each exhibit, or walk, whichever you prefer. If you were in a hurry or have mobility issues, the driving option is a really nice perk! We decided to walk with our strollers and we got major steps in that day because of how expansive the facility is. The sun came out, and there was no wind (surprising for the turnagain arm) so the scenery was stunning. We enjoyed seeing the animals SO CLOSE! Way closer than any zoo experience. There wasn't one animal we didn't see or wasn't able to see. They were out and active! One thing we didn't really like was some of the exhibits didn't have any information about the animals or what was inside the exhibits. Other than that, no complaints at all. Extra brownie points for a new playground they added that my toddler was thrilled about! We got a quick snack and sat at the picnic table and watched her play for a bit. Overall, a must see for visitors, even locals like us! We will be back!
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Emily S.

Yelp
This place is so awesome! Some of the animals have a ton of space to roam around and the bear boardwalk makes for a more intimate experience. We did the bear encounter and had no idea what it would entail until we got there. This was literally the BEST DAY EVER!!! The staff was so friendly and informative. The group was split up among the three brown bears so we got Hugo all to ourselves for essentially a half hour. We got to toss her meat and fruit and listen to her chimp away. Definitely check out AWCC and support all these sweet animals!
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Nicole R.

Yelp
A must-visit destination whether you're an Alaskan resident or first-time tourist. You can walk around the center or drive, which is great if you or someone in your party has mobility issues. The roads aren't paved so they're a bit rough but still easy enough to drive on. Animals at the center include bears, deer, bison, wolves, and an eagle and owl. The views of the mountains surrounding the center are beautiful. I recommend taking the Walk on the Wild Side Tour if you have the time and money to spare. For $100 per person (includes admission) you get a 90 minute tour in which you learn about the history of AWCC and its animals. When I did it I got to feed a porcupine named Snickers which was fun because how often do you get the opportunity to feed a porcupine? The gift shop is cute and has a lot of unique Alaskan gifts. Check their website for hours since they change seasonally. Admission tickets can be purchased online or upon arrival. Discounts available for Alaska residents, seniors, military, and students. Free for children 6 and under.
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Staci J.

Yelp
Stopped here to take up time until our next excursion. It was a nice stop. Took some nice pictures and was able to see bears, porcupines, reindeer, wolves & a few more animals. Well worth the stop.
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Michael S.

Yelp
We visited in the winter and while I'm sure it was challenging for staff with all the snow the facility still offered a great viewing and educational experience. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting Alaska.
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Ziyan C.

Yelp
If you have the time and are driving this way to Seward, this is a fine place to stop. Overall you may have to take my review with a grain of salt because I'm generally not the biggest fan of zoos, and although AWCC is more of a sanctuary and provides animals much more space, these experiences are not as enjoyable for me as they are for the average person. The cost was $18 per adult. The parking lot was busy and pretty full but there was plenty of turnaround so it was no issue getting a spot. It took us about an hour to go through by foot. I do recommend being on foot; the people who drove seemed to have to deal with constantly driving a short distance, parking, and getting in and out of their cars. Plus, there wasn't parking at each animal's area, so even when driving you have to walk a decent bit. It's probably a much smoother and more integrated experience on foot. How much you see seems to depend a lot on luck. The moose we saw were all in a barn, lying down, and were kind of sad. We saw a few bears and they were maybe 100-200ft away. I know people who were inches away from a bear and loved that experience. Most of the other animals weren't doing much. The one that was the most fun to watch for us was, surprisingly, the porcupine. It was definitely putting on a show, walking around the cage, climbing up the fence, and getting a lot of attention. Its posture reminded me of a sloth and it moved in an interesting manner.
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Danielle B.

Yelp
I lived in Anchorage 17 years ago and loved to bring my kids here. All this time later it's still amazing and looks the same. Love to see all the happy animals. Definitely recommend checking this place out!
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Alyssa L.

Yelp
This place was awesome! The employee's Service was amazing, you get to feed most of the animals, super cheap, and we had baby reindeer trying to nurse on our fingers!
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Grecia A.

Yelp
This place was a winter wonderland during our visit in January. If you're visiting Alaska do yourself a favor and visit this place, you won't regret it. It was $50 for the two of us. You can drive thru the 1.5 mile tour, walk it or a combination of both. Because it is winter we didn't see the bears but most other animals were out. My favorite without a doubt was the lynx, she was beautiful but the protective glass does not allow for great pictures. The views are breathtaking and the place itself allows you to walk around a terrain that most tourists wouldn't be able to do on their own.