Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: a Fun Animal Sanctuary Visit near Anchorage

If you want to be sure that you’ll see a moose when you come to the Anchorage area, you either need to visit Kincaid Park or head down the Seward Highway to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC). Will all kinds of local wildlife and interpretive programs, visiting on your way to the Kenai Peninsula or Whittier is an easy add on that you’ll enjoy. Bears, moose, musk ox, and more make for a fun day at the wildlife sanctuary.

Are you putting together a fun plan for you time in Anchorage or some things to do as a part of an Alaska road trip? If so, be sure to add the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to your plan. I think it’s a good all-ages activity and it ensures that you get to see some of Alaska’s coolest animals up close. If you have any questions about visit the AK Wildlife Conservation Center or need more recommendations for things to do in South Central Alaska, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a fun Alaska trip!

Is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Worth Visiting?

We are not the target visitors of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, as we do a ton of hiking and wildlife tours so we get to see so many amazing animals in the wild… and yet here we are: enamored with the moose, fawning over the porcupines, in love with the arctic foxes, dreaming of getting to actually see a lynx out on the trail. Actually, the AWCC is exactly for people like us and everyone else who loves animals. I remember my first time here, being 18 and just moved to Alaska and I got to see a baby moose up close. It changed how I looked at wildlife, and now visiting with my own kids, it’s just a special place for us.

At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, there are a few different ways to experience it: on foot, in the car, or interpretive interactions. It’s very easy to park in the main lot and walk to most of the exhibits. Remember, this isn’t a zoo, but a sanctuary, so it’s not full of animals that don’t belong in this climate, but live here normally and just can’t make it in the wild on their own now, so they have very natural enclosures and they’re pretty comfortable just relaxing and they may be in any part of their exhibit/enclosure. If you don’t see the bear or the coyotes, you can walk back by again after checking out some other areas, and you’ll eventually get to see everyone. If you’re driving around, you won’t have great luck seeing all the animals if you’re only staying in your car, so it’s best to drive a ways and then park in designated areas and walk to the enclosures to be able to see the animals.

There are wheelchair accessible viewing areas, so if you need to drive to the bear exhibits instead of going along the road, that’s fine and you’ll be able to do the bear overpass and hopefully get some good views. On busy days (ship days and weekends) the AWCC also sets up interpretive tables so you can chat with the sanctuary staff and learn about the different species you’ll see. The whole experience is a great way to get introduced to Alaska wildlife species and check them off your to-see list just in case you don’t get to see them all in the wild.

Book admission tickets here!

Tips for Visiting the AWCC

I like to arrive early everywhere, but especially here at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. When the daily operations are just finishing up and everyone is just finishing being fed, the animals are quite active and visible. It’s fun to see them full of energy and excited. Conversely, the last hour of the day is a good time too because they’re winding down for the day and evening staff activities are getting the animals riled up a bit. Also, both of these times tend to have fewer people due to ship schedules and other activities visitors may choose.

In addition to the basic visit, you can add on other experiences while you’re at the AWCC as well, such as a moose encounter, bear encounter or guided tour. The encounters are not intrusive, but done through safety fences. There are tours where you get to feed the animal ambassadors as well, so if you have the time and your budget allows for the additional encounters, book them in advance.

Should I drive or walk the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center?

Driving and walking are both options at the AWCC, and the best way to experience things is a combination of both. You can indeed drive past most exhibits, but you’ll want to be out of the car to see the animals best. I think the easiest way to experience the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is to:

• arrive early if you can, then park at the visitor center
• walk to the nearby exhibits of wolves, the black bear, and lynx
• check out the gift shop or grab a coffee
• walk to the next group of exhibits including porcupines, foxes and coyotes
• next walk over to the moose viewing area
• on foot, finish with the musk ox and return to your car
• drive to the brown bear area and walk the overpass.

Complete your visit with driving the loop to see the wood bison, elk and caribou. All of this should take about an hour, maybe more if everyone is into it and the wildlife is being active. If you’re walking the entire AWCC on foot, allow yourself at least 90 minutes or more.

Being Prepared for this Alaska Wildlife Sanctuary

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is 100% outside, so be ready for whatever the weather might be doing. Dress for the weather you see and the weather you don’t. And keep in mind that there may be mosquitoes, because that’s just a part of Alaska in the summer. But hey, if you don’t want the mosquitoes, you can also visit in the WINTER! That’s right, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is also open all through the winter which is a very different sort of experience. You’ll want to be bundled up for that! In the meantime, I would recommend bug spray or wearing clothes that do a good job of coverage if you’re visiting in the summer.

There are some good photography opportunities while you’re here, so be sure you have your camera. It’s difficult to get great shots of the animals in the smaller enclosures (porcupines and lynx), but for the moose, caribou, musk ox and others, you can line up some beautiful photos. The bears are funny and a little tricky because they like to lounge within view… kind of. You may need to be patient and try different angles, but the opportunity is there. It’s the most “in the wild” element of the bears, that they’re not guaranteed to be photo-ready. Seeing bears in Alaska is always a treat, but if you’re concerned you won’t get to see them in the wild, this is a great chance for photos.

If you need to bring snacks with you to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, you can, but they’re best eaten near the visitor center where the snack shack is, or in your car. They don’t want the animals to be tempted by your snacks, and sometimes humans just don’t understand the concept of not feeding animals, so it’s best to just keep food and drinks away from the enclosures.

Getting to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Even if you aren’t really planning on making the stop, it’s so easy to add the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to your visit. Located down the Seward Highway at the end of Turnagain Arm, you’ll be driving be on your way to Seward, Kenai, Homer and Whittier. You literally can’t miss it. Entrance is paid per person (linked below) and tours or encounters are additional. There is parking at the main visitor center area and out at the bear overpass area. Most of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is wheelchair accessible.

Where to Stay in Portage / Girdwood / Whittier

If you’re thinking you don’t want to stay in Anchorage to drive down to activities in the Portage Valley, Girdwood or over in Whittier, there are actually lots of places to choose from down here along the Turnagain Arm and up the valley. There are not a ton of hotels, but lots of private rentals. Stays in Whittier are few and far between, so planning to be on the west side of the tunnel is a good idea.