- 5 hours
- Year-round
This experience offers two must-do tours in one trip! Tour the city of Anchorage, see animals in the wild, and stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to learn about its mission.
Quick Details
Hangout With the Native Alaskan Wildlife!
See the native wildlife on this scenic tour–a must-do adventure while visiting Anchorage! While we all hope to see wildlife in its natural habitat, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) offers a chance to see these amazing local species up close in a unique setting.
The AWCC is a large nature preserve where injured animals are rehabilitated from the Chugach National Forest region. This preserve gives guests the chance to get up close and personal with wildlife such as beluga whales, bear, moose, elk, caribou, wood bison, Dall sheep, and many more. It’s truly a magical experience!
The Wildlife Conservation Center experience is offered year-round. Travel from Anchorage 53 miles south with breathtaking views along the Turnagain Arm, one of the top ten most scenic byways in North America. You will hear from a real Alaskan tour guide explaining the history and personal experiences of Alaska with photo ops and wildlife observations along the way.
Conservation Efforts
AWCC: A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and provides spacious enclosures. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center.
CARE: Size matters! AWCC maintains exceptionally large parcels of land called “healthy habitat” enclosures which offer animals the freedom to display their natural “wild” behaviors. AWCC’s 18-acre brown bear enclosure is the largest bear enclosure in the United States.
EDUCATION: As Alaska’s most popular developed visitor attraction, AWCC provides up-close wildlife viewing and educational opportunities to thousands of visitors a year. AWCC interns provide daily programming including caribou walls, porcupine feedings, and interpretive talks in front of animal enclosures. Also available are in-school and field trip programs for students of all ages. To schedule a field trip or classroom presentation, contact the Center!
CONSERVATION: In cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other supporters, AWCC is working to restore the wood bison to the Alaska wilderness where they roamed for centuries before becoming extinct. This historic conservation effort is a major step in ensuring the long-term future of this magnificent animal. It will also enhance Alaska’s wildlife resources, restore a key grazing animal to our northern ecosystem and increase habitat diversity in the release areas.