Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
4.6(6.6K)google
4.5(260)yelp
Wildlife WatchingWildlifeFamilyEducationalOutdoor
Overview
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation, research, education, and animal care. The center is located on about 200 acres (81 ha) at the head of Turnagain Arm and the entrance to Portage Valley, Milepost 79 of the Seward Highway, about 11 mi southeast of Girdwood. The center is in the Municipality of Anchorage on the approximant border of the Kenai Peninsula and the Kenai Mountains to the south and the Chugach Mountains to the north.
Practical Info
Mon8:30 AM – 6:00PM
Tue8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeYear-round attraction, with May through September being the best visiting period. Arriving between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM aligns with animal feeding times when wood bison, brown bears, caribou, and moose are most active and easily photographed near the loop path.
Getting TherePerfectly situated along the scenic Seward Highway, roughly 45 miles south of Anchorage near the Portage turnoff. Driving is the only practical option, taking about 45-50 minutes from downtown. A sprawling, free visitor parking lot is available on-site.
Travel Tips
- Located at milepost 100 on Seward Highway, this coastal valley faces extreme wind tunnels; winter-grade layers are required even in mid-summer.
- Stepping out of vehicles on the driving loop is illegal; pedestrians must stay behind safety barriers and never feed or touch the moose.
Photo Tips
Best Light10 AM to 11 AM is the optimal window to photograph bears and reindeer during morning feedings before they retreat to deep brush to sleep.
Reviews
Positive
- Perfect for family trips; the success rate of seeing moose, brown bears, and wood bison up close is 100%, much better than relying on luck in the wild.
- The center offers both driving and walking routes with flat, accessible paths, making it extremely convenient for seniors, strollers, and wheelchair users.
- The gift shop offers a wide variety of souvenirs, and since most proceeds go directly to animal rescue, the spending feels worthwhile and meaningful.
- The staff demonstrated high professionalism during feeding demonstrations, delivering profound educational value on animal conservation.
Heads up
- Rather than a wilderness sanctuary, it feels more like a large, premium zoo, lacking a bit of that genuine wild wilderness feeling.
- The adult admission is a bit pricey, and the dining options from internal food trucks are limited and overpriced, offering average value.
- During the afternoon when tour buses cluster, the trails and main viewing decks get heavily crowded, packed with heads everywhere.
- On rainy days, some unpaved gravel paths become very muddy, and there is a noticeable lack of rain shelters along the way.