Alaska Zoo
4.3(2.7K)google
3.8(145)yelp
Wildlife WatchingWildlifeFamilyKidsEducationalOutdoor
Overview
The Alaska Zoo, tucked quietly into the wooded hillside of Anchorage, provides a unique and intimate look at the specialized wildlife of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Spanning 25 natural acres, this beloved non-profit sanctuary focuses heavily on the rescue, rehabilitation, and education of injured or orphaned northern animals. Visitors can walk along paved, shaded pathways to view magnificent species up close, including polar bears, gray wolves, Amur tigers, muskoxen, and bald eagles, making it an exceptional family-friendly educational attraction.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 7:00PM
Wed9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeYear-round appeal. While summer is lush, snowy winter mornings or afternoons offer a uniquely subarctic experience. Cold-weather specialists like polar bears, snow leopards, arctic foxes, and lynx are highly active and playful in the snow.
Getting ThereLocated in the wooded Hillside neighborhood of South Anchorage. Driving is easiest; take O'Malley Road eastbound from downtown for about 15 minutes directly to their spacious complimentary parking lot. Drive carefully on winter ice.
Travel Tips
- Built on a hillside with gravel trails prone to thick ice sheets in winter; ice spikes or cleats are mandatory for winter foot traction.
- Waving colorful umbrellas or plush items near snow leopard or polar bear enclosures is banned; offenders face immediate expulsion.
- Monday and Tuesday trigger partial indoor habitat maintenance closures; choose weekends for full access to arctic wolf feedings.
Reviews
Positive
- Focuses on Arctic and sub-Arctic native animal rescue (like polar bears, snow leopards, snowy owls), offering a highly specialized and fun experience.
- Shaded wooden boardwalks span the entire park with well-designed accessible ramps, making summer walks very cool and comfortable.
- You can see plump Alaskan brown bears up close, and the keepers show great love and care for the animals during public demonstrations.
- The overall vibe is like a peaceful forest park, devoid of noisy amusement rides, ideal for educational trips with young children.
Heads up
- The scale is relatively small, and animal variety is far less rich than big-city zoos; tourists used to massive zoos might find it boring.
- Some animal enclosures look aged and cramped; though meant for rehabilitation, it looks visually depressing and facilities need renovation.
- For non-drivers, transport here is highly inconvenient with very few bus runs, and a rideshare back downtown costs a lot.
- The adult admission is overpriced for a zoo of this size; the internal snack bars are often closed, and the snacks sold offer poor value.