Animal Ark
4.8(1.1K)google
4.5(168)yelp
WildlifeOutdoorFamily
Overview
Nestled in the Northern Nevada foothills north of Reno, Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary is a renowned 38-acre non-profit sanctuary and environmental education center. Founded in 1981, it has provided a permanent safe haven and top-tier care for injured, abandoned, and non-releasable wildlife that cannot survive on their own. As the only facility in Northern Nevada accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), Animal Ark is home to a diverse array of animals, including American black bears, mountain lions, wolves, and cheetahs. Through up-close wildlife viewing and educational initiatives, the sanctuary aims to inspire environmental stewardship and a lifelong love for nature.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue–Sun10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeOnly open from mid-April to October 31. The premier highlight is attending a scheduled 'Cheetah Run' event weekend in October. On regular days, arrive right at 10:00 AM when the high-desert air is crisp; this is when resident wolves, bears, and snow leopards are actively roaming their rustic rock enclosures rather than sleeping in the midday shade.
Getting ThereLocated roughly 25 miles north of Reno in a remote desert valley. No public transport exists. Driving is the sole method: cruise north on US-395 N, take Exit 27 for Red Rock Road, and follow Red Rock Road north for 11 long miles into the high-desert hills. The wildlife sanctuary features a spacious dirt/gravel parking lot.
Travel Tips
- Located 30 miles north of Reno via Deerlodge Rd; the final 3-mile access sector consists entirely of unpaved, deeply rutted gravel paths where low-clearance sedans risk severe undercarriage destruction.
- Enforces a rigid annual winter hibernation closure from November 1 through March 31 due to mountain freezing indexes; all spring/summer tickets must be pre-booked online as no cash window exists.
- Shelters apex cougars, arctic wolves, and black bears; to block predator retinal shock or fence charging, drone deployments and high-frequency screeching juvenile toys are strictly criminalized.
Reviews
Positive
- A pristine wildlife sanctuary! This non-profit refuge preserves raw mountain nature, letting you view cheetahs, black bears, and gray wolves with elite views.
- The engagement and fun are top-tier, especially during the famous Cheetah Run events, letting you witness elite feline speeds close-up with endless thrill.
- The entrance fee is very fair, supporting animal welfare. Volunteers are exceptionally warm, patiently teaching kids about ecological preservation.
- Features nature-integrated wooden viewing paths, mapped clearly with ample benches and tidy restrooms under scientific and orderly management.
Heads up
- Highly remote location set deep in a desert valley far north of Reno. Public transit is absent, and the final driving stretch is bumpy with zero night lights.
- To keep animals stress-free, enclosures are huge; on scorching summer middays, predators hide deep in distant shades, remaining motionless and hard to spot.
- The paths are rugged dirt and loose gravel with steep slopes, lacking flat accessible comfort, making pushing premium strollers or wheelchairs highly taxing.
- Set in remote wilderness, cell signals drop entirely, and proper dining is absent except for a tiny entry snack shack, dragging down convenience.