Business Details
About
Tourist AttractionsWildlife Sanctuary
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is located in Portage Valley and is surrounded by the breathtaking Chugach Mountain Range and Turnagain Arm Inlet. Located at Mile 79 of the Seward Highway, AWCC is a non-profit sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. AWCC takes in orphaned and injured animals year-round and provides them a forever home. The sanctuary maintains over 200 acres of spacious habitats for resident animals to feel at home displaying their natural wild behavior as education ambassadors for their species. It is common for visitors to see brown bears swimming, moose strutting, wood bison roaming, muskox playing, wolves posing, porcupines climbing, and more!
Details
- Onsite servicesAvailable
- Free parking garageNot available
- Free parking lotAvailable
- Free street parkingNot available
Location
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
43520 Seward Highway, Girdwood, AK
99587, United States
Hours
Reviews
4.7
6,351 reviews
5 stars
4,828
4 stars
1,065
3 stars
307
2 stars71
1 star80
- PNPedro NunezOct 25, 20255.0An excellent place to see some animals that one normally won’t see daily. We have seen some wolves, bear, an owl, some eagles, a lynx, several musk oxen, moose, deer, several bison, and several others whose names now escape my memory. Highly recommended. The fee is reasonable and parking is free.
- MMMelodious MerriOct 18, 20255.0This place is great for seeing the Alaskan animals in very large and natural enclosures yet still getting to see the animals up close. They have a great gift shop with lots of local products. We did a field trip which was a nice combo of indoor teaching and outdoor energy burning. They had a nice building(Bison Hall) to teach the kids about the animals. They even has antlers, hides and skulls for the kids to handle and experience. I highly recommend rubber boots, hat, and gloves for your visit.
- RARobert AOct 17, 20253.0We were not that impressed by this place. I love their mission but there were simply not that many animals to see for the $27 per person charge. They have 2 bears. That's it. Several enclosures were empty. We saw it all in about an hour. Lots of corporate sponsor signs but I don't see that translating into a better guest experience unfortunately.
- SESavanah EOct 10, 20255.0I’ve always loved this place — not only as somewhere to bring out-of-town guests, but also for a fun day trip with my daughter and her friends. The mission behind the center is truly meaningful, and I really appreciate that the animals are kept in large, natural, and humane enclosures. The staff are always friendly, welcoming, and clearly care about the work they do. It’s a wonderful experience every time we visit!
- HBHarlow BogeOct 8, 20255.0I did the Walk on the Wild Side tour as a birthday gift to myself, and it was amazing! Ivie was a great, knowledgeable guide who was able to help me spot well hidden animals. Knowing each animals story made the visist even better. Learning about their conservation efforts through the visist gave me more insight as well. AND I got to feed Twix the porcupine! I cannot recommend this center enough. I highly recommend a tour- it gives you so much more insight to how this center is helping not only their animals, but the Wood Bison population in Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Do you have a gift shop?
We do! You can view all our items on our website.
Are Educational Programs free?
Free to all visitors, our educational programs are a fun and in-depth way for visitors to learn about our resident animals.
Programs happen daily and are hosted by AWCC Naturalist’s outside of the designated animal’s habitat. Upon your arrival, check the sign posted at the top of the ramp on the parking lot side of the Be Wild Gift Shop for specific times and locations.
What is AWCC?
AWCC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care.
Are wheelchairs available?
AWCC does not provide a wheel chair or walker for guests, however they can drive around via the 1.5 mile loop through the 200 acre sanctuary.
How did the animals get here? Will they be released back into the wild?
The majority of our animals have a permanent home at the AWCC. Animals come to us for a variety of reasons. Some animals are abandoned at a young age and others are injured in the wild. Because of this, they often lack the skills needed to survive in the wild and are also reliant on humans for their care. Our Wood Bison Re-Introduction Project was a unique case. AWCC worked directly with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Department of Fish & Game to conduct the re-introduction of these animals back into their native ranges in Alaska.
Can I bring my dog?
We do not recommend bringing pets, as they are not allowed to walk around the AWCC as it may frighten our animals. If you must bring a pet, you are required to leave your pet in your vehicle at all times. Please keep in mind that it does get sunny in the summer and we do not have shade in our parking lot.
What animals can I see at AWCC?
Visitors to AWCC can observe a variety of Alaskan wildlife, including porcupines, wood bison, wolves, reindeer, muskox, lynx, great-horned owls, foxes, elk, deer, coyotes, black bears, bald eagles, brown bears, and moose.