Alaska Bear Encounter

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center    

alaskawildlife.org
4.5/5
(3.9K) · Nature reserve in Girdwood, United States
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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 …
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, and more!

Reviews

Tripadvisor
4.5/5 · 3,919 reviews
5-star
65%
4-star
20%
3-star
10%
2-star
2%
1-star
3%
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Jan 9, 2025
This was a wonderful place to visit, the animals are really up close, pretty active and watching them was a-lot of fun my family loved visiting and spending time here the gift shop is great we drove …Full review by Passport10663437814
Dec 29, 2024
It’s an okay spot—not particularly impressive—but it’s conveniently located along the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Seward. The center is set in a very scenic location, nestled along the coast…Full review by Roving07758412371
Oct 3, 2024
We visited the Conservation Center as part of a tour out of Anchorage. Most of the time was spent driving through the sanctuary but we were able to stop at some key areas to watch the bears being fe…Full review by LetsGetGone
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Articles

You'll see tons of animals including bald eagles, bears, moose, muskox, lynx, reindeer, and wolves! It's a conservation center so they hav…
theoutbound.com

Questions & answers

Q:
Curious to know what dining options there are on site or nearby, we’ll be driving from Anchorage and then continuing south …
Q:
Curious to know what dining options there are on site or nearby, we’ll be driving from Anchorage and then continuing south to Homer. Someone mentioned a food truck, but I don’t see anything on their website. What would be the closest town/s for grabbing lunch? Thanks
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Hi, when we visited in late September there was a food truck onsite and grab-to-go snack options. All outdoor, not much seating. I’d probably go prepared with your own snacks or …
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Hi, when we visited in late September there was a food truck onsite and grab-to-go snack options. All outdoor, not much seating. I’d probably go prepared with your own snacks or eat before/after visiting.
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Answer by Sharyn F · Dec 4, 2024
Q:
Hi - website isn't working for me. I understand it's a 1.5 mi road. Do I just walk/drive through it? What can we we do/see. Thanks
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You can drive it or you can walk. We walked parts of it. We were part of a tour so the van dropped us at one spot and picked us up at the entrance/exit. I also saw cars just driving through …
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You can drive it or you can walk. We walked parts of it. We were part of a tour so the van dropped us at one spot and picked us up at the entrance/exit. I also saw cars just driving through the loop. If driving you could stop to get out and take pictures. The center is home to many animals (bison, musk ox, deer, etc.) The loop takes you by their enclosures.
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Q:
Hi there, at what time do you feed the bears, thanks
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Our daily animal programs are as follows: Programs#TAB#Time#TAB#Location Birds Words#TAB# 9:30 am#TAB#Behind the Gift Store Bear …
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Our daily animal programs are as follows: Programs#TAB#Time#TAB#Location Birds Words#TAB# 9:30 am#TAB#Behind the Gift Store Bear Necessities#TAB#11:30 am#TAB#BEARS Boardwalk Porcupine Chat#TAB#12:30 pm#TAB#In front/behind Gift Shop Say “Hi” to Kobuk#TAB#1:30 pm#TAB#Kobuk’s Enclosure Meet the Foxes#TAB#2:30 pm#TAB#Behind the Gift Shop/Red Barn Bears’ Business#TAB#3:30 pm#TAB#BEARS Boardwalk Meet the Wolves#TAB#4:30 pm#TAB#Wolf enclosure
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Q:
If I take the train to the Whittier cruise terminal, is there any way to get to the Center for a visit? Rental cars are sold out …
Q:
If I take the train to the Whittier cruise terminal, is there any way to get to the Center for a visit? Rental cars are sold out from Anchorage and from Whittier and I was trying to avoid taking a shuttle bus from Anchorage, even though I know many include a stop at the Center. Thanks for any suggestions!
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Hi there, thank you for your question - By rental car or by tour bus are the only ways to get to the AWCC, as walking from the Portage Train Station is not recommended. We hope this …
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Hi there, thank you for your question - By rental car or by tour bus are the only ways to get to the AWCC, as walking from the Portage Train Station is not recommended. We hope this information is helpful. Best, Pete
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Q:
Is it possible to get round the center on a small mobility scooter?
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YES, just be careful, especially on rainy days it’s very muddy.
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Frequently asked questions

Q:
What is AWCC?
A:
AWCC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care.
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