wildlife tours anchorage alaska

THE 10 BEST Anchorage Nature & Wildlife Tours

Nature & wildlife tours in anchorage.

• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Hiking & Camping Tours
• Fishing Charters & Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Beluga Point
• Chugach State Park
• Portage Glacier
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Anchorage to Wilderness Wildlife Glacier Value

2. Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round-Trip Same Day Return

3. Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour

4. Wildlife and Glaciers with a walk in the Rainforest

5. 26 Glacier Cruise and Coach from Anchorage, AK

6. Full-Day Tour in Turnagain

7. Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo

8. 26 Glacier Tour, Self-Drive from Anchorage, AK

9. Valley of Glaciers Experience with Portage Glacier Cruise and Wildlife Tour

10. Alaska Wildlife Tour

11. Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour

12. Grand Knik Helicopter Tour - 2 hours 3 landings - ANCHORAGE AREA

13. Glacier Blue Kayak & Grandview Tour

14. Salmon Express Anchorage's Fish Hatchery Experience

15. Turnagain Arm Tour: "A Must See Destination"

16. Glacier & Wildlife Discovery Tour

17. Turnagain Arm Tour

18. Lazy River Kayak Float

19. Summer Glacier Dogsledding Tour from Girdwood

20. Alpine Classic Trek

21. Chugach State Park Nature Walk

22. Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Small-Group Excursion

23. Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour

24. Northern Lights Adventure of a Liftetime from Anchorage

25. Summer Valley and Forest Hike

26. Seward to Anchorage- Post Cruise Curated Wildlife Tour +Transfer

27. Hike Matanuska Glacier w/Alaska Honey, Wine Tasting, Hotel Pickup

28. Private Tour: Anchorage 3-Hour Tour

29. Glaciers and Wildlife: Super Scenic Day Tour from Anchorage

30. Ride & Roam: Mystery Sightseeing Tour

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Whale Watching, Bear Viewing, and Birding Tours

Home » Tours » Wildlife

Wildlife viewing is among the most popular activities in Alaska. From whale watching for orcas or humpbacks to brown bear viewing and Alaska birding tours , your friends and family will delight in meeting Alaska animals of all shapes and sizes.

Learn about Alaska’s “big five ,” their habits and habitats, and their hunting and feeding behaviors, and then grab your camera or video and photograph away. Take a cruise to view seacoast and marine wildlife at home in Alaska’s many fjords and bays. With abundant animals in all regions of the state, your ticket to mind-blowing Alaska wildlife viewing is simply choosing what you want to see and book a day tour or overnight adventures.

You can also visit many educational centers throughout the state to learn more about Alaska wildlife:

• The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Anchorage)
• The Kodiak Brown Bear Center (Kodiak)
• The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center (Homer)
• The Murie Science and Learning Center (Denali National Park)
• The Alaska Raptor Center (Sitka)
• The American Bald Eagle Foundation (Haines)

Choose from 75 vacations in Alaska related to Wildlife

Alaska by Rail Tour

Duration: 10 days

Starting at: $3449 / pp

Travel the entire Alaska Railroad in just nine days! Take the train from Anchorage to Seward, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks. Cruise to an active glacier, jet boat on the Talkeetna River, view wildlife in Denali National Park and... Browse itinerary

Glaciers and Wildlife Tour

Duration: 8 days

Starting at: $2289 / pp

Combining Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, and Denali, this tour provides wildlife viewing opportunities and scenic touring throughout. You travel by the Alaska Railroad to Seward and cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, well known for glacier scenery and viewing... Browse itinerary

All Alaska Classic Self Drive Tour

Duration: 15 days

Starting at: $3649 / pp

Explore three of Alaska's National Parks: Denali, Wrangell - St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords. Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout. Travel on four designated National Scenic Byways showcasing Alaska's natural beauty with its jagged mountain peaks, lush alpine meadows,... Browse itinerary

Glacier and Wildlife Turnagain Arm Tour

Length: 8 hours

Starting at: $249 / pp

Enjoy the intimacy of a small group on an Anchorage day tour as you travel along the Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway, one of the most scenic drives in the country. A professional Alaska tour guide will... Browse itinerary

Turnagain Turnaround Tour

Length: 6 - 6.5 hours

Starting at: $179-199 / pp

On this Anchorage day tour, travel with a small group along Turnagain Arm, one of the most scenic drives in Alaska. Your driver will pick you up from your Anchorage hotel and take you south along the Seward... Browse itinerary

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise from Anchorage

Length: 14-15 hours

Starting at: $369 / pp

On this day trip from Anchorage, travel to Seward, Alaska, early morning by motorcoach, then depart on a wildlife and glacier cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. This seacoast area in Southcentral Alaska is famous for its rich... Browse itinerary

Katmai and Brooks Falls Bear Viewing

Length: 10-12 hours

Starting at: $1399 / pp

Fly from Anchorage to one of Alaska’s most famous bear viewing destinations, Katmai National Park and Brooks Falls!  Depart Anchorage early on a scheduled flight to King Salmon (approximately 1.5 hours).  On arrival, a local representative will transfer... Browse itinerary

Denali & Glacier Experience

Duration: 6 days

Starting at: $1919 / pp

By train, travel along the scenic Seward and Portage Glacier Highways before entering the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the second-longest tunnel in North America. On arrival in Whittier, embark on the 26 Glacier Cruise with lunch. Enjoy viewing... Browse itinerary

Family Fun Vacation by Car

Duration: 9 days

Starting at: $2459 / pp

An excellent family itinerary designed to allow for a leisurely travel pace with plenty of time for family-oriented activities. Top destinations include Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks. Touring highlights include riding aboard a "whistle stop" train operated... Browse itinerary

Great Alaskan Road Trip

Starting at: $1889 / pp

Explore Denali, Seward, and the Matanuska Valley with the freedom of a rental car. These three destinations complement each other with natural beauty from mountains to valleys to coastlines. The bus tour into Denali National Park is a... Browse itinerary

Alaska Highlights Self-Drive Tour

Starting at: $1809 / pp

This independent Alaska self-drive tour features many of the state's most popular attractions and scenic roadways. Visit Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park and the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, and Seward. The circular... Browse itinerary

Chinitna Bay Bear Viewing

Length: 6 hours

Starting at: $1076 / pp

Depart from Anchorage by wheeled plane for a 90-minute scenic flight southwest over Cook Inlet toward the Chigmit Mountains. Enjoy spectacular views of the Alaska and Aleutian Mountain Ranges and two active volcanoes – Mt. Redoubt and Mt.... Browse itinerary

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Wildlife Conservation Center Tour

Quick Details

• Calendar Season: Year-round
• Hour Glass Duration: 4 hours
• Ticket Animal-Friendly: Tour sales benefit the conservation efforts of the AWCC

Hangout With the Native Alaskan Wildlife!

See the native wildlife on this scenic tour–a must-do adventure while visiting Anchorage! While we all hope to see wildlife in its natural habitat, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) offers a chance to see these amazing local species up close in a unique setting.

The AWCC is a large nature preserve where injured animals are rehabilitated from the Chugach National Forest region. This preserve gives guests the chance to get up close and personal with wildlife such as beluga whales, bear, moose, elk, caribou, wood bison, Dall sheep, and many more. It’s truly a magical experience!

The Wildlife Conservation Center experience is offered year-round. Travel from Anchorage 53 miles south with breathtaking views along the Turnagain Arm, one of the top ten most scenic byways in North America. You will hear from a real Alaskan tour guide explaining the history and personal experiences of Alaska with photo ops and wildlife observations along the way.

Conservation Efforts

AWCC: A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and provides spacious enclosures. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center.

CARE: Size matters! AWCC maintains exceptionally large parcels of land called “healthy habitat” enclosures which offer animals the freedom to display their natural “wild” behaviors. AWCC’s 18-acre brown bear enclosure is the largest bear enclosure in the United States.

EDUCATION: As Alaska’s most popular developed visitor attraction, AWCC provides up-close wildlife viewing and educational opportunities to thousands of visitors a year. AWCC interns provide daily programming including caribou walls, porcupine feedings, and interpretive talks in front of animal enclosures. Also available are in-school and field trip programs for students of all ages. To schedule a field trip or classroom presentation, contact the Center!

CONSERVATION: In cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other supporters, AWCC is working to restore the wood bison to the Alaska wilderness where they roamed for centuries before becoming extinct. This historic conservation effort is a major step in ensuring the long-term future of this magnificent animal. It will also enhance Alaska’s wildlife resources, restore a key grazing animal to our northern ecosystem and increase habitat diversity in the release areas.

Related Tours

• Hour Glass 5 hours
• Calendar Year-round

City & Wildlife Tour

This experience offers two must-do tours in one trip! Tour the city of Anchorage, see animals in the wild, and stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to learn about its mission.

• Hour Glass 6 hours

Sea-Life & Seward City Tour

Visit Seward, Alaska! Learn all about the city’s history and ecosystem while visiting some resident wildlife at the SeaLife Center before driving to Exit Glacier, one of the state’s most popular.

• MOST POPULAR
• Sells Out Fast!
• Hour Glass 4 hours

Sunset City Tour

The Sunset City Tour has been exception this year. Voted the number on City and Wildlife Tour in Anchorage five years in a row. Anchorage Downtown TourGroup is proud to include the tour nightly and year-round in Anchorage. The last couple of months we have sited a large amount of City Wildlife. Lynx, Bear, Porcupine, Fox, Coyote and lots and lots of moose. What a wonderful adventure our guests have while touring the Anchorage Area. This tour leaves 4 hours prior to sunset and your never disappointed in the spectacular views and majestic wildlife. (wildlife vary during seasons)

The Lynx have been a frequent site this year. They are usually a rare siting and can be difficult to capture on camera. This summer we have had some exceptional luck.

The Salmon along Ship-Creek have been plentiful. We had a record run of King Salmon this year and our many guests have enjoyed the views only blocks from the heart of downtown Anchorage.

Beluga whale sitings in September are phenomenal.

Make sure you include the downtown Anchorage Sunset City Tour during your visit to Alaska.

Over 18,000 Happy Guests Since 2009

+1 (907) 947-9425.

1- & 2- Day Anchorage Nature and Wildlife Day Tours

Since 2009, over 18,000 guests have used 907 Tours Alaska to experience Alaska’s glaciers, wildlife, and nature first-hand! Depart from Anchorage with us and fall in love with Alaska on one of our personal, small-group soft adventures led by knowledgeable, local, and fun guides! 

All of our tours include FREE hotel pickup and drop-off (a $40 value)!

Book a 2023  Winter  or 2024  Summer  tour today!

Why choose 907 Nature and Wildlife Tours for your adventure?

Free hotel pickups - a $40 value!

Small group tours (maximum 12 guests)

Narration by knowledgeable, local guides

Fun tours focused on Edu-tainment

Satisfaction Guarantee

My whole day was just amazing! Lori and the rest of the crew were very fun, detailed, and organized. If I go back to Anchorage, I'll definitely chose 907 Tours again.

Reserve with confidence with our

Worry-Free Booking & Cancellation Policy!

Kings Mountain Overlook on return to Anchorage

Observing a brown bear at the AWCC

Photo at the face of the glacier!

Check Out Some Guest Videos:

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Salmon Berry Travel & Tours

Explore Alaska with the Experts

Wildlife Tour

The best way to see Alaska's wildlife up close, in their natural habitats! More Info

Price per Person

• Description
• Cancellation Policy
• Travel Insurance

OUR WILDLIFE TOUR WAS FEATURED ON BUZZFEED! See it here:

“ The Try Guys Feed Wild Animals In Alaska ”

Alaska’s only guaranteed viewing of land mammals in their natural habitat is at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center! Our guides, all local Alaskans, will take you through an expansive tour of this 200-acre facility caring for animals no longer able to live in the wild. Located at the southern end of Turnagain Arm (an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway), the conservation center is home to moose, brown and black bears, wolves, bald eagles, and musk oxen; all iconic Alaska wildlife! A shuttle from Anchorage with local Alaskans as guides is included.

For more information on this tour, please get in  touch with us or give us a call at 866-681-0209

This half day tour from Anchorage highlights the Turnagain Arm, an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway. Watch for alpine scenery, hanging glaciers, and potential wildlife sightings along the Seward Highway. Keep an eye out for Dall sheep in the Chugach Mountains, and Bald Eagles along the tidal flats. Beluga whales can be seen during the summer and autumn months along Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm!

Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre natural habitat dedicated to wildlife education and rehabilitation for some of Alaska’s favorite animals. We will drive and walk approximately 2-miles through the Conservation Center’s trails as you get close enough to observe some of our favorite land mammals; moose, reindeer, bison, wolves, and more! While we cannot guarantee bears due to the size of habitat and seasons, you could see them in summer and on sunny warm spring days. Make sure to take photos of wildlife with the amazing backdrop of the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm!

Before returning to Anchorage, stop at the conservation center’s gift shop. Complimentary snacks and water are provided throughout the tour. Book now to confirm your hotel pick-up!

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED

• Narration provided by Salmon Berry Tours local guide (English Speaking)
• CDL-certified
• A more personal experience of up to 13 guests in our clean and comfortable sprinter vans
• Admission into Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Guided tour through the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Time to visit the gift shop
• All meals listed (if any) are provided
• Stretch your legs for up-close views or view scenery through our panoramic windows
• An assortment of complimentary snacks and water are available throughout the tour
• Access to our gently-used gear (boots, snow pants, winter coats, raincoats, mittens, hats, etc.) is available
• *Gear must be requested at the time of booking to ensure gear is available during your tour
• Pick up available from major hotels located in Anchorage
• *Please note that we do limit pick-ups to 3 hotels per tour. BOOK NOW TO CONFIRM YOUR PICK UP
• Conveniently located in downtown Anchorage
• *Please select “Meet at Salmon Berry Tours Office” at the time of booking to confirm
• Drop-off is available to major hotels and inns within Anchorage
• *Drop off at Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport may be available if requested in advance

NOT INCLUDED

• Basic guide gratuity for this tour starts at $10.00 per guest

Day Tour Cancellation Policy

For direct booking cancellations outside 7 days before the first day of your tour, a 10% fee will be withheld. For cancellations within 7 days, no refund applies.

Salmon Berry Travel & Tours recommends travel insurance provided by TravelSafe Insurance . Our recommendation is based on positive guest feedback. In particular, the experience of one Salmon Berry guest is instructive:

• Our guest had booked the vacation of a lifetime and the ultimate Alaska package. She had to cancel the trip a week before it began due to unfortunate circumstances.
• She later told us that within ten minutes of phone time, her claim was processed in full. She was very pleased with TravelSafe Insurance’s immediate and empathetic response. Getting a refund for her trip was the last thing she wanted to think about, and TravelSafe Insurance immediately took care of her needs and concerns.

Important Links

• Alaskan Summer Tours
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• Salmon Berry News

515 W 4th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501

Connect With Us

Alaskan hospitality is rooted in kindness and respect, and we look forward to hosting you on your Alaska vacation to share ours with you. We encourage random acts of kindness, support our visitors shopping local, and follow a simple philosophy… if you see someone without a smile – give them yours!

For our other policies, click here: https://www.salmonberrytours.com/covid-19-updates-from-the-sbt-family/

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CENTER AND TURNAGAIN ARM TOUR

Quick Details

• Tags Category: Guided Tour
• Hour Glass Duration: 4.5 hours
• User Ages: Ages 5+

Our Most Popular Tour!

Board your Turnagain Arm Shuttle for the guided drive along Alaska’s most scenic highway. From beginning to end there are dramatic views of mountain scenery and the Cook Inlet. At the 140-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, jaws drop in awe-even those of longtime Alaskans. AWCC’s mission is to provide refuge for orphaned, injured and ill animals-those that can’t survive in the wild. Your shuttle will take you directly to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you can witness Alaskan Wildlife up-close. We have timed this tour so that all customers will enjoy the bear feeding!

Your journey to include a one-hour visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center begins with a custom tour of Turnagain Arm and is a treat you won’t want to miss. On the way to the wildlife center you will be traveling through the Chugach State Park down Alaska’s most scenic stretch of highway.

Turnagain Arm is a “Must See destination” via The Turnagain Arm Shuttle.

HIGHLIGHTS YOU WILL SEE IN ADDITION TO WILDLIFE:

Beluga Point : Popular photo stop with panoramic views of Turnagain Arm. Many are lucky, having made their “offerings to the Sheep and Whale Gods” for possible opportunities to see Dall sheep and Beluga whales passing through. It’s luck of the draw, we’ll do our best to sync you up for a once in a lifetime rendezvous with these enchanted creatures of the land and sea.

Portage Valley : You will see Explorer Glacier, Middle Glacier, Byron Glacier and Take a Walk through a Rainforest.

Potter Marsh :With its nearly panoramic view of Turnagain arm, Potter Marsh, peppered by spruce, cottonwoods and alder trees, is one of the most accessible and scenic wildlife viewing areas in Anchorage.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

• Most Popular
• User Ages 5+
• Hour Glass 5 hours
• Tags Guided Tour

Glacier & Wildlife Explorer Tour

Take an unforgettable glacier cruise right up to the face of a glacier, just 50 miles south of Anchorage. Motor to within 300 feet of the mammoth wall of ice called Portage Glacier.

• Hour Glass 3.25 hours

Stunning All-Inclusive Scenic Turnagain Arm Tour

Take a breathtaking ride down the Alaska’s Most Scenic Highway to view awe-inspiring stops along Turnagain Arm.

• Hour Glass 7 hours

Winter Alyeska Express

Board your Turnagain Arm Shuttle for the guided drive along Alaska’s most scenic highway on your way to ski Alyeska. Enjoy lunch and a day of skiing.

• Covid-19 Update
• Facility Rental
• Internship Program

AWCC offers up-close and personal experiences. Book early and enjoy Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, and Walk on the Wild Side Tours.

General Admission

Admission tickets to the alaska wildlife conservation center do not sell out. tickets can be purchased upon arrival the day of your visit..

General Admission Prices

General Admission: $25 per person (ages 13 and up) Youth: $20 per person (ages 4 to 12) Child: Free (3 and under) Military: $22 per person (active US military with ID) Alaska: $22 per person (Valid Alaska ID required. Year Round.) Alaska Youth: $18 per person (ages 4 to 12. Valid Alaska ID required. Year Round.)

Experience Alaska’s wildlife via AWCC’s scenic 1.5-mile loop, accessible by foot, by bike, or by car, while learning about our resident wildlife via interpretive signs at each animal habitat. AWCC encourages you to visit the center with your walking shoes and camera in hand for an educational Alaskan experience to remember. 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!

Walk on the Wild Side Tour

Enjoy a tour where your personal guide walks you through the center, offering history and stories of resident wildlife – and you’ll get to feed an animal reserve your tour online today.

Reservations must be booked in advance.

Season: Offered year-round Time: 2PM – 3:30PM Purchase Tickets:  Click here to reserve your tour online today! Day of tickets must be purchased over the phone or at the Center by 12 pm.

Rate: $125.00 per person (price includes admission) Dress appropriately: AWCC does not provide rain gear, boots, hats, or gloves or. If a face mask is needed for an animal encounter, AWCC will provide the face mask on this tour. Capacity: Space is limited to 10 guests. Restrictions: Ages 10 and over only. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Bonus: receive a 20% discount on a Bear Encounter if you have booked a Walk on the Wild Side (WOW) Tour for the same day. Email [email protected] with your WOW confirmation number for booking details. Based on availability. Age restrictions apply.

Please read our cancellation policy

Bear Encounter

Get an up-close and personal experience with awcc’s resident brown bears this summer.

Participate in their daily training and feeding all while learning about bear behavior and diet. This 30-minute program is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (rain or shine) at 3:45 pm from June 1 to August 15. Space is limited to 10 people. Must be 12 years and older. [Disclosure: there will be no physical touching of bears.]

Your tour will begin promptly at 3:45 pm, please check-in at the ticket booth to get your admission ticket and then check-in at 3:30 pm for the Bear Encounter at the Bears Bathroom.

Day of tickets must be purchased over the phone or at the Center by 11 am.

Season: June 1 – August 15 When: Mon, Wed and Fri only Time: 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm rain or shine Rate: $125 per person (includes admission) Purchase Tickets: Book Online HERE Book early to ensure your spot this summer. Location: Check-in at the BEARS Bathroom at 3:30 pm Restrictions: Ages 12 years and older only!  Ages 12 – 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Capacity: Space is limited to 10 guests. Bonus: receive a 20% discount on a Bear Encounter if you have booked a Walk on the Wild Side (WOW) Tour for the same day. Email [email protected] with your WOW confirmation number for booking details. Based on availability. Age restrictions apply.

Kobuk the Black Bear Encounter

Get an up-close and personal experience with kobuk the black bear this summer.

Participate in AWCC’s quality animal care practices by working with AWCC staff to make dietary and/or engaging enrichment items for Kobuk the black bear. Participants will then place enrichment items inside Kobuk’s habitat and watch him enjoy! ​This 45-minute program is offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (rain or shine) at 2:45 pm from June 18 to August 31. Space is limited to 4 people. Must be 12 years and older. [Disclosure: there will be no physical touching of bears.]

Your tour will begin promptly at 2:45PM, so please arrive at check-in, located between the Be Wild Gift Shop and Bison Hall (near the Gift Shop Lynx habitat), no later than 2:40PM.

Season: June 18 – August 31 When: Tues, Thurs, and Sat only Time: 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm rain or shine Rate: $125 per person (includes admission) Purchase Tickets: Book Online HERE Book now to ensure your spot this summer. Location: Check-in is located between the Be Wild Gift Shop and Bison Hall (near the Gift Shop Lynx habitat), no later than 2:40PM. Restrictions: Ages 12 years and older only!  Ages 12 – 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Capacity: Space is limited to 4 guests.

Moose Encounter

Moose encounters allow visitors to get up close and personal with our resident moose. visitors are able to feed the moose browse right out of their hand while our staff shares information about their diet, behavior, and wild counterparts..

Season: June 1 – September 15 When: Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sun only. Time: 10:30AM – 11:00AM rain or shine*

Rate: $25 per person, does not include admission. Purchase Tickets: Reservations required. Book Online HERE. Book early to ensure your spot this summer. Location: Earthquake Deck (first right after the entrance) All ages welcome. (Tickets required.) Capacity: Limited to 35 people. Face masks are required. Guests must provide their own face mask.

Please read our cancellation policy .

AWCC provides means of hand sanitation before/after the encounter. Come to the Earthquake Deck between 10:30 am and 11:00 am to feed a moose and snap a picture! Moose Encounters allow visitors to get up close and personal with our resident moose. Visitors are able to feed the moose browse right out of their hand while our staff shares information about their diet, behavior, and wild counterparts. If you have any questions please email [email protected] .

Virtual Tours

Can’t make it to awcc in person join us for a virtual tour during a virtual tour, you will be engaged by a walking tour of awcc or a show and tell with one of our animal ambassadors..

Season: Year-Round. Availability increases October – May. When: Flexible Schedule, based on availability Price: $100 for 30 Minutes, $200 for 1-hour Reservations required. Email [email protected] to book Location: AWCC using virtual conferencing platform

Great for all ages!

Can’t make it to AWCC in person? Join us for a virtual tour! During a virtual tour, you will be engaged by a walking tour of AWCC or a show and tell with one of our animal ambassadors. You will learn fun new information about Alaskan wildlife and have an opportunity to ask our naturalist staff questions in real time. If along the way there is a unique opportunity for insight into operations or care at AWCC, we will pause to take a closer look. Virtual tours are great for birthdays, family reunions, and more! Purchase a virtual tour gift certificate through our online store.

Discover the WILD of Alaska and come meet the locals! Walk on the Wild Side Tours are available year-round and include an animal encounter. Summer Moose Encounters & Bear Encounters are available for online booking. Book early to ensure your spot!

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Wildlife in Anchorage Day Trip

Southcentral Alaska is teeming with wildlife. Not just the forests, but the waters and skies are filled with majestic creatures found in few other places. So grab your binoculars, we’re going wildlife viewing today!

Drive or ride  Alaska's railroad  south to Seward or Whittier. Watch for Dall sheep and beluga along the way. On arrival, cast off on a  glacier and wildlife cruise  in Prince William Sound or Kenai Fjords National Park. Keep an eye out for whales, Dall porpoises, otters, seals and sea lions and puffins. Scan the shore too, it’s not unusual to spot eagles, moose or bears.

Still haven’t seen an elusive species? Head to the  Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center , which is 60 miles south of downtown Anchorage. The center provides spacious enclosures and quality care for orphaned and injured wildlife in its 200-acre park. See moose, brown and black bears, porcupines, caribou, musk ox and more.

Anchorage is a birder’s paradise; more than 130 bird species can be spotted.  Potter Marsh  is home to many native birds and migratory species. A trip down the boardwalk can yield more than just birds; moose, fox, and beaver are known to scope out the area too. And with summer’s extended daylight hours, it’s easy to fit in one more wildlife adventure.

A Wildlife Safari

Wildlife is abundant in Anchorage, and you don’t need to travel far to spot some of Alaska’s most iconic animals.

Wildlife Viewing

Grab a pair of binoculars and go wild in Anchorage. Anchorage wildlife viewing is a year-round attraction, with guaranteed wildlife viewing at close proximity.

Loon Conservation in Anchorage, Alaska

The handcrafted wooden raft — recently outfitted with a brand-new camouflage canopy and livestream video camera — quietly drifts around its anchor on Connors Lake in Anchorage, Alaska. Waterbirds dabble on the shallow waters, while people play with their dogs on the shoreline and jets fly overhead from the nearby Ted Stevens International Airport.  The raft awaits the arrival of a pair of Pacific loons. If all goes well, they will successfully nest and fledge a chick or two. 

Of the five species, Pacific loons are the most widely distributed, spending summers on lakes across Alaska and winters along the southeast Alaska coastline to as far south as Baja, California. In Anchorage, Pacific loons traditionally nested on Connors Lake where residents Jean Tam and Scott Christy enjoyed watching them each summer.  

Over time, the couple became concerned with potentially harmful human activity around the lake and sought ways to protect the species. In 2003, with help from Anchorage Audubon and fellow loon enthusiasts, they handcrafted and launched the wooden raft with a livestream camera to share Connors Lake’s loons with the world. For more than 15 years, they and their fellow enthusiasts launched and retrieved the raft each summer for Pacific loons to nest.  

In 2019, the couple tragically died in an airplane accident. Tam and Christy made the world of these Pacific loons accessible to so many by building this floating platform and placing the original cameras to livestream the comings and goings.  Exposure to such intimate details of loon life from nest building to chick hatching creates an emotional investment, which can translate to conservation action.   

Their legacy is carried on by the Jean Tam Loon Conservation Endowment Fund, led by the Alaska Conservation Foundation, which supports the Connors Lake raft project as well as other loon conservation efforts across Alaska.  “To continue their legacy with their friends and family has been deeply rewarding,” said Max Goldman, the science director of Reddish Egret Ecology and manager of the Connors Lake loon project. “Everyone doesn’t get a legacy. Jean and Scott do, though, and that’s a testament to the people they were and the lives they touched, bird and human alike.” 

This past May, Goldman and Tamara Zeller, a migratory bird biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, teamed up to install the new camouflage canopy and livestream video camera on the raft. The team would periodically tune in to the livestream to see and hear what was going on. 

“Listening to the loons and the sounds of urban life just brought it up a level,” said Zeller. “I found myself obsessing over the camera and was completely emotionally invested. It was like watching a soap opera and not knowing what you might see when you turned on the camera.”  

Goldman also thought it was like watching a soap opera. “There was always something ridiculous going on when I tuned in,” he said. “From otters taking over the raft for a nap to some "not safe for work" loon activity, eggs arriving, an adorable chick hatching, and the tragedy of an unhatched egg. It was emotionally exhausting.” 

Over the next few months, the Pacific loons would come to know the raft as home – at least for the summer. 

Arrival 

Hatching 

Parental Care 

Fledging 

Visitors 

Thanks to the work of the Alaska Conservation Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, the handcrafted wooden raft successfully supported the nesting and fledging of a Pacific loon once again. “This summer, the Connors Lake loon project added one more loon to the world and that feels good,” said Goldman. 

The story of the Connors Lake loons highlights not only the passion that devoted naturalists Jean Tam and Scott Christy had for the loons and the natural world, but also the importance of protecting these species from harmful human activity. “The continuation of Jean and Scott's work is tremendously rewarding,” said Zeller. “I hope the project generates in other urban dwellers a connection to and respect for the wildlife just outside their doors.” 

Loon populations worldwide are declining due to habitat loss, human disturbance, and environmental pollution from heavy metals, such as mercury and lead. Lead is toxic to loons and other wildlife when ingested and often leads to death. Death from lead poisoning has been shown to have population-level effects on common loons in areas of the lower 48 states. 

While it is important to understand what is happening with loons at a population level, change often comes from the passions we develop in our own backyards. You can help loons by: 

Leaving the shoreline of lakes, islands and marshy areas undeveloped. 

Keeping pets on leashes unless you are in a designated off-leash area and your pet is under voice control.  

Recycling fishing line to prevent loons and other wildlife from becoming entangled.  

Using non-toxic, lead-free fishing tackle like steel, tin, tungsten, and bismuth sinkers and asking your local retailer to keep these alternatives in stock. 

Picking up hooks and tackle. 

Tour the lakes of the largest city in North America where loons nest and produce offspring: A Loon’s-Eye View of Anchorage  

Recreational Activities

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