Girdwood Wildlife Tour with Alaska Wildlife Center & Craft Beer

The Wildlife Conservation Center holds orphaned and injured animals in spacious habitats, not behind glass.

This tour combines a scenic drive along the Seward Highway with a 1.5-hour visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit sanctuary where you walk among bears, moose, caribou and musk oxen in natural settings. The day includes lunch from rotating local food trucks at Girdwood Brewery and an optional tasting of small-batch Alaskan craft beers. An English-speaking guide, vehicle, and all entry fees are included. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife, scenic drive, and local flavors

• Drive along Seward Highway
• Stop for wildlife viewing
• Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Explore animal habitats and learn
• Lunch at Girdwood food trucks
• Sample craft beers at Girdwood Brewery

The experience

The day starts with a drive along the Seward Highway, one of Alaska's most photographed routes. The road winds between the Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains, and stops are built in to watch for Dall sheep, moose, beluga whales and bald eagles. The scenery shifts constantly (tidal flats, rugged cliffs, lush forest), and the guide points out what moves in it.

The centerpiece is 1.5 hours at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre sanctuary for orphaned and injured native Alaskan animals. Unlike a typical zoo, the animals live in spacious habitats designed to mimic the wild. You walk among brown bears, moose, wood bison and caribou on your own pace, and the setting emphasizes conservation and education rather than spectacle. The nonprofit operates the center, and the visit supports their work with injured wildlife.

Lunch happens in Girdwood at the Girdwood Brewery Company, where local food trucks rotate through the lineup. You choose what appeals. After eating, there's an option to taste small-batch Alaskan craft beers on the brewery grounds, surrounded by the rustic charm of the place and views of the surrounding peaks. The whole experience is built around local flavors and the people who make them.

What’s included

• Entry to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
• lunch from local food trucks at Girdwood Brewery.
• optional small-batch Alaskan craft beer tasting.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• a live English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Youth (18 to 20 years) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Alaskan Sights and Bites

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a half-day tour combining wildlife viewing and local brewery stops without splitting your day into separate activities. The guide handles both in one loop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 20 years); Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I see at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center?

The center holds brown bears, moose, wood bison, caribou, musk oxen and more, all living in spacious natural habitats across the 200-acre sanctuary. The animals are orphaned or injured natives that the nonprofit cares for, and you walk among them at your own pace during the 1.5-hour visit.

How much time do I spend driving versus at the wildlife center?

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours total. The Seward Highway drive includes scenic stops for wildlife spotting, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center visit takes 1.5 hours. The remaining time covers the drive to Girdwood, lunch and the optional beer tasting.

What's included for lunch in Girdwood?

Lunch comes from a rotating lineup of local food trucks stationed at Girdwood Brewery, so the options change. You choose what you want from whichever trucks are there that day. The meal is included in the tour price.

Is the beer tasting mandatory, or can I skip it?

The beer tasting is optional. You visit Girdwood Brewery and have the choice to sample small-batch Alaskan craft brews or simply enjoy lunch and the brewery grounds without tasting. Alcoholic beverages are included if you choose to participate.

What wildlife might I spot during the Seward Highway drive?

The Seward Highway is known for Dall sheep, moose, beluga whales and bald eagles. The route winds between the Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains, and the guide stops at scenic points where these animals are often visible. Sightings depend on the season and time of day, but the drive itself is designed around wildlife watching.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You spend 1.5 hours walking the 200-acre center at your own pace, and most of the day involves driving and sitting. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, but it does not require hiking or strenuous activity.