Top Anchorage Wildlife Encounters in 2026

Embark on a captivating journey along the Turnagain Arm scenic drive, where opportunities to spot Dall sheep and Beluga whales abound. Capture stunning photographs as you immerse yourself in the beauty of Alaska's landscape. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to encounter and learn about remarkable Alaskan wildlife. Continue to Portage Glacier Lake for additional scenic views and potential surprise stops for lunch. Conclude your adventure with a delightful wine tasting experience back in Anchorage before returning to your hotel. - Scenic drive featuring potential wildlife sightings along Turnagain Arm - Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for a close encounter with local wildlife - Photo opportunities at Portage Glacier Lake and surprise stops along the route - Tour duration is approximately 5-6 hours, with longer options for wildlife sightings

Experience Alaska’s wildlife and landscapes without planning a complex route from Anchorage on your own. This group tour combines glacier views, mountain scenery, wildlife encounters, and historic stops into one well-rounded day through Chugach National Forest and beyond. Along the way, your guide shares local insight and photography tips to help you get more out of the experience and your photos.

The Turnagain Arm in the Gulf of Alaska boasts abundant Alaskan wildlife within easy access of Anchorage. Learn about the local ecosystem from a guide with extensive knowledge of the area as you drive down the peninsula, with opportunities to spot wild animals in their natural environment as you go. Includes a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a drive past the glaciers on Portage Glacier Road.

Explore Chugach State Park's Eagle River trail system without the risk of getting lost when you hike on a small-group guided tour. Lovers of the outdoors won't want to miss the opportunity to hike through boreal forests and glaciated valleys, to see where salmon spawn, and to spot wildlife like bears, moose, and birds. Meet your guide at a designated spot and enjoy a moderate five-hour hike.

Discover the natural beauty of Chugach State Park on a day hike led by your own private guide. Your hike can range from four to 13 miles, with an elevation gain of 500 to 3,000 feet — how long and how far you’d like to soak up incredible mountain scenery and spot wildlife like eagles and moose is up to you. Pick up fascinating facts about the local geology and park history along the way. Lunch and hotel transport from Anchorage are included.

Set out on a nocturnal adventure in search of the elusive northern lights with this photography-focused tour departing from Anchorage. Get picked up at your hotel and go in search of the aurora borealis with a small group. Led by a professional photographer guide, learn new photography skills and gain insight into the science behind the aurora borealis. No photography experience is needed to join this tour.

Fishing in Alaska should be a relaxing experience so get away from the crowds with this shared tour from Anchorage. Travel in comfort, past mountains and rivers, to a serene river setting, looking out for wildlife along the way. Upon arrival, whether you have experience or not, your guide will ensure that you get on the fish.

This tour is ideal for you if you appreciate the convenience of a guided tour, but prefer to do your own thing. You'll get picked up in Anchorage and taken to Turnagain Arm for a tour, with a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alyeska where you can explore at your own pace by taking an aerial tram ride or following one of the many scenic hiking trails in the area.

Meet the animals of Alaska on a half-day tour from Anchorage. Travel down the gorgeous Seward Parkway along the Turnagain Arm waterway to viewpoints including Bird Point and Beluga Point. Take in the breathtaking scenery, then continue to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Go inside the sprawling nature preserve for injured animals to view large land animals, such as fox, lynx, grizzly bear, caribou, wood bison and more up close.