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. Spend a few days searching out some recognizable furry faces, fins, and wings for an Anchorage experience you won’t forget.
Day 1
Know Before You Go
Anchorage is home to multiple city salmon runs, perfect for wildlife viewing or even casting a line.
Featuring
Wildlife
Scenic Drive
Hiking
Average Duration:
Half to Full Day
Google Street View
See more salmon
Watch the sunrise over Ship Creek, and see wild Alaska salmon make their ways upstream in the summer months. Head out to the mouth of the creek, known as Dgheyay Kaq' in the area’s traditional Dena’ina Athabascan language, for a chance to spot the occasional seal or beluga whale.
Follow the Ship Creek Trail 2.5 miles east to the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, where visitors can see the hatchery’s collection of 100 rearing tanks capable of producing more than 6 million fish annually.
Just before sunset, head out to Point Woronzof to see the sun sink over Mount Susitna and watch for moose browsing along the side of the road leading out to the park. The end of the runway at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is a popular spot to catch departing jets and rambling ungulates.
Day 2
Know Before You Go
Have your camera at the ready: Approximately 1,500 moose roam the greater Anchorage area between the Knik River and Twentymile River.
Featuring
Hike
Wildlife
Scenic Drive
Average Duration:
Full Day
Learn More About Moose
Grab a coffee from a local cafe, then head to Westchester Lagoon to soak up the sunrise and watch for birds, beavers, and other wildlife in the surrounding wetlands. Stroll the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to one of the many scenic overlooks to watch for the occasional pod of beluga whales swimming in Cook Inlet.
After lunch, visit the Alaska Zoo to meet iconic Alaska wildlife like bears, wolves, musk ox, and reindeer — as well as non-native favorites like tigers and camels.
End the day with a trip up to Glen Alps to hike Blueberry Hill or Flattop Mountain, watch the sunset, and spot moose and the occasional bear meandering through the Chugach Front Range.
Day 3
Know Before You Go
Watch for beluga whales, Dall sheep, and other wildlife from scenic viewpoints along Turnagain Arm
Featuring
Scenic Drive
Nature Center
Wildlife
Average Duration:
Full Day
Turnagain Arm Activities
Start the day with a panoramic view of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge from the 1,550-foot boardwalk over Potter Marsh. At least 130 species of birds have been spotted in the area, as well as frequent moose, occasional bears, and other wildlife.
Head farther south on the Seward Highway to enjoy a picnic at Beluga Point, one of the earliest archeological sites of the Upper Cook Inlet region (visited by Alaska Native people for thousands of years). Today, visitors can watch for beluga whales in Turnagain Arm or Dall sheep scaling the cliffs across the highway.
A 40-minute drive south is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a sprawling 200-acre habitat near the eastern tip of Turnagain Arm. The sanctuary’s popular bear-viewing boardwalk gives visitors a chance to watch the bruins from above, and opportunities for close encounters with moose and other wildlife make it a family-friendly favorite.
Head back to Anchorage for dinner, or spend the night in Girdwood.
Popular Itineraries
Select an Itinerary
- A Wildlife Safari
- To the North
- To the South
- Glacier Adventure
- A Day Downtown
- On Wheels

Did you know?
The Municipality of Anchorage covers an area of 1,961 square miles between Eklutna to the north and Portage to the south.
See meandering moose, lumbering bears, teeming salmon, beluga whales, bald eagles, and more.
Featuring
- Scenic Drive
- Wildlife
- Hiking
The areas north of Anchorage feature important historical sites and accessible wilderness parkland.
Featuring
- Scenic Drive
- Nature Center
- Cultural Site
The land to the south of Anchorage sparkles with natural splendor, glaciers, and wildlife watching opportunities.
Featuring
- Scenic Drive
- Wildlife
- Cultural Site
Alaska is known for towering, sparkling glaciers. Anchorage makes it easy to get close to the very best.
Featuring
- Flightseeing
- Hike
- Glacier Cruise
From art and culture to wildlife and views that wow, downtown Anchorage offers a walkable introduction to Alaska’s largest city.
Featuring
- Sightseeing Tour
- Botanical Garden
- Museum
Featuring hundreds of miles of bike paths, trails, and lanes, Anchorage is perfect for exploring by bike.
Featuring
- Bike Path
- Museum
- Wildlife

Did you know?
The Municipality of Anchorage covers an area of 1,961 square miles between Eklutna to the north and Portage to the south.