8 Best Places for Wildlife Viewing in Alaska
This realistic List of Best Places for Wildlife Viewing in Alaska helps you plan your next adventure.
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Alaska is a fantastic destination for wildlife viewing. The state is remote and lightly populated. About 60 percent of Alaska is under protection. It created ideal conditions for wildlife.
The state estimates of wildlife populations are impressive. Just look at the Alaska’s Big Five.
- 11,000 wolves
- 30,000 grizzly bears
- 45,000 dall sheep
- 200,00 moose
- 750,000 caribou
These numbers mean that you have a great chance of viewing wildlife in the state. But not all places are equal.
This List of Best Places for Wildlife Viewing in Alaska aims to help you increase your chances.
1. Denali National Park
Denali is the Best Place for Wildlife Viewing in Alaska. A safari is the right way to describe a visit to Denali.
This national park is a paradise for wildlife viewing. You can try to spot Alaska’s Big Five: bear, moose, wolf, caribou, and dall sheep.
Even if you fall short of all five, you will see plenty of wildlife. Snowshoe hares, gophers, porcupines, ptarmigans, and eagles are likely animals you will spot on your journey.
There are two things that can increase your chances of seeing wildlife.
- Venture beyond the first 15 miles of the park that are open to private vehicles. You can spot moose near the Visitor Center. But bears and wolves are far less likely to come so close to human settlements.
- Board a transit bus. You will get a knowledgable guide and a group of people keen on seeing wildlife.
2. Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords is the second Best Place for Wildlife Viewing in Alaska. A wildlife cruise in Resurrection Bay is the best way in the state to see marine animals.
Whale watching is the main part of Kenai Fjords cruises. You have a good chance of seeing humpback whales if you visit during the summer. Finke and gray whales are other whales you could see on the tour.
You could also spot orcas with a little bit of luck. This is because the migration patterns of killers whales are less predictable.
But you are certain to see sea lions, sea otters, and harbor seals. If this list looks too short, look for birds. Puffins, bald eagles, and cormorants are plentiful.
There are lots of companies that offer wildlife cruises in Kenai Fjords. So do you research. Most companies offer slightly different tour duration, start time, schedule, and prices.
Once you pick your tour, get ready for an adventure. Take a motion sickness pills and stay at the rear of the boat.
3. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park takes the third place on the List of Best Places for Wildlife Viewing in Alaska. The largest national park in the country has plenty of wildlife.
Be on the lookout for moose and black bears on the McCarthy Road. If you take a shuttle to McCarthy, rely on your driver. They take this route frequently and know major wildlife spots.
It also helps to do your research. Certain areas attract animals more often than others. Look for bears near the Root Glacier Trail. And be on the lookout for black bears along the Tonsina River.
This part of the drive is on the paved road between Chitina and Kenny Lake. You will pass it twice: early in the morning and near the end of the day. Both are perfect times to view wildlife.
4. Exit Glacier
Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords is an excellent place for wildlife viewing in Alaska. It is the only area of the park with the road access. It means that the rest of the park is a wildlife land.
Black bears and moose are common sights along the Exit Glacier Trails.
Your chances of viewing wildlife are a little higher if you take the longer Harding Icefield Trail. Simply put, you will have more time to spot animals.
Even if you do not see bears in the park, you could still see wildlife. Hares and birds are plentiful in this park.
5. Glenn Highway
Glenn Highway is a good place for wildlife viewing in Alaska. This scenic highway provides great views of Matanuska Glacier. Look around when you stop at the glacier viewpoints. Wildlife will be often present at the nearby cliffs.
You have the best chances of seeing dall sheep this way. These animals climb high. And their white coats are easy to spot from afar.
There is always a chance that an animal gets close to the road. These animal crossings are most common at dusk and dawn. Slow down when passing the known wildlife crossings.
6. Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park is one of the largest state parks in the US. It borders Chugach National Forest and Turnagain Arm. So it is hardly a surprise that this park is a great place for wildlife viewing.
You can see bears and moose at the Eagle River Nature Center. Be on the lookout when hiking the park’s longer trails, like McHug Creek or Bird Valley trails.
But do not forget: the park is next to the ocean. You can try to see beluga whales at the Beluga Point. The salmon run from mid July to late August is the best time to see these marine animals.
The beluga viewing season is short. But you are likely to spot these whales. They travel in groups, have an easy to see white color, and make noises.
7. Parks Highway
Denali National Park is the main wildlife viewing spot along the George Parks Highway. But it is not the only one.
The area in Denali State Park is a magnet for snowshoe hares. These animals sit on the road shoulder for tens of miles. You will be amazed by how many hares there are.
Hares are easy to spot early in the season. This is the time when they have not fully changed their fur color for the summer. Hares run if you stop or try to approach them.
8. Richardson Highway
You have good chances for viewing wildlife on any scenic highway in Alaska. The Richardson Highway is no exception.
But there is one stretch of the highway that is a great for caribou viewing. Be on the lookout when you pass the Black Rapids.
Forests come very close to the road as the highway crosses the Alaska Range. It makes it easier for caribou to jump out and cross the road.
Takeaways: Best Wildlife Viewing in Alaska
Alaska is a place for you if you enjoy wildlife viewing. From grizzly bears to orcas, this state gives visitors a chance to view wildlife in their natural habitat.
You do not have to travel far to see wildlife. Sometimes you can spot a hare or a caribou next to a highway. But if you are after the Big Five, you need to increase your chances. Here are a few tips.
- Board a transit bus in Denali to start a Northern safari. Try to spot grizzlies, moose, caribou, dall sheep, and wolves.
- Take a wildlife viewing cruise in Kenai Fjords. See humpback and orca whales, otters, sea lions, and puffins.
- Learn about spots where wildlife viewing often takes place.
- Pick your places to stay close enough to these spots.
- Keep wildlife wild. Do not feed animals or leave food behind.
- Put safety first. Do not approach wild animals and view them from a distance.
Take a look at our Alaska Video Guides. And visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can see wildlife across the state. But you have the highest chances for wildlife viewing in Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Chugach.
Late spring and early summer are the best times to view wildlife in Alaska.
Alaska’s Big Five animals include grizzly bear, wolf, caribou, dall sheep, and moose.
Alaska is home to some 200,000 moose. You have a high chance of seeing at least one during your trip to the state.
Southcentral and Interior Alaska regions have the highest density of moose per square mile.
Denali, Tonsina River, and Exit Glacier are great places to see bears in Alaska. Bears prefer to stay near rivers and creeks.
Alaska has about 30,000 grizzly bears. You can see a grizzly bear in Denali National Park. But it is less common to see a grizzly bear than a black bear in the state.
You can count on seeing humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, and marine birds.
Safe realist travels!
