Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a 200-acre drive-through and walk-through wildlife sanctuary located on the Seward Highway in Portage, approximately 50 miles south of Anchorage. The center operates as a nonprofit rescue facility for injured, orphaned, and problem wildlife from across Alaska, giving visitors a guaranteed close-up encounter with species that are difficult to observe reliably in the wild. Residents include brown bears, black bears, bison, musk oxen, caribou, moose, Sitka black-tailed deer, elk, lynx, wolverines, and the largest genetically pure wood bison herd in the United States. The facility is laid out along a paved loop road that vehicles can drive slowly while animals roam large enclosures on either side; walkers can cover the same route on foot at their own pace. Brown bears occupy a prominent enclosure near the entrance and are typically active and visible throughout the day. The bison and musk ox herds range across open meadows and are often at close range from the road. The AWCC is one of the few locations in North America where visitors can reliably observe wolverines in a semi-natural setting. The scenic mountain backdrop of the Chugach Range and the Portage Valley adds to the photographic appeal of the site. The center is positioned immediately alongside the Seward Highway, making it a natural half-day stop on the drive from Anchorage to Seward or the Kenai Peninsula.