Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Watch the bears forage for food, play in their ponds and with each other. Early morning and evening visitors may witness active wolf packs howling. Come nose to nose with otters while getting a complete understanding of the intricacies of the Yellowstone ecosystem in the River Otter Exhibit. Other activities include: Keeper Kid’s (hide food for the bears), Wolf Enrichment, Bird of Prey presentations, Safety in Bear Country Programs, Yellowstone Ranger talks, intriguing films and presentations. Explore Bears: Imagination & Reality, an interactive museum. Visit the Naturalist Cabin to see exceptional views of two separate wolf packs through floor-to-ceiling windows. Highlights are: daily “Pack Chats”, a National Geographic film on wolves and a life-sized wolf model. Activities and viewing both inside and out. Open 365 days (GWDC bears DO NOT hibernate). Admission is good for two consecutive days. One block from Yellowstone National Park.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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47 within 5 kms
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See what travellers are saying
- trout0425 contributionsAmazing wildlife park & educational facility!This was the highlight of our time in West Yellowstone! All of the animals appeared well cared for and there was plenty of space for them to roam. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. GWDC has made tremendous improvements during the past 20 years. Educational displays and exhibits are very good. Our family (ages 75 to 11) thoroughly enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend a visit if you're headed to Yellowstone.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 9 June 2023
- Ahniwake RTulsa, Oklahoma103 contributionsGreat stop for kiddosThis was a last minute stop and sp glad we did. The wolves are beautiful. Great otter exhibit and birds of prey. They have a bear feeding activity for children that my daughter really enjoyed. Lived so much 'adopted' a wolf.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 14 June 2023
- JMaria87Tennessee104 contributionsNice visitMy husband wanted to see a grizzly and a wolf while on our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. We were able to see a Grizzly along with tons of other wildlife out in the wild but never did get a glimpse of a wolf, so we came here to see them up close. The facility was nice and it was also nice to see they were expanding the grizzly enclosure. The displays inside were also very educational.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 June 2023
- Rob D59 contributionsGrizzly and Wolf Discovery Center: A Fantastic ExperienceWe’ve visited the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center three times over the past nearly three decades. It’s gotten bigger and better with each visit. Based on construction currently taking place, it’s likely that the trend will continue when we visit for a fourth time. This is a wonderful place with great opportunities to watch the behaviors of wolves, grizzly bears, river otters, ground squirrels and birds of prey in excellent enclosures. We enjoyed watching wolves and bears at play. We also had the great fortune to see five wolves descend on a live trout in a small stream in their enclosure. The winner took his or her catch to the shade of a nearby birch tree, where he or she quietly ate it (after playing with the flopping fish for a short time). The enrichments given to wolves, bears and otters were fun to watch…especially fun to see them search for their treats. All in all, a fantastic place to watch these wonderful animals in well-done, naturalistic enclosures. We look forward to a return in the near future to see a new bear enclosure and more bears!Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 19 June 2023
- VanEsq12Dallas, Texas2,457 contributionsLots of animals to see and learn about!What a pleasant surprise! Admission to this not-for-profit center is good for two consecutive days. This facilty houses a variety of animal species: raptors, bears, gray wolves, otters and fish. Many of these animals were injured or abandoned and as a result cannot live in the wild. This facility offers them a beautiful habitat to live in, and staff offers informational seminars educating visitors about the different species. The animals looked happy, healthy and well taken care of. The habitats were very clean and designed to be mentally stimulating for the animals. I was impressed by this place. It is half museum and half animal educational center. A perfect activity for a rainy day.Visited June 2023Travelled soloWritten 28 June 2023
- Bwk815 contributionsVery well kept sanctuaryA very well kept little sanctuary, active wolves and bears. So many ravens hanging out a wolf actually snagged one when we were there prompting the others to start howling. Very cool/weird experience. Also ground squirrels, otters, and eagles/hawks/owls to be seen along with a really nice educational section on bears. Was worth stopping at.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 30 June 2023
- Rach371Barnsley, United Kingdom208 contributionsLovely place to visit!This is a lovely place to visit. All the animals there are unable to live in the wild for various reasons and the center do a great job in creating an evironment they would normally live in. The animals are well looked after and inside there are displays and lots of information to look at. As well as Bears & Wolves there are Birds Of Prey & Otters amongst other wildlife in there and your entrance fee is good for 2 days. Well worth a visit.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 July 2023
- Alp186103 contributionsGreat way to see grizzliesOur family enjoyed our visit here. When we first arrived, the two bears on display were playing in the water. It was amazing to watch them wrestle around in the water from the upper observation deck. They have a schedule posted so you know when the different bears will be on display. It was interesting reading about how each bear came to be there. Our boys also enjoyed watching the ground squirrels. All the animals there seemed well cared for. There were staff available to answer any questions that visitors had. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in West Yellowstone.Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten 21 July 2023
- Terrell C107 contributionsGreat Wolf and Grizzly ExperienceWe are a family of 8 who started our eight day Yellowstone visit with a tour of this attraction. We saw lots of wolves and bears and learned much about them from the excellent staff. They also do a 4:00PM Bear Spray Lecture. We highly recommend this facility. It is also very close to the Park Welcome Center.Visited July 2023Written 6 August 2023
- K M5 contributionsGreat place to see a grizzly or two.We enjoyed this place a lot and liked how they rotated the grizzlies and his food for them so you got to see them out and about on the move. Loved the ground squirrels too and the birds of prey. Saw quite a few wolves too and the otters had a great habitat. All animals were reached. My two kids were 7 and 8 and liked it.Visited August 2023Travelled with familyWritten 7 August 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,298 reviews
Excellent
2,227
Very good
806
Average
192
Poor
48
Terrible
25
TrailTrekker15
Tallahassee, FL3,971 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
My parents and I visited the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center while in West Yellowstone for one night. The center was so close to our hotel we walked over. This was as close as we wanted to get to the local fauna saving all other encounters to use binoculars. The grizzly bears were active during the afternoon for a portion of our visit. The zookeeper talked about the different bears and gave us more details on them. There were a number of other animals including wolves, otters, and birds of prey. The animals were there due to injury or other inability to live in the wild. It was very informative and excellent place to visit.
Written 5 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine N
Burlingame, CA187 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Incredible place for a short visit in the winter. You won’t see wolves this close up. And you shouldn’t try to approach a grizzly this close. The wolves are magnificent in the snow and the grizzlies were so playful. Definitely worth a stop over. Especially in the winter.
Written 28 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cmr352
Vancouver, WA100 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
To me, this is definitely worth the time and money. Watching the different bears come out and getting such a great view of them was fabulous. Getting to see the wolves so close up and during feeding time was also a favorite. I really enjoyed this place. It is small but memorable.
Written 30 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee S
2 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
This is a Must Do when in West Yellowstone. We went with 3 couples in January and No One was disappointed. It was Way Better than I originally thought it would be. The Bears, Wolves and Otters were all out. It was a Great way to spend an afternoon. Would love to return with our grandkids.
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicu
Marietta, OH29 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Enjoyed the place even with negative temps. The bears didn’t like the temps either. Hard to view the otters when they were underwater. Staff was very friendly
Written 15 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gunnmike
San Francisco, CA27 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Excellent place to go. Informative without being preachy. Grounds and animals well tended. The a imals are rotated for viewing but it is not exploitive in any way. All the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Will definatly go again.
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joyce
3 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Well worth a visit if you’re going to Yellowstone. Seeing these beautiful animals up close is a once in a lifetime experience - Do Not Miss!
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise6548
Phoenix, AZ23 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
My son and grandson thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Grizzly and Bear Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. We spent several hours there. I would recommend at least 4 hours to have the opportunity to see the enrichment programs for each of the animals. This is not a zoo. This is a refuge for Yellowstone creatures who cannot be released back to the wild. Don't miss it.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Corihi
Honolulu, HI486 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is an excellent wildlife park with bear and wolf habitats, otter and raptor exhibits. It was fun to watch the bears hunt for food (highlight of our visit) and to see wolves up close. The bear habitat was beautiful! The exhibits were well done and the naturalists were very informative. The naturalists roamed the park and answered visitors’ questions. A visit to the Discovery Center is a perfect complement to a Yellowstone adventure for both children and adults. Although it is not part of Yellowstone NP, it is located close to the west entrance of Yellowstone. We highly recommend a visit!
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Team M
Lake Macquarie, Australia19 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
A 'must do' when staying in West Yellowstone. This incredible Discovery Centre was a highlight of our trip. We visited early (just after opening) and were lucky to see really active wolves at the Wolf Pack Talk in the Naturalist Cabin. My kids participated in the Keeper Kids Program and were granted entry to the Grizzly Enclosure to hide food and treats between bear change overs - an excellent bear enrichment activity. We loved the birds of prey and otter enclosures, those cheeky otters are adorable. The Bear Resistant Testing display was eye opening and the bear spray demonstration was helpful and easy to follow.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol S
Casper, WY2 contributions
Can I bring my dog?
Christina B
Louisiana2,712 contributions
I don’t think so, unless it’s a service dog. I did not see any when we went. Best to call ahead and ask.
Grandma W
Vancouver, WA25 contributions
What is the animal interastion (feeding) schedule
Linda M
Mooresville, NC95 contributions
As Terry N explained, groups of bears are brought out at various times and fed. Other animals may vary, but the Center does post all the information and entry provides 2 days of admission so you can come back if you miss a feeding time.
Ireland23
Dublin, Ireland7 contributions
Is this suitable to visit with a toddler?
Michael Grubbs
Longview, WA79 contributions
Absolutely-it is very kid friendly and there is a playground if they get bored with other exhibits.
Rebecca S
New York City, NY
How much time would you recommend spending here?
Nate Bair
Caldwell, ID194 contributions
we where there in the off season. some of the attractions where closed simply because it was to cold . But we spent about an hour and a half to two hours here. From our experience however bring your own food if you can. ( or eat at mcdonalds) Every place we looked at to eat was through the roof expensive. on average it was 15 per adult and average 10 per kid to eat. That stuck with me most because I have a family of 7. But the bear park was worth it.
dottie2846
Casper, WY
WhT does it cost to feed the bears
Rebecca B
Greensburg, PA33 contributions
You can't feed the bears. The keepers hide food in the bears enclosure before the bears are allowed in. Once the food is hidden, the keepers exit the enclosure. You then watch the bears as they enter the enclosure, interact with each other and search for the food. There is no human interaction with the bears while they are in the enclosure. You are at a distance from them but have great views of the entire enclosure and the bears.
bagaducemom
Sedgwick, ME2 contributions
Are all the animals outdoors? On a really cold day is this a good spot for small kids (age 3 & 1)
Tarla P
El Paso, TX40 contributions
The animals are outdoors, yes. But, they have indoor viewing stations. There is a small warming hut where you can watch the bears. And in a different building, a room with huge windows allows you to watch the wolves.
Stephanie M
Greensboro, NC34 contributions
How many hours should we plan for this activity? We've got a big group of people, ages 8 through 70. Is it an all-day activity or just a couple of hours? Thanks!
Dazzle34
146 contributions
I'd say a morning or afternoon would be good. The talks are interesting and feel free to talk to the employees. They are vert informative. Whole daymight be too much.they had some nice programs for kids and the 8 year old might enjoy it.
Maggie55_12
Laguna Niguel, CA7 contributions
Can you get reservations before you go? If not, is there a long wait to get in?
Slidebite
Alberta, Canada94 contributions
No, you don't need reservations and only might have to wait in line for a few minutes if it's a really busy day.
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Claim your listingGRIZZLY AND WOLF DISCOVERY CENTER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
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