Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center Reviews

A must see attraction. Especially great for kids. Otters, wolves and bears in beautiful nature settings. Highly interactive!

We stopped here on a whim and it ended up being one of our favorite trip experiences. We really enjoyed learning about the center's efforts in conservation and enrichment for these beautiful animals. The staff was readily available and eager to share information. It was so amazing to be close up with bears, wolves, birds of prey, and some otters. I really loved the great-horned owls. The animals appeared well cared for, with habitats full of enrichment and entertainment for them. It's an easy walk around the facility, both indoor and outdoor. The welcome center had some very interesting exhibits, and the gift shop was very nice. There were tons of activities for children. It's a really great way to learn but also just to enjoy these amazing animals.

Beautiful, small discovery zoo with grizzlies, wolves, hawks, eagles, and owls. Also otters. The main attraction for us was the wolves because the program ranger did an immersive experience where he explained how they stimulate the wolves by allowing them to go into each other’s dens, and they put fish in the ponds and let them seek out each other’s scents. The program lasted about a half hour, and was included with the admission. So make sure to check the time on that and don’t miss it. We got excellent pictures of the wolves, and got to see their behaviors of close. Very interesting!

We learned so much about he animals and witnessed them in a habitat that is so much more enjoyable then a Zoo. Hope they enlarge expand and continue to do good things.

This place was surprisingly great! We spent about 2 hrs here with our 7yr old after a morning at Yellowstone. Depending on how interested you are in the museum/history area you could definitely stay longer. The tickets are good for 2 days and were reasonably priced considering! The bears were awesome! We watched them eat and play in the water with each other. If you have young kids I recommend looking into the program they have where the kids get to hide food for the bears and they get special buttons etc. Seemed neat but it only happens 2x a day and we had just missed signing my son up for it.
The wolves weren’t super exciting. They just kind of hid/slept the whole time. We actually LOVED the ground squirrels section. There are tons of them and they were fun to watch go in and out of their burrow tunnels.

We saw several grizzly bears at feeding time! The wolves were beautifully sleeping. The otters were very active. This is the only place we saw bears on our stay in Yellowstone and I was ok with that! :)

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.

A very pleasant activity for adults and children. Rehab home for rescued animals, not a zoo. Helpful and knowledgeable staff available to share insights about the animals. Reasonable entrance fees, well worth the price. See everything in about 2 hours or spend half a day. Not just bears and wolves — raptors and fish too, plus a beautiful otter habitat. Good covid precautions by limiting the number of guests but we were allowed in after only about 15 minutes.

We've gone to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center several times. Each time we have an amazing time. It's such a wonderful place full of so much information. Ellie gave us very interesting information about both the wolves and the the grizzlies. She answered all of our questions and was very patient with all of the guests. It's easy to miss, but there is a museum there as well. A bit of a downer, but full of history.

Wow. In my experience these types of places are all the same. They start as a great idea, were maybe properly funded, but eventually become stale and un-kept and end up being boring, like many zoos. THAT IS NOT THIS PLACE.

This is not like a zoo where the bears, wolves, or other animals, lay around and melt in the sun, if they come out of their secluded areas at all. All the animals at GWDC come out with a purpose and are active and engaged the entire time.

There are a large number of bears and they are brought out in a rotation so they are always fresh. Between rotations, animal keepers hide the food so the animals must work for what they eat. This must keep them in good shape and challenges them to work (a little) for their food. For the audience you get to see the animals move around actively.

Best Deal: For only $5 your son/daughter can enter the bear area (as a Keeper Kid) and hide food for the bears to find and eat. Once you hide the food you return to the common area and you can watch (or cheer) for the bears to find your food. It's a total blast and GWDC should be charging $20 or more for this experience.

When we visited there were two wolf packs being kept. The staff would alternate letting them out and like the bears, they would be challenged to look for food. The wolf packs even got together and howled prompting a challenge of howls from the other on-site wolf pack. Really cool.

All the staff on-site is incredibly knowledgeable and polite and truly seem to care for the animals. The children can ask them any question and they happily answer.

I have a four children, so it made sense to buy the family pass which was $75. This also gets me into many other parks around the country. Plan to spend 1/2 a day there. All of my kids (between 4 and 16 yrs) were in no rush to leave.

Highly recommend.

We spent several days trying to spot wolves in the wild with no luck so we resorted to going to see them in captivity. I literally could have watched the wolves for hours. There were several wolves of different colors. You were able to view them from inside a building that had glass walls on two sides. The wolves did not hesitate to come close and we were able to actually look them in the face! It was amazing! (Can you tell I am a fan of the wolf??)

What a cool place! Reasonably priced.
They change out the animals in the exhibits so they each get a turn, and it was cool to see a bear running out full speed toward his snacks.

There were quite a few wolves too! We could hear them howling at night from our hotel.

Definitely worth a visit.

This was a great activity for a day off from YNP. Not too big, and just enough to see for a couple hours. I’d also recommend signing kids up for the kids program where they get to hide the food for the bears to provide enrichment. Must go in the morning at sign up by 1045am. Tickets are good for two days.

This place is awesome! Everyone is so nice and informative. It’s a nice way to view grizzlies and wolves up close.

For our group it was the last stop after several days of adventure. Seeing the grizzly bears rambling in their enclosure was interesting but we had already visited the Grizzly Encounter in Bozeman. The main draw for us was the wolves. Unfortunately they were napping and watching them sleep was underwhelming. There were other exhibits which were sufficiently interesting.

A traditional stop on our winter holiday and perfect to stretch legs before getting on next leg of the trip. We have done this several times and never tire of this unique opportunity of close up with Grizzlies and wolves, otters and birds of prey. Fascinating animals in a rare close up scenario.

We enjoy visiting here! We have been twice! The animals are amazing to watch!!
Please go if you are in West Yellowstone! You won’t regret it!

April
Floyd, VA

So much fun, and SO educational! We traveled with two teenagers and one pre-teen. ALL had a great time! We saw bears, wolves, otters, and a large variety of birds. There were demonstrations and informative talks. They had interactive activities that kept the kids' attention and printed information posters that engaged and educated the adults. I absolutely loved our visit!

Excellent staff and very friendly and knowledgeable. Clean and educational experience. I enjoyed the variety of animals.

Unlike some other wildlife zoos/parks, in this one you do see bears and wolves up close. Lots of construction going on that will eventually change the current wired cages to unobstructed views.

Just loved watching the bears and wolves in their enclosures. The bears where very active, wrestling each other, putting on a show.

Great experience and worthwhile project. It was so fun to see the bears and wolves and learn more about local wildlife. Worth a couple of hours!

This center is a lovely little place with bears, wolves, otters, and some birds. They have a good area of information about bears and the other animals they have rescued. The animals have names and a story of why they are at the center. I could have stayed all day watching the wolves eat and interact.

You can see the wolves from inside 2 different buildings - the otter center or nature center. Or you can stand outside and watch all the animals. They fed them while we were there early in the morning so we got a lot of action in the wolf area.

LOVED it and oculd have stayed all day if someone in my family hadn't complained that she was too cold outside (because she didn't dress appropriately! hahaha)

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.

The Center provides a great chance to see wolves and bears up close while keeping a safe margin. You also get to see a number of birds of prey. Really enjoyed the visit.

We went on so many hikes with our bear spray and never saw bears...thank goodness. Came to this place to check out some wildlife. Really neat place. Learned a lot and got to see some cool animals up close.

Someone in Yellowstone told us about this place. We were not sure we had the time to visit but then we actually did. The price was very reasonable. We got there in perfect timing. The three bears were out and about playing and wrestling with each other and gave quite a show for us. We stayed long enough for another line bear to come out and wander around. It was nice to see they had a large area to roam. The 3 wolves were exciting to see up close as we had just saw 2 in Yellowstone. This exhibit is a definite must see and do. They are amazing animals and to be really close it awesome.

This was a wonderful stop on our way to Yellowstone National Park. They have grizzly bears who would have been euthanized if they did not take them in. The outdoor enclosure is very large with lots of room for them including a small lake. You can view them from ground level or from a platform. You get very close to these magnificent creatures. Very informative workers give talks throughout the day. Well worth the small admission fee which will help support this refuge.Well Worth

This Sanctuary is awesome! The Bears, the Wolves, The eagles and The Otters were so worth the price of admission.

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

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!

It’s a great facility and very well staffed. While we were there one of the staff was educating a group of children of varying ages about bears. He had them hide food for the grizzlies while the bears were out of the habitat. Then, after leading the children out of the enclosure they let the bears forage for the food. Very interesting to watch. There are many other educational exhibits as well. Great to see before heading for Yellowstone . We 4 adults were very glad we were able to spend time there.

The center is a great place to see animals you probably will not see in the park. It is also a wonderful undertaking they have chosen to help support animals that might otherwise be euthanized. Plus, the otters are just ridiculously cute.

Very nice place to see the animals. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.
The Grizzly Bears and Wolves are very well taken care of. They also have eagles, and a fresh water aquarium.

Great Discovery center. So loved seeing the Grizzlies playing, foraging and frolicking in the water up close. Same with wolves, river otters and raptors - great center! Highly recommend!

I was very disappointed to receive the 3 stars just for the non-profit organization.
Enclosure too small, a new one is being built, not even better. You can only see 1 bear at a time, where the others are is not known to me. So I wouldn't recommend the visit, prefer to donate.

This is a great place to see grizzlies, wolves and ground squirrels live and up close (especially if you don't in the park). The inside stuff is all really old, but the animals are great to see and it seems like they are doing an awesome job taking care of them.

We got to see wolves and grizzly bears in a safe sanctuary. It was fun to watch the bears 'play' with each other. A very nice way to spend a few hours.

Must do if you have a family with young kids. Great place to see wildlife up close with lots of educational opportunities. Much better solution to get the kids excited than trying to see something far away on a roadside in the park. Staff is great and knowledgeable and the continue to expand and invest for both the visitors and animals.

We planned to visit here on our way in to Yellowstone and we are really glad we stopped. We saw wolf packs, raptors, otters, and bears.
The informational posters were especially helpful in telling us the reason the animals are at the center and how they are treated.

We were able to watch an activity for children as they hid food around the bear enclosure and we’re then brought back to safety. After that, two sister grizzly bears were allowed into the enclosure to find and eat the meat. A park worker told us many interesting facts about the bears and their history while we watched the bears search and eat.

I also loved the otter enclosure. The otters swam and played and wrestled in a huge tank.

The ticket allows you to return a second day, but two hours was plenty of time for us to see everything.

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What a lovely surprise. Well kept well looked after animals and facilities. I found the staff very friendly and polite and informative.
The bears looked healthy and happy. The otters were complete show offs!! They have the most fabulous enclosure. Birds well cared for and even the fish and reptiles looked happy. Wolves were all cuddled up and sleeping but encloure looked clean and big.. So glad we went.

If you want to see bears and wolves up close this is the place to go. It’s unfortunate they are in captivity but they are there for a reason. Expect to be blamed for their captivity due to human interference. One wolf was standing right at the viewing window. We were told he had seen a service dog walk through and was looking for him. Also watched a wolf eat a rack of ribs!

I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a small zoo, but the enclosures were very well done. The facility has staff demonstrations or talks scheduled much of the day. We learned about bear spray dos and don'ts. They rotate bears in the enclosure, hiding food before each one or pair enters. This makes the animals search and paw through rocks, etc. in a more natural way. The wolves were resting when we visited. They also have birds of prey. The river otter house was also very interesting because you could watch them above and under the water. I felt we got good value for our admission

This was a very cool place. There were quite a few wildlife animals to see. They all were very active and fun to watch! Would highly recommend a visit here.

This is a rescue center that seems to really care about their animals. We arrived at opening and spent about 1.5hrs. You’re very close up to the wolves, and they were my favorite. The otters and bears are not to be missed!

We added this stop to our Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip and we were so glad that we did. Loved the knowledgeable staff and the viewing areas of the wolves, grizzly bears, but also the otters, etc.
We had planned on an hour or more (since there are not a ton of different animals to view) but I found myself rushing my grown "kids" out after four hours, lol.
*We all could have sat and watched the wolves all day. Also- great restaurants and souvenir shops just a few blocks away

Bears, wolves, otters, owls, eagles - it was great seeing them come out for feeding time or even just sleeping. The bears were fun to watch while they threw around tree limbs to get to their food. You also get to see the wolves play fight - it was so cool! The staff was great and made sure everyone was properly wearing their masks.

This is a great day trip from Big Sky (less than hour away) when the slopes are icy or the kids need a fun getaway. The staff is wonderful, educated and passionate about the animals they care for. It’s wonderful seeing this place expand and help even more animals. The new otter exhibit and indoor creek was a HUGE hit with my 3 year old. She couldn’t get enough! We stayed long enough to even watch some
of the wolves howling. Wonderful day and great gift shop with vast book selection.

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.

Great live animal experience. Like an abbreviated outdoor zoo, but for rehab wild animals. Really good staff explains all you want to know about rescue bears, raptors, wolves, etc. Rewarding to see that the troubled animals are getting good care. We were fortunate that it was warm but not too hot so the animals were out and pretty active. I could imagine being hesitant if it's in the 90's+ when the animals would likely be less active, maybe in some inside shelters.

The kids loved this experience! They liked the wolves the best. I just wish it was a bigger center so they could have more animals.

First, this place is very well run clean and spacious and comfortable for both visitors and residents. The staff is very knowledgeable and available. It was great to know that these animals have, in part because of man, nowhere else to go. The bear behavior was particularly interesting, especially when they allowed two out at a time in their enclosure. The stature intelligence agility and weapons that the bears possess are otherworldly. Definitely worth a visit

We had a great experience while visiting the facility. The staff is very friendly from the time you walk in the door and throughout the time you are viewing the animals. They walk around and interact with the guest’s telling you about the animals and studies they have conducted.

If you belong to another facility that is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums you may be eligible for a discount.

I love that you can go back multiple times because different animals were more active at different times of the day. They also bring out other animals as the day goes on. Nice opportunities to get photos from multiple viewing areas. Dress warm during the winter because the best views of the bears are outside, although there is a warming hut with windows available.
The otter area was new since our last visit and it was beautiful. Sunny with large glass areas to view the very active otters. There are also fish and other animals to view. The wolves were amazing and very active toward the end of the day. We could also hear them howling from our hotel in the morning and evening.

Loved our visit and would definitely go back again!

Epic, seeing bears, wolves or otters in Yellowstone Park can be difficult. Here at least you can meet them in close proximity and receive a terrific explanation about their lives, habitat and habits. Superb

We visited this place on a weekday in February and we almost had it all to ourselves. The exhibits were really neat and the animals were quite active. The staff took extra time to explain things and answer all of our questions. It’s clear to see that they have a passion for what they do and love sharing it with others. I was amazed at how close we were able to get to the animals and I was impressed with the center’s focus on enrichment for the animals and keeping things as close to life in the wild as possible. We all learned so much that day and it was a highlight of our vacation!

Wonderful! If you want to see bears and wolves while at Yellowstone but didn't see any at the park go here. We really enjoyed our visit and seeing these animals that eluded us.

100% of Yellowstone National Park need to come to this incredible center. We toured Upper and Lower Yellowstone where we saw tiny dots of bears (2) and wolves and no otters.

Here, 6 different grizzlies and 4 wolves are super close. You will get amazing photos.The otter facility was super fun.

The staff is super knowledgeable and give presentations regularly. Great for all ages. Not super big like a zoo.

By the way their gift shop is way better than others on the main drag.

Don't miss it any time of day/evening and thru the winter.

This is mine and my wifes favorite place in West Yellowstone they have Bears, Wolves, Raptors and some smaller animals the Ground squerrels are adorable, the Bears are Awesome and the wolves are Beautiful, we highly recomend going and visiting this landmark while you are in West, Will Definately be back

This place is amazing, and the work they do here is incredibly valuable. The enrichment exercises they use for the bears and the wolves is simply amazing, and extremely well thought out. Every facility in the world, including g zoo’, should be doing what they are. I promise you will not be disappointed in your visit here. Don’t miss the otters, either!

What a great place. Animals so well cared for and such a great educational experience to try and save these majestic creatures. The staff is very knowledgeable and they clearly love the animals. I felt like it was affordable as we stayed about three hours for only $36.00. Well worth the money. Go in the AM and make sure to ask about the feeding schedule for the wolves and otters. Very cool

This was an amazing experience! We did not budget enough time, and could have easily spent 3+ hours. We arrived at 10, and that was perfect. A bear had just come out and then we went right to the wolf chat and then waited a bit for the otters to change over and saw two bears coming out as we left. We loved watching the animals forage for food and highly recommend for all ages.

The discovery center was very nice. There were activities for children. I really liked that you could call and get information about each exhibit. The entire center took about 3 hours to tour. The kids started getting bored after about 2 hours. The center is very nice and serves a great purpose. I wish there were more to do inside.

It was great to see the bears and wolves. Great time and informative staff around to answer any questions. As the bears are “rotated’ in and out of the area you are guaranteed to see one although there could be a short wait. Tickets are valid for two days so we saw Sam who is 27 years old and when we returned the next afternoon we saw Spirit great experience to see and watch the bears. Would recommend this discovery centre.

Since I did not see any grizzly bears in Yellowstone, I went to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center to see them. I saw three different bears in the habitat area. It was very interesting watching them hunt for the food that was hidden for them and see them splashing in the water. The wolves were more hidden in their area. The otters were enjoyable to watch swimming and diving. I would highly recommend this to families with children and anyone who has not seen these animals in the wild. There was a lot of good information, exhibits, and kids actvities.

The bears here are rescue - great. The wolves were bred in captivity - not so great. But they are expanding the enclosures and the animals did not seemed distressed. It was strong on education.

My wife and I went there 14 years ago. Took our friend there on our recent trip and it was even better then the last time. They added more stuff and staff are so helpful and knowledgeable.
A must see place to visit.

Bear and wolf preservation center, tiny, with information about the life of these two species. They've got some rescued specimens. Apart from the Park, there is not much else to do in West Yellowstone, so you can visit in a short time

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.

We visited on a cool afternoon with rain/snow in June. The center has both indoor and outdoor areas but we didn’t even mind the cold and rain as the bears and wolves were so active and amazing to watch. Both kids (age 6 and 8) were captivated by how close you could be to the animals. Spent about 1.5-2 hours there. We waited a bit for several bears the employees suggested we stay to see. Well worth it. Stopped by on a recommendation from a colleague with kids of similar age. Would be a great activity, though, for any age.

This is a wonderful education and discovery center with grizzlies, wolves, and otters that cannot be released back into the wild. There are staff throughout to answer questions and tell you about the animals. You get a really good view without feeling like you are disturbing the animals. Very natural habitats. I was so glad I went!

well worth the visit .... amazing opportunity to view grizzlies ... yes in an enclosure but there is a reason for each of the bears to be there. i do believe we saw some "natural" behavior, the bears looked healthy and the staff kept the place clean as "bear friendly" as possible. the wolves were mostly lounging about ....their size and formidable family groups were on full display.
the otters were utterly enjoyable. they race about and seem to dare the visitors to get a good photo of them.
the educational opportunities were abundant. this is a surprise center that was one of the highlights of our visit.

We visited here on the first day of our family trip to Yellowstone. We are so glad we did! Our girls (ages 6, 9 & 11) enjoyed seeing wolves, otters, & bears up close. They did the Keeper Kids Program, allowing them to complete an educational scavenger hunt throughout the facility and participate in hiding food for the grizzlies in their habitat (grizzlies were not there, of course). We all enjoyed seeing the grizzlies hunt the food afterwards!

Frankly I did not know what to expect. I feared that this might be some exploitative, cheesy zoo. We needed a place to spend an hour walking around after being in the car for 3 hours. The habitats that they constructed for the bears and wolves were spacious. They are also in the process of building a larger bear enclosure. In addition to the bears and wolves, the have an otter exhibit and several birds of prey. My wife and I had an enjoyable time and would recommend a visit to anyone who wanted to safely see a few bears from a closer range.

We stopped by here on our way to the BZN airport, our last day in West Yellowstone. By far, the best exhibit there is the wolves. There are two packs. They are separated, but you can view each outside or in the warmth of a viewing building. Amazing animals. The grizzlies are very fun to observe but you can only see them through a chain link fence. There were also otters inside a building along with fish. Again, do this if you have time to kill. It shouldn't be your top priority.

Not worth the stop, one exhibit for wolves, one exhibit for bears, a few for birds, that is it, bear world is way better

This -lace is very small but cool to see the big grizzlies. They have about a dozen of them that come out at different times. They can’t all be together at the same time. It is a rescue center and the bears are from different areas of the country. Stick around for big boy Sam. He was very cool to see at a size of 1500 pounds. The younger bears were fun to watch as they love to play. There are 2 packs of wolves as well and some see otters.

This was not a good experience. Over $40 to see a bear, an otter and a snake. No wonder they had a sign out front saying no refund. I’ll bet they get asked plenty.

I loved watching the bears play with each other and with a ball. It is obvious that they are well cared for and are having fun. The wolves were also fun to watch especially how they were interested in the people. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET SOME GOOD PHOTOS OGF THE BEARS AND WOLVES but not the owls or the otters.

I generally love wildlife parks like this but was underwhelmed by this one. There were only two bears. They were active but difficult to observe because of the layout of the enclosure and observation areas. There were more wolves but they mostly kept out of sight (perhaps an early morning or late afternoon visit would be better). Several exhibits were under construction or temporarily closed.

We arrived and had a wonderful time watching the Grizzly Bears playing with each other as well as the 6 wolfs in their own area. This place provides education on the animals and change the Bears every 2-3 hours. They also have owls, eagles, otters so if your tired of watching the grizzlys or wolfs, go check out the otters, eagles and owls. This is fun for the entire family! They have a nice gift shop as well. Once you pay for admittance, your receipt is good for 2 days.

We visited early in the morning on our way out of Yellowstone. It was a great opportunity to see some of the rescued wildlife up close and to learn about their behaviors and habitats. My girls probably loved the wolves and otters even more than the bears.

Great center- I was a little unsure of how I would feel about it being an animal enclosure but you can clearly see the animals are cared for very well. The grizzly and wolf exhibits were amazing! The staff were helpful and nice including the gift shop staff.

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center was a nice way to spend a couple hours. They have grizzly bears, gray wolves, river otters and birds of prey. There are enrichment programs throughout the day and an exhibit that shows cooler bear damage; both are captivating. $15 per person entry fee and of course there is a gift shop as well.

This is a great place to see some grizzlies & wolves up close, and to learn some education things about both animals. They also had birds, including bald eagles and a video to watch about bears and wildlife. We stayed about 1 hour and I would recommend it at any age.

While visiting West Yellowstone, our family split into two groups: some went to do the ropes course/zip lining and some went to the Wolf & Grizzly Discovery Center. We all enjoyed our respective activities. The Wolf & Grizzly Discovery Center was very educational and gave us great insight into how humans have impacted these beautiful animals and what we can do to help them.

We were hesitant to visit the Grizzly and Wolf park as we don’t like zoos and the ethical impact they have. None of my family of 5 enjoy seeing animals in captivity.
We researched widely before visited this park, just across the street from our lodging and decided to give it a go.
Once there, we were all impressed by the condition and activity of the animals and the thought given to their enclosures and treatment. The animals here are more lively and “happy” than any I have ever seen before in captivity. This is a credit to the expert team here and the facility.
Every bear has a back story why it is there, and it’s either because of human contact (not their fault) or they were orphaned. In short, if they weren’t rescued they would be dead or destroyed. They can never be sensibly or safely reintroduced to the wild.
The bears are given plenty of privacy (they are rotated by choice, not force) into the enclosure and then given plenty of food to seek out for themselves. Likewise the wolves and otters, which have live fish to chase and eat.
Also note that this a non profit organisation so by visiting you are helping the facility rescue more bears form destruction. They were building a further Grizzly enclosure whilst we were there.
It’s a small park as they only take the animals that can be accommodated here to high standards. But there is plenty to do and see and you can watch the bears for hours as they explore their enclosure in a lively and inspiring way.
There is a fixed exhibit which we didn’t enjoy, not because of the quality, more because we reminded of the vile treatment these beautiful animals have endured at the hand of humans over the last century.
The whole family was glad we went and were mesmerised by the beautiful animals on display. We were also convinced by the ethical credentials of the park which is rare in this commercial world.

Do find time to visit and support them if you are in West Yellowstone. We are glad we spent $75 there as a family.

Watching the wolves and grizzlies was spectacular! The grizzlies are released to the outdoor viewing area either 2 or 1 at a time. There is a schedule which tells you the times they will be released. There is also a nice indoor area with trout and otters that you can see from inches away. The owls, hawks and eagles are situated between the wolf and grizzly area and the indoor water exhibit.
Your admission price is also good for two days.

The facility was nice, but there was no one there to talk about the wolves or the bears that where there. and we didn't see any of the birds they had.

Exhibits are limited in the winter. Got to see huge grizzly bears up close. The otter/fish area is really nice. Wolves were cool-got to see them eating. Even the small museum was interesting and we learned a lot.

Our 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.

So pleasantly surprised! Informative and amazing! So close to the animals but still safe. Every animal has an inspiring story about why they’re better off there. And the otters, raptors (including the Eagles (GO BIRDS!)) The ground squirrels!

A 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.

The center provides a great place to see wolves and grizzlies active and up close. The staff does a great job providing activities for the animals that makes them active and visible to the visitor. Ticket prices were reasonable. We really enjoyed ourselves.

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.

This 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.

We saw all of these in the parks but not up close so it was nice to enjoy seeing them and listening to the wolf packs howl at each other.

If you've ever wanted to see a grizzly bear up close, this is the place to do it. Amazing! The also have wolves , which we were able to get an unclose look at.

The bears were so beautiful, the wolves amazing and the otters crazy playful. Perfect way to spend an hour in Yellowstone!

Very cool place. I loved seeing the wolves and our kids were able to help hide the food for the bears to eat.

I would highly recommend stopping in here for everything you ever wanted to know about grey wolves and bears in the park. Live wolves and bears to see that were rescued and now living a better life. Great for all the family. Beautiful displays and Park wildlife info. in their center. Two thumbs up.

The tickets are also open for 2 days. The facility is not large, but sizable enough to keep bears, wolves, otters, owls, vultures, and a few other animals. They bears are out only one or two at a time. They are the star attraction. They have interesting programs for kids, but not enough staff at exhibits to answer questions. The theater plays animal documentaries, and special "talks" are in the afternoons.

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center was bigger than we expected, and they're currently doing construction on a new area for the bears. We really enjoyed seeing the wolves up close. The birds on exhibit were interesting. Always a fun time to watch river otters splash and play in their exhibit! The bears were having a good time tearing up some coolers in their enclosure. We loved the fact that cooler and trash can manufacturers pair with the Center to see if their "bear proofing" works or not. The exhibit of everything the bears have torn up was really eye-opening!

We visited during the afternoon, and had plenty of time to see all the animals and to enjoy a documentary movie in the museum area. We saw a super interesting movie about wolves and bison, which really set us up for enjoying Yellowstone even more when we later on went into the park. The bears that were out in the yard when we were visiting were Sam (he's enormous, what a character- didn't want to leave the yard as the sun was out and he was not in a hurry.) and then the two small sisters- Seely and Condi. They were pretty interesting to watch- they played with each other, splashed around, one of them was dancing around, the other was trying to climb a tree... Just pretty active. We also really liked watching the Uinta Ground Squirrels, and the otters were super fun. The wolves were regal, but mostly sleeping the whole time we were there (just like my dogs.).

For the price and the availability of docents to answer questions, I give this an excellent rating easily. There is a lot of passion invested in caring for these animals.

This was a very nice sanctuary for animals that can’t survive in the wild.
We saw the wolves and they howled back and forth; the otters were adorable. The best part was my 6 yr old granddaughter did the Keeper Kids program. The kids participating went into the bears outside space and hid food then got to watch the bears come out and find the food. She was so excited!

Do not waste your gas! Website is false advertisement. Animals in small enclosures. Not all the animals were out because they “rotate” them. Where do they put the other bears? Don’t ask; employees are rude as hell. Hawk doesn’t even have a big enough place to fly. I’m sure these animals would rather die in nature rather than by themselves in small enclosures.

We didn't see any bears or wolves in Yellowstone so we were thrilled to be staying across the street from the Center. Checked it out online before we went in and was happy to read that it's a real non-profit, accredited research facility that takes in grizzlies that would otherwise be euthanized for getting too comfortable with finding food in human-occupied areas.
The wolves were glorious and grouped in two families of a couple of wolves each but with maybe .25 acre each.
They are building out their bear area but for now there are two ponds and the bears seemed to have room to play and wallow.
The bears come out singly or paired with a bear they get along with; one employee told us an older bear prefers to not be paired up so she comes out on her own. Each bear or pair comes out on a posted schedule so gets a few hours outdoors each day. There is a raised viewing platform that offers a better view into the enclosure, and an enclosed little house for when it's cold. The schedule is convenient - we were able to go out for lunch and come back when more bears were out. The tickets allow for re-entry.
There were a few bird enclosures and a cool indoor otter pond but the bears and wolves were the main attractions. The gift store had a large selection of items across a variety of price points. Plenty of parking and walkable to downtown.

Great place to see bears and wolves up close and learn about them, particularly as we didn't see any in the wild in Yellowstone.
Worth a detour off the Yellowstone loop. Interesting to see all the trash bins the bears have tested!

We've been here once before in the summer and it was fun to see the animals in the snow. There's not a lot to see, so take advantage of the programs the keepers put on. We listened to a keeper talk about the wolves that was very interesting. My favorite part is watching the bears released into the yard after the keepers hide food for enrichment. The new stream exhibit building is very nice and warm! They are building an outdoor stream area that will be stocked with fish for the bears. I can't wait to return to see that.

The bears were beautiful and healthy looking. The staff hides food under rocks and it was entertaining watching them forage. The wolves were active and there are areas where you got up close views through glass. Otters, owls and eagles were a surprise. Super fun!!

My daughter and I spent 2 hours here one afternoon. The animals are beautiful. We enjoyed viewing them in their enclosures and learning about them from the plaques out front. The otters were fun to watch.

We had some downtime before travel and are glad we came here. They have bears and wolves in enclosures, as well as birds of prey, river otters, fish and reptiles/amphibians. Like some zoos, the habitats are tastefully done, providing you with information about the specific animals (we were glad to see that some of them were rescued and have a safer life here than in the wild). The facility is focused on education, so they have a lot of good information and very helpful staff walking the grounds. For a few extra dollars, kids can even go into the bear enclosure and hide the bears’ meals under rocks while the bears are inside and closed off — check the timings for this.

You only need 60-90 minutes here unless you really take your time and/or you do the animal feeding activity. It’s a nice change of pace from visiting the park.

Very interesting place. All the animals here are rescue and have died if let if he wild or been put down by humans for safety reasons. It was very informative and we learned a lot. If you are in the area or even passing by I recommend stopping in.

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.

We visited Yellowstone in the fall so didn't see any bears. We visited to see the grizzlies and wolves up close. Was pleasantly surprised to see they had other animals also, birds of prey, otters, etc. They also had a very nice gift shop.

The center allows one to see grizzlies and wolves up close. The center is a refuge for these animals who may have been destroyed because they unfortunately became nuisances to humans. Other animals included hawks and owls. A must visit if in West Yellowstone.

Very nice place to visit. We enjoyed watching the grizzly bears. The staff was very informative and friendly. We also saw the wolves, eagles, otter, and various other birds. I especially liked that the ticket was good for two days. My husband uses a mobility scooter and was able to get around with ease. The walkways are very spacious.

We have been to Yellowstone three times and somehow overlooked this gem the last two trips. We would consider this a "must see." We visited here in September of 2022, and we loved the Grizzly and Wolf Center. Very reasonable price for what you get to see! Live wolves and bears, otters and fish, eagles, owls, and more--all in clean, lovely enclosures. The staff was terrific and informative. This is a really exceptional facility, and I hope that they get the support for these wonderful animals that they should. We will visit again! A big, brand new bear enclosure is under construction, and we wouldn't want to miss it! Highly recommend. We did the lower loop of the park the first day and had time after doing the upper loop on the second day, which was plenty of time to visit the center.

I had seen ads with people interacting with the wolves through glass. The wolves slept and didn’t move at all while we were there. The grizzly seemed bored and in a small enclosure. Just not the experience we hoped for.

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.

We had a couple hours to kill before heading to Bozeman to catch a flight home and decided to stop in. We didn’t expect much but it was a refreshing surprise. Quite cheap compared to other places like this. The gift shop was very nice. Loved the made in Montana Christmas ornaments! The gentleman working the gift shop was incredibly helpful. Before we were leaving I asked for advice for a scenic drive to potentially see wildlife and he gave me some great ideas that ere quite beautiful. We got to see a couple grizzly’s and three wolves. The wolves were gorgeous and seemed happy. Loved hearing them howl. Nice surprise stop!

What a great place to visit. The animal enclosures are very large and they attempt to make the enclosures as natural of an environment as they can. The animals can run, they hide food so they can search as they do in the wild. A great place for animals that can no longer live in the wild. We can see them in an environment close to nature and fascinating to be so close.

I bought a 2-days ticket, loved our 1st day but couldn’t go in the 2nd day because it was pouring rain and wanted to keep my daughters (5 and 8 years old) safe and dry. So I called up to ask if in case of heavy rain the 2-consecutive days rule could still apply and perhaps be interpreted more broadly. My argument: it should be 2-consecutive days when you can actually go, and if the weather doesn’t allow (it’s all open air) then you let people in even if the 2nd day is not, strictly speaking, consecutive.

After trying to state my case and speaking for 30min with the manager, and another 30min with the Chief Administration Officer, they hung up on me!
The reason: this has always been the rule (history is full of bad rules that willing people have been able to change) and they cannot check if a person comes back more than 2 times (there’s so many ways to control electronically or simply punching the ticket it every day that’s such an embarrassing answer to give).
The only option they gave me before hanging up on me was to buy another $50 in tickets.

You just can’t imagine how much I would love to speak to the board-member or anyone who does fundraising for this place!
In the meantime, I have to tell my kids they cannot say good by to the bears and the wolves.

This is a clever small zoo. It is a rescue centre for bears that would otherwise be euthanised because they have become a problem to humans. The idea is that they put 1, 2 or 3 bears in the enclosure having previously hidden food so you get to see bears that are active for about 45 mins before being rotated for another set of bears. It works really well!

There are also wolf packs, rescued birds of prey and otters.

Well worth a visit and take a look at the testing zone for food and rubbish containers!

It was terrible watching the dissected animals, it was so sad, and watching the wolf you could tell he was sad and depressed, and also he was the only wolf in his area. It was so sad watching them in such a small place

Well worth the visit to see these extraordinary animals up close. The young wolves chased and play the whole time we were there. There was only one Grizzly bear up and about but the otters entertained us immensely. The over all open environment makes for great viewing and picture taking. Highly recommend.

Great place to get up close to Wolfs and Grizzly Bears and get a better understanding before you search for them in the Park. The staff are very knowlegeable and helpful.

We enjoyed learning about the animals and viewing the animals. It is well worth visiting the center.

Definitely stop in here. A lot of thought has been put into how this place was set up. Take the time to read the placards put in front of the animal enclosures to make the most of your visit.
It is a small center but it is full of amazing animals. Take advantage of the talks.

This sanctuary is excellent and it is apparent that the animals are well taken care of. The keepers go above and beyond to keep the animals engaged and active! The facilities are clean and well maintained. It’s awesome to see they are expanding their bear habitat. Great engaging activity for my twins to learn about the importance of “Leave No Trace.” They were able to participate in the Kid’s Keeper program and loved it! So glad we took the time to visit. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Yellowstone!!

Realized that we could not get into Yellowstone because they were closed on or around March 15 to groom roads for spring. Found the Discovery Center and it was great. Were able to see bears, foxes, and otters. Don't expect animal kingdom but it is an inexpensive option that benefits the people who are trying to save these wonderful animals.

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.

I understand these are rescued animals but hate seeing them caged up. I was a little surprised their areas were so small. The bear was impressive to see and we enjoyed watching the wolves, but just couldn't help feeling badly about the enclosures.

The bears were beautiful and well cared for, we stayed for a tutorial on the lives of the 3 wolves. We also saw 3 bald eagles, owls, turkey vulture, and a few hawks. The otter exhibit was also informative.

*Disclaimer-we stayed in July 2022, but I kept getting busy with life and kids and kept forgetting to review, but they deserve the good review. Marked as Sept 2022, but we were there in July.

This was a super fun place to visit. We got back from our tour for the day and had some time to kill. We decided to walk over to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and check it out! What a cool place! We saw lots of wolves, mostly laying down because it was so so hot! There were quite a few raptors to see, too. Not the dinosaur, but the birds. It was especially fun to watch one of the grizzly bears splashing around and playing in the water. There was a short presentation which showed up how far bear spray would go and why it was important to have it on us in the parks. It was very educational and the guide answered all of our kids' questions. It was a really fun place to go and I'm glad we had the time to get this into our schedule!

My girlfriend, mom, and I went here on our last day of our yellowstone trip. It was our first time. The animals were close. It was a great experience. We enjoyed that they hid their food, and the animals are hunting around for it. You can pretty much see them the whole time. Way better than the zoo. Definitely will be back and looking into adopting one of the animals to show support.

We had a great visit here. The staff were great and they circulate around the exhibits giving information and answering any questions. We saw grizzlies, wolves, and river otters. The exhibits were well done and we felt that we learned a lot. We were happy to know that these were animals that were rescued rather than a tourist trap. They had information listed explaining how the bears ended up there.

This is a must see. The center rotates the well kept grizzlys and wolves to enable great viewing up close.We had been there about 10 years ago and they have added raptors, otters and other entertaining features.

Really enjoyed this although in February several e where closed and the animals and birds were not present understandingly. But the wolves, grizzlies, and otters made it still worthwhile. Especially liked the wolves.
Sort of sad on one hand all are not still in the “wild” but they are here since they would not survive in the wild! Nice exhibits and gift shop - very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Recommend it for sure!

This is a wonderful place to support and visit. We had an amazing time learning about the habits and placements of the wildlife. People have unfortunately no idea how humans impact nature. This is a great way to see wildlife up close and learn how each animal came to the sanctuary. The gift shop has local items that support local artists. Primarily outdoors so make sure you dress appropriately.

When planning my trip to Montana I knew I needed to go to the Grizzly Bear & Wolf Discovery center, after a few hours in Yellowstone we made the stop before heading back to Big Sky and I am SO glad we did. It was incredible to see the rehabilitated animals. Awesome experience for all ages!

This a great place to visit.Great place to see grizzly bears and wolves.They also have bald eagles, owls, hawks,fish and otters.There is plenty of information about the animals and also helpful staff to answer your questions.There is a gift shop and great displays.Plenty of parking.We recommend highly.

We went because we arrived late to Yellowstone, very glad we did! Great price for the family and it was very informative. A good way to start your Yellowstone adventure!

We were thrilled to see the grizzlies and wolves in such an clean and open environment. Alaska does not treat their bears as well.

This was one of the highlights on our visit, after we didn’t see bear or wolves in the park. It was outstanding— the staff clearly care about the animals and are knowledgeable. Animals were all very active. Highly recommend!

This place is great for learning more about grizzly bears and wolves. There is a lot of information posted and staff who will answer questions you might have. It was a bit tough to see the bears as their enclosure is being remodeled. Also the birds are not on display due to some kind of illness. With the construction and lack of birds to see I felt the price was a bit high at $15 per adult; although the fee does allow you to visit 2 consecutive days. The otters were great and our 4 year old grandson loved them!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit last here. I'm a big fan of conservation and while I love seeing animals in their natural habitat in the wild, I love places like this that are alternatives for the animals. It helps them live a happy, healthy life instead of having to be euthanized. And it's very obvious the staff really care about these animals. We got to see Spirit, Grant & Coram. The otters were super playful when we were there. And I found the trash can display of what bears can do to the different types was very informative and quite surprising. I'm from middle Tennessee so we don't have to think about things like that. I have a tall trashcan so racoons don't get in lol. Definitely a must see when in west yellowstone.

Our family went during the winter and saw the bears out in the enclosure rolling and wrestling in the beautiful snow. The wolf pack was amazing and looked SO happy running and playing together. We were behind glass, but they would come up to us curiously and we were able to take great pictures. The otters come into their habitat two or three at a time and play. The whole place is clean and well run. I would definitely recommend going.

Ticket is good for 2 days. Reasonably priced.
We loved watching the bears swim and play. Nice gift shop

Great place for the whole family!! Kids loved the otters and the up close “encounter” with 6 grizzlies and 4 wolves!! Very informative info boards and staff!

Really enjoyed watching grizzly bears at play, wolves interacting with each other and seeing the river otters and other wet-area life native to the Yellowstone area.

We loved the Discovery Center. It was right across the street from our hotel and we spent an enjoyable afternoon there. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the animals native to the area. It was nice to get an up close look at the wolves and bears and learn their stories.

If you want to walk around a read signs all day then this is the place for you. Staff was not present and when present somewhat rude. The wolf pack discussion was informative. Seems like the center is run on a shoe string with minimal staff interacting with patrons

The Discovery Center is a grand and fascinating experience. Though it is focused on being a rescue and rehab center, it still has the feel of a zoo of local wildlife from the northern Rockies. The staff is friendly, available, and knowledgeable. The only disappointment is that the animals are mostly behind fences making them harder to view. Nonetheless, it is worth the time and the price to see the beauty of nature up close.

Such a beautiful setting for grizzly bears, wolves, raptor birds, otters, and fish. We enjoyed walking around, listening to the educational talks and viewing the live animals. The animals are active and healthy. Very knowledgeable and interactive staff. Well worth the visit.

We 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.

Each ticket costs almost $22, a little expensive for what it is, but you can come back the next day. We came back because we could only see one bear. They told us to come back in two hours because two or three bears came out together. There are gray wolves, otters, an owl. It's interesting. We especially liked it because the animals have been rescued and cannot survive in freedom.

Very interesting and not for profit. They have animals that can no longer survive in the wild. The staff was knowledgeable and shared information. The wolves were beautiful and the bears were fun to watch. We saw an otter and some birds of prey. Worthwhile!

Great place to see the bears and wolves up close and in action! Informative shows. Cute gift shop. Great for the kids too. Also birds of prey, otters and other animals to see and learn about

We enjoyed the center very much, spending over two hours observing and photographing the animals. We attended a naturalist talk about wolves and were able to watch children “feed the bears” by hiding fish in the stream in their enclosure (supervised, of course) and then getting to see the bears use natural behaviors for feeding. We had been disappointed that we had not seen a grizzly in the park. This experience was a surprisingly satisfying way to view and understand them better.

A rare chance for us to see Bears up close. They do a great job in rescuing and informing the public. Really enjoyed my time there (otters were really cool!)

Watching the grizzly bears hunt for their food and seeing the wolves up close. The otters were fun to watch too!

We visited the Center to spend some time before our afternoon flight. It was an enjoyable way to kill some time and see wildlife up close. The grizzly exhibit was very informative and it was amazing to see how large these bears are. The site is designed for good viewing of the wolves. It is a good way to spend some time, especially if you have children with you.

It was interesting, but your mask-wearing mandate outside is absurd. Father had vaccine and still had to wear a mask. Follow the science you cult-members.

This was a terrific stop on our way into Yellowstone. It was amazing to see the wolves and bears up close. Information on each animal was clear and easy to find. We spent about an hour walking around, but could have stayed longer. We'd like to come back sometime and bring the family!

We were walking out of the Imax theatre at night and heard the wolves howling, thought they were almost right in town with us! And it turns out they were, the center is just about next door from the theatre. Good displays in the center, friendly, informative staff and you can get really close (but safe) to the animals. We didnt see any bears or wolves in the park or forest so this was a neat way to see them.

This little place is run extremely well and can tell it is expanding. The care these animals receive is remarkable and an easy way to see bears and wolves. Great place for kids, older teens might get bored quick but worth the stop.

My son and I had not seen any grizzlies or wolves in Yellowstone so I spent a few hours at the discovery center about a mile from our hotel (Three Bears Lodge-- nice place). Great place to see wolves and otters in particular. Grizzlies are visible but not real close. Other wildlife on the site.

It is highly recommended that you visit the center when you are there. Here you can see the wolves and bears that are otherwise hidden from visitors in the park. The animals come close to the fence and the wolf stands two meters in front of you. The other enclosures are also recommended; you should plan on spending an hour and a half there.

Great visit for the whole family. You will not get closer to wolves, otters, eagles & other birds, and hopefully not, bears. The bears are awesome. This is not a "look at a sleeping bear facing away from you on the other side of the enclosure" type of thing. The staff allow kids to hide the food around the bear habitat, then they release the bears and everyone gets to watch them search for food. Searching for food means watching the bears knock 150 pound boulders aside like they are marshmallows. We saw two of the younger bears wrestling in the pond--a special bonus. Around all this fun, I learned a lot about the wildlife, e.g. difference between wolves and coyotes, and difference between Yellowstone grizzlies and Alaska grizzlies. Left very happy that we stopped.

You have to stop by and check out the animals. The $15 admission is good for 2 (consecutive) days so plan accordingly, if needed. They also have an indoor theater and displays inside I’d like to go back in spring/summer when it’s probably a little more busy. The eagle and raptor exhibits were closed but the bears, river otters, cutthroat trout & wolves were all astonishing! They kept me busy and I was awe-struck since I’ve never seen a bear or wolf. Such majestic creatures and I’m thankful this place exists. Please donate, become a member or consider adopting if you can and visit when you’re in the area. You can also follow them on FB, IG or Twitter.

Definitely worth a visit…you see real live grizzly bears and wolves, they gave good presentations with knowledgeable naturalists. A must see if staying in or near West Yellowstone, MT.

Great activity and an opportunity to sew bears, wolves, birds of prey and even otters up close. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.

We stopped in for a visit because we saw a sign for the discovery center and we were pleasantly surprised. It was a nice experience seeing grizzly bears and wolves. You are able to go and come back as you please. Which is nice because they have different bears come out at different times. We wanted to see the biggest grizzly Sam so we left for lunch and came back to see Sam. He is a big beautiful grizzly from Alaska.

I was super excited to see this exhibit and learn so much. I traveled all the way from North Carolina to see this plus Yellowstone and it was amazing. The wolves and bears were awesome to watch in their habitat

On our last day at Yellowstone Park we stopped by this park to get some up close pictures and info on the park grizzly bears, wolves and area birds. It takes about 1-2 hours and was better than we expected. We spent also 45 minutes just watching the beats. So many pictures and lots of interesting information. The park tests out containers like coolers to see if the bears can open them. We got a very cool presentation on the park wolf packs. Another area had otters and park birds. Many of the animals were not seen during our visit to the park. Worth your time and money. See our photos

Our favorite activity in West Yellowstone! All the wildlife exhibits are great... It's kind of too bad that something like this needs to exist but it's great that it does because they are taking care of animals that wouldn't have made it in the wild, and as an added benefit it lets you view animals up close that you may or may not get the opportunity to see inside the park. The only suggestion for improvement I have would be to re-shoot the videos being played inside the building and buy some new TVs. (New TVs would probably pay for themselves in 1 year of electricity savings too!). They are playing 30+ year old videos on equally old tube TVs. But don't let that stop you from going. The rest of the facility is absolutely great!

We were visiting Yellowstone in June and the crowds were daunting to say the least. On one of our days there we decided to just visit the town of West Yellowstone and see the Grizzly and Wolves Discovery Center. It is extremely well done, and they explain how each animal there came under their care - generally because they were injured or incorrigible and not fit for living in the wild. The attendants were at each display and loaded with interesting information about the grizzlies and the wolves and we totally enjoyed our experience there!

We spent a day here last week after Yellowstone was unexpectedly closed and we had a day to kill in West Yellowstone, and we had a blast! Especially for the price, this place is amazing. We were really impressed with the exhibits they had as well as the knowledgeable staff, and it looks like they are going to have an even more impressive facility soon as they have a few new things under construction. Our older daughter did the keeper activity where she got to go into the bear habitat and hide food, and she loved that. Our toddler had plenty to do as well while we were there. We would absolutely go back next time we're in the area!

What a fun experience! They did such a great job with the presentations and sharing the stories of the individual animals. Loved it!

Having spent the day before on a complete tour of the lower loop, as far as wildlife sightings, this was far more enjoyable frankly.

Even though they're in captivity, the fact that I didn't have to look through a scope and see a little brown dot through binoculars was much more engaging and entertaining.

It has a variety of animals I'm sure you can find out and you can see them up close and personal even if in captivity. They have lots of stories to read and if it wasn't a wee bit chilly out, I would've stayed three times as long. I do recommend that you do that for half a day or a couple hours at least.

Staff is very friendly. Facilities are well maintained. The displays are well presented, clean and explained. Animals appeared t to o be well kept

Very nice, but small. Walking tour only. I saw several wolves and one grizzly. Plan on one hour to cover everything. They are under construction, there weren't any birds on display.

After two days in the park we left Yellowstone disappointed with the lack of wildlife sightings. We had expected to remedy that by dedicating a full morning to the Lamar valley but the road was closed. We then headed to this gem of wildlife sanctuary and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Highlights are the grizzlies and the otters. The sanctuary offers a two day ticket at a very reasonable price

I first visited this place in 2001 when it was still minimal. While we enjoyed it then, now it is a must-see! GWDC is now a non-profit and it shows how much they love their jobs. We were lucky to get in on the "behind the scenes" tour, and I am so thrilled we did! Gretchen was the best guide through all this. I can't stop raving about how knowledgeable she is. The first stop was the grizzlies. These grizzlies are here because they can no longer live in the wild. Usually, this is because they have become nuisances, and the other option is to euthanize the bear. We were only about 5 feet away from these beautiful creatures! Off to the gray wolves - these wolves are here as they were born in captivity and can't be released in the wild. Just because they were born in captivity, they do not lose their instincts, and here they are not expected to. Once again, we were very close to seeing these beautiful creatures that have had to fight their way back from near extinction. We, also, got to visit the otters, raptors, and so much more! We learned about how much of the food provided to all the creatures here comes from local sources and that the GWDC has a fishery so they raise the fish to feed the animals. As long as the fish is living, they are also given items of enrichment! GWDC has started a number of educational programs so please take a look at them

We enjoyed our visit to GWDC. We were impressed by how the facility enriched the animals' lives and we learned a lot about the various species they have.

Waste of $69 …took 15 minutes to walk through, 3 sleeping wolves 1 sleeping bear, no otters no birds…don’t waste your money!!

We were driving through West Yellowstone on our way out of the park to our new destination and decided to stop here since we were not able to see wolves or grizzlies in the park. We had a camper with us and there was plenty of room for us to park in their parking lot. This was a small but very nice place. We were there after they had kids hide food for the bears then was able to watch the bear come out and find the food. They have bears come out on a schedule so we only saw the one bear when we were there. The wolves were very active and we enjoyed watching them. We watched a wolf video in their little amphitheater that our whole family enjoyed. If you have kids it's a great place to stop.

What a wonderful place, knowledgable guides and a safe place for these animals that couldn’t be left or survive in the wild.

I’m all for supporting animals, but there’s just not a whole lot to see at this place especially with Yellowstone right next door. This place is just not worth the price in my opinion. You could probably see all the exhibits in 5 minutes.

We usually come here about once a year and our young kids absolutely love it. We went there today and after we paid, were told we had to wear masks while we were outside. When we asked why, we were told that's what the governor's order says. When we told her that's not what it says, she then told us Gallatin County is requiring masks when outside, which is a blatant lie. We told her that she was incorrect and then she told us it's a private business and they can require masks if they want. This is correct so we had to decide whether to leave and forfeit the $75 we just paid to get in and disappoint our kids, or comply, and so we complied.

I get that everybody is in a different place with this mask mandate, so I don't want to make it about that. However, I don't appreciate being lied to. It made our whole experience unenjoyable. So unless you want to wear masks the entire time you're there and get "corrected " anytime you take it off to breathe a little bit, I wouldn't go there until this mess is over with.

That aside, I would have no complaints but it was just really hard to enjoy it when you've just been lied to, and workers are walking around intentionally checking to make sure everybody is wearing masks the entire time. It just ruined the whole experience.

Very informative & fun. Lots to see here, bait just bears. There are staff available for questions & to share information about the animals. The bears are incredible & fun to watch. There are also wolves, owls, otters and small mammals. Good for families with children.

We loved visiting the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery center. The educators did a fantastic job talking about the animals in the exhibits, and answering questions. We loved watching the grizzlies test the ice chest to see if it’s bear proof. We wanted to see a bear in Yellowstone. This was the next best thing!

Great place to watch some really cool Grizzle playtime ; ))
Spent at least a couple of hours just watching the bear interact with each other.
Wolf portion was very cool especially when one of them became somewhat vocal

Our Family had a great time viewing the Bears and Wolves. This is an exceptional opportunity to learn more about the bears and wolves. The staff is very knowledgeable and willing to answer questions. Do not miss this when in West Yellowstone.

Amazing place to spend a few hours. We loved seeing the wolves and bears and watching them interact, feed and play. The staff here is incredible! They are continually cleaning, tending to the animals and interacting with the visitors. We we’re so impressed with this place. We watched the staff hide meat in the wolves pen and restock their water with trout while the wolves were inside getting fed. When the wolves were released back into their pen, we watched them “hunt” for their food. It was so great to see that they are stimulated and not just lying around all day. The same thing was done throughout the day with the bears. Food was hidden under rocks and in their water source to enable the bears to search for food like in the wild.
We loved our 2 hour visit here and will definitely be back!! Also, the price is incredible. $15 for a two-day adult pass. Well worth it!

Our three young grandchildren loved it. Three grizzly bears were on displace plus about 5 wolves, who finally woke up. The aviaries were closed. Great displays of mounted large mammals inside entry building. Not that thrilling after all the wildlife we'd seen in Yellowstone.

The facility was educational but not very exciting. There were a few wolves and a couple bears out. The birds of prey were perched. It was hard to get pictures of the wolves without fences in the way. The bears were the best part at least they were somewhat active. I expected them to be way more active since we were there during cooler temps.

Our kids 7 and 11 had a fun time and learned a lot from the talks that were provided. Signage was informative and exhibits were nice and clean.

If you are going here to take the kids to a Disney type experience then think again.

If you are going because you are genuinely interested in wolf and bear behavior this is a good place and you’ll be just feet from the wolves and a few yards from the bears. The bears are given turns in the public exhibition enclosure and it’s pretty good to watch how the different bears react to the hidden food etc.
there’s also a good water exhibit featuring otters playing and fish from the local areas.

I believe they are building an extra bear enclosure . There’s a good shop selling stuff that goes to support the centre. No cafe but McDonald’s over the road.

Your tickets good for two days.

This is a great place to see some of the Yellowstone area animals and learn more about them. The entrance fee is good for 2 days as well. Our kids (4 and 1 years old) had a great time! Personally, we were expecting it to be a bit bigger with more animals but they are planning to expand it looked like. It’s a fun visit if in the West Yellowstone area!

All staff were competent and passionate about nature and the animals, they were available for questions always. Great experience for kid and adult.We learned a lot. Thank you!

A great place to bring your kids. It’s interesting, educational and very welcoming. It doesn’t take a lot of time, highly recommend if you are staying in the area. Or, on the way to Yellowstone.

Exceptional presentation of bears and wolves. The staff was educational, informed and friendly. Exciting to see the wolf pack literally stalk and catch fish to eat in their fully stocked ponds! Gained insight into the dangers of bears being “food conditioned.” Well worth the entrance fee.

Very expensive for the experience received. We saw two wolves , two bears, several eagles, owls and a nice museum. The Grizzly Rescue Center out of Bozeman was 100% better . The entire time at the center outside of Bozeman the ranger gave us tons of information about brown and black bears. We only spent a short time at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery center but glad we did go to the Grizzly Rescue center several hours away. Three years ago I went to this center and it was much better then.

Loved loved loved this place! So neat to see the wolves and grizzlies up close like this. Well worth the admission even if you only have 30 minutes to spend there. Teen daughter said this was a highlight of our 4 days in Montana.

It was a great experience all around to see how well kept the Bears, wolves, raptors, etc. are so well kept

This facility is a must-stop if you are near West Yellowstone! This is an AZA-accredited zoo with the best bear management that I've ever seen. They manage quite a few grizzlies here - all of whom are only here because they become too comfortable finding food from neighborhoods - and they manage them very well. The bears have opportunities throughout the day to forage and are regularly being shifted around so they can continue to explore new areas and forage for more food. The rest of the facility is top-notch as well.

Watching the bears, wolves, and otters interact and play was amazing. How wonderful that these animals get a second chance instead of having to be put down as nuisance animals. I watched them for a long time.

Reasonable admission. We got to see wolves and grizzly bears in a safe sanctuary. We also saw bald eagles, red hawks, otters and trout. A very nice way to spend a few hours.

We had no plans to stop here, but saw the billboard on our way into West Yellowstone and thought it would be interesting. The price was reasonable—$15 each with AAA or senior discount. It was much better than we expected. Staff puts some “engagement” items out for the wolves & grizzlies, so visitors can see them being active. It was fun to watch the grizzlies tearing into a cooler, grab a soda bottle, and play with a tent. We then were able to see the wolves search for meat hidden by staff. There are also otters and raptors. Animals are very close. We didn’t get to see grizzlies or wolves in Yellowstone National Park, but we got to see them here! Highly recommend!

We showed up at around 10am and while it was a bit crowded there was enough space for us to see all the animals that were there. The kids loved the wolves, they are just roaming around and looking comfy. The bears seemed really happy, you can get pretty close to them if they come near the front of their habitat. We did the bear feeding for the kids, they enjoyed hiding the food for the bear (Spirit was the name of the one they fed) and I think it was exciting to see them inside the habitat. The fish exhibit was ok but the kids loved the otters, there are even 2 snakes in there that my youngest loved.

Overall, it was a great experience and it was a 2 day pass so you can go back if you want for 2nd day but it has to be consecutive.

We saw 1 bear, 2 otters, several caged birds and a tank of cut throat trout. The description boards were informative. The live program we sat through was a demonstration of how and why to use bear spray. Then a second presenter explained how the one bear walking around the enclosure came to the Discovery Center. The adds made it seem like there were lots of rehab bears but we only saw the one. Adds also indicated wolves at this site. We saw zero. I suppose they could have been hiding somewhere in the small enclosure, but the setup didn’t provide any suggestions on where to look, etc. We didn’t think the entry cost was worth the short time it took to view the exhibits.

The staff working there were courteous and friendly. There are movies to watch on request about Yellowstone bears and wolves. The staff also put food out so we can see very close the grizzly bears, wolves, and otters.

This non profit organization has a spacious and well run facility. The grizzly area provided training by staff on bear habitat and habits. There was an opportunity to see the animals forage for food in a more natural setting. There was also wolf, otter and bird exhibit areas. Your ticket is good for 2 days so you can return to see more! It is conveniently located in town with ample parking. We would return!!

I’ve been here before and it was much better the last time. We were so disappointed this trip. At the front desk I inquired if the kids program was available as it was the best part of our trip last time. I was told that they were not doing the program for the foreseeable future and I guess I understand with the civic precautions but as we walked outside to see the bears there were at least 20 kids out in the bear area doing the program. I asked another employee about it and if we were lied to at the front desk and they said they were only doing it for school groups. Completely not fair to the regular visitors to have their kids watch other kids having fun.

We also asked if their theater was having showings. They have an indoor and outdoor theater but neither one was working. I asked again way this was closed and they said due to COVID rules they were not opening their indoor theater and the outdoor one was not ready for the year. We left after about 30 minutes and went to the imax next door. They were open so I don’t understand how they can have an indoor theater open but the discovery center can’t. I would not go here until all the COVID restrictions are over. I feel this place is just finding ways to let people down.

We didn't see any grizzlies or wolves in the park, but we saw their "goodwill ambassadors" here the day before we set out into the wilderness...so we were glad we did.

The facility houses animals which, for various and sundry reasons, cannot be returned to the wild. The major ones...otters, wolves and bears...are on schedules (given to you at entry) - they are never "on display" for more than a couple of hours, then they are rotated with others of their ilk. Although they certainly appear to be having fun (especially the bears) when "on display"...

There are also good films...my husband went off and watched one and then actually told me one changed his mind regarding reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone...and to change his mind? That had to be one persuasive movie.

The tickets are good for two days, although I am not sure there would be enough to come back for even for the most diehard wildlife lover. In a way you don't want to see the place expand too much, considering that its residents are unable to live in their natural habitat, but it would be nice if it had a few more displays.

Still, very highly recommended. It also has one of the only really great gift shops I came across during the whole trip (and believe me, I know gift shops). Worth a visit on your way out after a fun day watching the bears hug each other and the wolves sleeping in the sun. Oh, and the omnipresent ravens taking advantage of all of them.

We visited the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center one morning before headed into the park. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We stayed about two hours. We loved watching the bears, otters and wolves. The staff gave talks which were very informative! We highly recommend going!

I was in the area during the off season, so having this place to visit was great! Lots of information about the bears and the wolves. The wolf viewing was especially cool, as the windows offer a very close view.

This is a nice little park that great for all ages. It provides a lot of information on wolves and bears. I recommend this stop.

Really interesting place to visit. Animals looked in great health and had staff that really cared about their wellbeing. The Grizzly bears were chilling in their pond and catching fresh trout. Wolves were very cool also.

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.

The educational experience was outstanding. The workers and signage gave lots of information about the species and about the individuals housed at the center and about how human behavior affects the lives of the animals. The animals all seemed healthy and well-cared-for, and the center is constantly improving and expanding. Especially interesting was the lab where bear-proof containers were tested by the bears. Up close viewing of bears, wolves, otters, raptors.

Was disappointed to learn that the wolves were originally bred for captivity. They were not rescued in the wild. All other animals, however, are alleged rescues.

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Whole thing is very well done and animals were very accessible and active. No sleeping bears in the corner at this place!

My son and I are avid wildlife photographers and have experienced most wildlife in the wild. But this experience was a real treat as we could see many animals without using a big telephoto lens. The grizzly exhibit was amazing and probably the highlight of the experience. Families with young children should definitely see this!

Since we didn't see any bears or wolves in their natural habitat in Yellowstone NP, we stopped by here to see them. Seeing the bears up close was pretty awesome and was definitely less stressful. Besides the bears, we saw packs of wolves of various sizes, otters zoom around in the aquarium and all types of birds as well. Good place to stop for a few hours.

Supporting a good cause. Great way to see grizzlies and wolves in a safe environment. Reasonably priced, educational for adults and children.

Great little place to see grizzlies, wolves and other animals. Reasonably priced. The staff was friendly and helpful. The admission covers 2 days if you want to return the following day. The property is clean and well designed. Our daughter is in a power wheelchair and she had no problems getting around and seeing everything. The staff was very knowledgeable and enjoyed answering any questions about everything. If the weather was uncooperative there were plenty of places to go into. It appears that they were expanding the property to add more things to see. We would definitely return when visiting in the area again.

We really enjoyed our time here. The bears were a joy to watch as they foraged for the food. We got to see a total of three. It was funny that the otters that were out came from Woodland Park Zoo (where we go to all the time), we've probably seen them there.) Wolves were lazing away in the heat, but still amazing how big they are. This is a must do!

We passed by here on our way into Day 2 of our Yellowstone trip. Decided to stop and so glad we did. The staff was so knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions. The wolves there were the only ones we saw on our trip, which makes my kids happy. If you have the opportunity, I recommend stopping here. It is well worth it

Staff was very knowledgeable. Very clean facility. VERY strict with masks - even outside! Well written summaries for each bear at the facility

Not as great as I remember when I was a kid. They don't feed the bears fun things like ice blocks or smear things on the treats, logs, rocks etc. for them to lick so you can enjoy them. The wolves were mostly not out when we were there. It's OK, but not the amazing time of my childhood.

Hearing the wolf pack howl? AMAZING. My kids listed this as their "remember forever" moment from a 2-week trip.

If you love animals, you need to check this place out. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The animals are well taken care of. The staff is knowledgeable. We went during the winter, so there was lots of snow. It was beautiful!! Worth a stop if you’re in the area.

I visited the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana. It features wolves and grizzly bears who can't live in the wild. You can listen to a presentation about these animals and watch as they search for food. The grizzly bears in my were trained by their mother to hang around trash cans to get people food. They had to be relocated here. The gray wolves are part of two packs. There are also other animals to see, such as otters and ground squirrels. There is also a display of bear-proof containers. You will not be able to get this close to these animals in the wild.

We’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!

I love this place. Was here in 2019 and came back on this trip. Its very informative and the bears and otters are so much fun to watch

I went here with all my kids. It’s really a well run place. And the entry fee gets you in for two days. The bears are on a rotational schedule. The wolves and otters are cool. I really liked the ground squirrel display.

To tell you the truth, I did not want to go, but my family did and I obliged. I have seen a lot of wild bears in a lot of wild places and I am not all that fond of "zoos". However, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a well maintained and tastefully presented animal viewing experience. The habitats are spacious and the animals that are on display are rotated to provide for exercise, comfort, and safety. I did not get the details on the wolves, but all of the bears that were there were either orphaned as cubs or became nuisance animals in the wild. There is a lot of information on wolves and grizzlies that can be learned by reading the well designed kiosks located throughout the center and by touring the visitor center that you pass through to enter the park. I also thought the admission price was fairly reasonable and they offer a lot of different discounts.

This place is so amazing and I am so grateful they have a place for food conditioned animals to go rather than being euthanized. The best parts for me was seeing the wolves, so beautiful! Our youngest son made us all jealous while he participated in the “Kid Keeper” program that allows children ages 5-12 to go into the grizzly habitat to his treats for the bears to forage for as they would in the wild. My husband loved the bears and the otters were incredibly cute!

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!

My husband and I had a nice visit here. It was nice to see the non-releasable animals looking healthy and living in a safe haven. I especially enjoyed the eagles, but the bears, wolves, and other raptors were great to see also. We even liked seeing all of the ravens hanging out in the bear enclosure too. It seems like the staff cares about the animals' well-being. The ticket prices are fair and there is free parking in the lot, along with a nice gift shop across from the entrance.

This place is a must stop and visit when you are passing thru West Yellowstone. The visitor center has lots of interesting facts about the wildlife. Then you get to go outside and see the animals, raptors, fish and otters. What an amazing place!!

I loved being able to see the bears and wolves up close. I also loved the signage provided on the animals giving their names and why they were living in the center. The staff were very knowledgeable. I learned a lot during our visit. I loved the product testing area of how bear proof items were. The place is not super big but it is definitely worth visiting.

This is a cool little stop if you need something to do. It has a little museum and then outside there are wolves, bears, raptors, ground squirrels, and otters. They rotate outside time with the different bears, so they have a schedule on the wall so you can see which ones are coming out. It’s a neat little operation they have set up.

Didn’t expect much but this turned out to be a worthwhile visit. Primarily educational about wolves & bears with films, exhibits, stories and live animals displayed in humane environments , grizzlies, wolves, raptors & some marine life. All animals were either previously injured,rescued,or removed for their own good as nuisances I.e. unable to function in the wild. Spend an hour or two

I had been looking forward to visiting here but sorry to say I was disappointed. I thought the expensive admission did not justify what was on offer. I only hope a large proportion of the fee was used for the benefit of the animals.

Overall, a solid little wildlife park. Able to see grizzly’s, wolves, variety of birds, fish, reptiles(just a few), otters. Great for small kids. Easy walking, nice educational area up front. Average prices. Pay for one visit and you are able to return the next day and visit again for free.

Our kid loved the fish tanks.

If you read this give it a thumbs up.

Not a ton of activities in West Yellowstone, so this one will naturally gravitate to the top. The bear exhibit is the main reason to check it out. Also, has a nice Bald Eagle and underwater fish/otter exhibit.

This was right across the street from out hotel and since we did not see any bears in the park we decided to go there. It was nice. We enjoyed seeing the bear and wolves and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable.

My granddaughter could not stop watching the wolves and bears, nor the otters and groundhogs. We both felt the animals were being cared for well. The bald Eagle and Hawks were amazing and appeared to be well cared for.

My 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.

This place is amazing. The staff is so informative and courteous. We spent time speaking with a young woman afterwards and she answered so many questions for us. Seeing grizzlies in person was amazing. This is not a zoo. It’s a placement for animals that can no longer be in the wild. Don’t hesitate to visit and educate yourself.

what a wonderful place to see the West's iconic creatures in a clean, kind, and caring environment. the staff was super knowledgeable. there were a bunch of grizzlies and wolves. the staff explained why the animals were no longer in the wild ..... and i appreciated the opportunity in particular to observe grizzly behavior. the size and confidence and intelligence of these bears is incredible.

If you are in West Yellowstone visit the Discovery Center. We stayed very near, but there is plenty of parking if you drive. Go early when the animals are most active--this would be especially true if you visited in warmer summer months. This is a rescue/recovery center and not a zoo. Staff were accessible for questions and they made a brief presentation about the bear when we were there. Other presentations were scheduled during the day. The area is very walkable.

We are major supporters of wildlife rehabbers and truly appreciate the efforts and obvious care that this organization offers the wildlife that reside there. They promote environmental awareness and how humans impact nature. We observed a school field trip during our visit that was managed extremely well and unintrusive to the other guests. Well worth the time to visit or to take children to get up close and personal with the wolves, grizzlies and other critters!

Perfect place to go on a rainy day - very informative and interesting..good for small children to see animals up close!!

Awesome activity for kids. Seeing the wolves and bears up close was awesome. Great way to spend a morning.

Fascinating place for the whole family. My husband and I loved watching the two grizzlies try to open a plastic cooler with food in it. Apparently that was the day for actual research on how resistant to bears this cooler was. If they can't get it open within one hour of constant trying, it gets approved for sale as bear-resistant. So much to see and explore.

I highly recommend spending a couple of hours here if you're able to. We arrived when it opened and our daughters were able to participate in the "Keeper Kids" program (available for children ages 5-12) which included an opportunity for them to hide food in the bear enclosure for one of the grizzlies (the bears aren't in there at the time!). The main bear enclosure cycles the grizzlies through so you can learn about all of them - most of them are local and were rescued and housed here after becoming too familiar with humans. There is a wolf pack here also, as well as raptors and other small mammals and reptiles you might see when walking through Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area.

A nice little half day outing. Grizzly bears and wolves walking around. Not as cool as seeing them in the wild, but it was fun to see anyway.

I am so glad we decided to stop in. We didn’t know there would be live animals there. You are very close to the enclosure and they give talks about the animals and how they ended up being rescued. I wanted to see wolves in Yellowstone and this is the best way to guarantee you will see them. This is not a zoo. It’s more a sanctuary.

The bears were active playing together in the water. Then the oldest bear came out by herself! They hide food for them to find! We enjoyed this experience very much! The wolves were active as well.

A great place to see Grizzly Bears and Wolves up close. Sure you can see bears and wolves in the park but it will more than likely be at a distance. Here you can see bears and wolves searching for the food placed by the handlers. Its a great place for kids and adults alike. We bought a season pass after our first visit.

This was one of the best values on our trip.. My 6 Grandkids loved the place. We had to force them to leave as they fell in love with the wolves and the otters.

After reading the bad reviews I think that some folks are missing the point. The entrance fee goes toward the animals well being. These animals are all hard luck cases where captivation was the last resort before destruction. Its sad to see vultures and birds of prey that once graced the sky unable to fly due to unrepairable wings. Grizzley bears that became to comfortable with human beings that would have been otherwise euthanized, captivation was the last choice. At least they have a life and are taken care of. I found the exhibits informative. From my perspective it was worth the entry fee to be up close to these magnificent creatures.

Even if you have a chance sighting of bears and wolves in Yellowstone this center is well worth a visit.
The ticket is good for two days - great for scheduling. There are other rescued animal attractions including owls, falcons, bald eagles, and river otters. Time of day and season may cause changes in viewing opportunities.
There is a schedule posted in the center of the outdoor plaza with all sorts of lectures listed. The naturalists are well informed and give a thorough talk. They were available afterwards for questions and discussions. There are also informational kiosks and posters.
Check with the center for the best times to see the bears and wolves as they have specific times they may not be active or available to see.
We used the two days to break up our visit between morning and afternoon. Between the two days we observed the wolves being very active with their pacing and playful antics with each other. The bears are rotated in and out of the viewing area. We did see quite a few individual bears, each with their own "personality."
The birds were somewhat still in their aviary cage, but the eagles were quite noisy with their squawking. There was only one otter about in the indoor pool, but it was quite the swimmer.

Very much what we expected. If you have an extra day or as we did it a needed day of rest, a good way to spend a few hours. Very nice facility but not too large. Educational, clean and fun.

A nice attraction just outside the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Lots of planned activities during the day. Informative signage provided regarding the various rescued animals there. They also have a cell phone number you can call to get additional information at various stops around the facility.

Educational. It’s a small area with 4 exhibits: Bears, Wolves, Birds and Otters. We learned a lot about each animal and why they are at the center. Ticket good for 2 days.

What a great discovery center. I loved the movie, which described the history of the park and how the wolves were impacted over the years. Having all the native animals keeps the environment alive and thriving. We also liked learning about the bears and other animals as to why they existed at this center. It's definitely a worthwhile experience.

We enjoyed our time here and it was great to watch the grizzly bears search for their food as well as swim. The wolves were beautiful and the area with the fish and otters was beautiful. We highly recommend this very educational and interesting place.

As members of the St. Louis Zoo we like to visit other American Zoo Association member creature habitats. This smaller, more focused Discovery Center is so well done and so centered on the homes they provide being safe, we were very favorable impressed and highly recommend others to visit. The creatures are all rescues in need of a safe home. Not only do they have several wolves and (0f course) the grizzly they also have an aquatic exhibit with otters, various trout and other water creatures where they can feel at home and we are able to watch them up close.

How this small attraction does such a wonderful job is amazing. Yes, down the road is Yellowstone, which s spectacular but in addition do visit this center for a nice addition and a much more personal and closer safe visit.

We visited with 8 children under the age of 10 and everyone of them had a blast. Adults and kids alike learned about all of the animals, but especially the grizzlies. The kids participated in the keeper kids program for a small fee, where they hid food for the bears. They also learned a lot about the bears and some about zookeeping in the process. The way this program is set up, you are guaranteed to see active animals and we all really enjoyed the visit.

Stopped in on a Tuesday in late June. Comfortable 65* The bears are rotated from inside to the outdoor enclosure about every 45 minutes. The enrich the space with hidden treats between. The 3 bears we saw looked healthy and happy. I’m not sure about the 24 hrs and 15 minutes they spend in a small indoor space. We didn’t see any wolves. Not sure why. They have some eagles, buzzard and owl. Those enclosures are very small. The place was very clean and staff was available, informative and friendly.

A very professional establishment - the animals are obviously well cared for - the facility is modern, well organized, with excellent visual displays. I have been to other similar establishments but this far surpasses anything else. If you travel to Yellowstone NP be sure to put this one on your “to do” list.

Don’t waste your time or money. The enclosures are small and we only saw 2 bears. We saw 2 or 3 wolves and 2 otters. They have some birds in small cages as well. We were there maybe 15 minutes. Definitely NOT worth the money.

This was an incredible place. The kids had so much fun. It was educational, entertaining a lot better than I had expected.

I wasn’t sure of what to expect but was very impressed with the center. It is a non contact rescue that is very informative and it was amazing to watch the animals. The wolves were so much fun to watch as they played and interacted with each other. The grizzlies are so well taken care of as well and we loved the large viewing areas. Highly recommend !

Since we weren't lucky enough to see any bears or wolves during our time in the park, we decided to spend our last morning at the Center--which was fantastic! It's a perfect 2-3 hour stay. One thing I would highly suggest for kids (5-12) is to get there early to do the Keeper Kids activity--where the kids get to go into the bear habitat (while the bears are out), and prep food items/enrichment for the bears. It was one of the top things that our kids did all week in Yellowstone. It costs only $5 each, and was a really cool event.
Also - tickets allow in-and-out privileges not only for the day you buy, but the next day as well.

This refuge takes in bears and wolves that have become too close to humans and would otherwise be put down. They provide a lot of education about these animals. It is well worth the admission to support this cause.

We enjoyed this. While the center is relatively small, they pack a lot of relevant information in. My oldest son really enjoyed the wolf talk by the staff and by younger two really enjoyed the grizzly bear feeding event (if you have younger kids, do this!) We ended up spending a lot more time here than I thought we would to take it all in and everyone enjoyed something different.

What a great experience! I have never had such an up close view of wolves and their behavior. This park takes excellent care of the animals and we had an amazing time. 2-3 hours is a good amount of time here.

The Discovery Center was a highlight of our trip. Since most people will not (and should not) see a wolf or bear up-close inside the park (LOL), this is a great way to see these incredible animals with your own eyes. The stories of their rescues are heart-warming, and the staff is super-knowledgeable and patient with questions.

The best part was when they stocked a "stream" with live fish and then let a family of wolves hunt them while we watched. Incredible.

A nice experience but a bit pricey given the number of closed exhibits. We were able to see bears, otters, wolves & squirrels. I think we saw more animals in the park!

Considering I don’t like zoos this blew me away. I liked that they actually help animals in need. So cool to see bears so close!

If you are staying in West Yellowstone or anywhere even close to West Yellowstone you definitely need to see the grizzly and wolf encounter center it is amazing how close you can get these animals actually see them in a wildlife setting, there are many other animals in the park as well such as bald eagle otters house and even some fish and a few snakes I believe definitely worth the time to take the family in there to get it up close and personal view of them.

This place was nearly a cut rate zoo. 31.00 to stretch our legs!!! This place is for folks that have never left their house.

Very easy to walk around and see these great animal. Staff is very informative so make it a must see while in West Yellowstone.

Watched a bear dismantle a cooler. They sometimes give the bears items to keep them challenged baited with treats. The bear worked on the cooler for about 30 minutes and completely dismantled it. Was fascinating to watch him work and solve how to get to the treat. The brute strength and intelligence was awesome.

This center has rescued animals in an educational setting. The center is funded by donations. The staff are very willing to tell visitors about the animal residents and the work they are doing to help them. We were excited to watch two bears play and wrestle for an hour. The wolves were fed while we were there. The otters were out of site, while the habitats were being cleaned. We enjoyed the visit.

So fun to watch the bears playing up close. Highly recommend for a fun break from Yellowstone driving and hikes! The employees also provide fun information about all the animals.

There was a really informative talk on using bear spray, and general bear country etiquette. The bear enclosure was well designed and the bears seemed to enjoy it. Good to know these rescued bears got a second chance. The river otters were fun to watch, I could have spent more time here. The wolves are magnificent, and the enclosure is designed for good visibility. I would recommend this for adults and families both. Good place to spend a few hours.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. These animals have all been rescued and are not able to live on their own in the wild. This place remains a haven for them. Each animal is named and has a story to be shared, which was one of the endearing facets of the Center.

I visited with my teenagers and we spent at least 30 minutes watching 3 bears play together in the water. It was so fun!

I liked that this is a non-profit and that the organization is working to educate people about how these animals are affected by humans. Worth a stop!

Great educational facility. Thought the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Facility seemed to do a great job with caring for the animals. All seemed healthy and well cared for. They were doing some maintenance work day we were there but did not impact our visit. Great gift shop too. We enjoyed our afternoon. We stayed nearby and at night we could hear their wolves howl at night (a treat!). Wish we had time to come me back.

What a great place. We visited on a cool day in May but really enjoyed ourselves. We saw lots of wolves, several bears and a great aquatic display. I hope to return sometime.

Was pleasantly surprised! Great little place and we could see the animals pretty close! We loved the bears and learning about them, and we saw wolves and they were huge! Great place for the day and would go again!

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.

This is a place set up to save animals that have been injured and can no longer make it in the wild. They have some bears, wolves, various raptors, and otters (which were an interesting inclusion, but also something I rarely see). They offer explanations about the various animals in terms of their stories and habits. A nice stop on the way into Yellowstone (the park entrance is a block away).