Not too far from the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona sits a 160 acre drive through wildlife park, Bearizona.
This unique wildlife park is not your typical zoo. It is a three mile drive thru park that offers visitors a unique and up close look at a number of wild animals in their natural habitat.
Bearizona is a 160 acre park that is fenced off from the Kaibab National Forest. Within those boundaries are smaller fenced off areas. The smaller areas restrict various species of bears, bison, goats, sheep, elk, deer, burros and wolves to their own designated habitats.
Bearizona Wildlife Park Northern Arizona
Many of the animals are known to cross the very dirt road that visitors drive down. Wildlife goers might find themselves in a halt while a bear moseys across the road or while a bison stops in the middle of the road to decide if he should turn back to the grasslands or head over to the shade of the Ponderosa Pine Trees. Visiting Bearizona is truly an experience like no other.
(I did not see it with my own eyes but it’s possible that wolves can actually open car doors!)
Aside from the drive through, Bearizona has a separate walk thru area for animal lovers. The winding path introduces visitors to a realm of North American animals. There is a barnyard petting zoo, periodical scheduled keeper chats and frequent bird shows.
My family highly recommends that tourists and Arizona natives alike take time to visit Bearizona. At least once. The park is just off of Interstate 40 on old Route 66 located in Williams, Arizona. It is just a half hour west of Flagstaff and an hour from the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
Bearizona is open daily. Admission ranges from $10 for children to $20 for adults however, they offer do senior discounts and annual carload passes. You can find more information on admission here. For those tourists wishing not to drive their own vehicle through the wildlife park, Bearizona hosts a wild ride bus tour. Tour times and ticket prices can also be found on their website.
Being in such close proximity to these beautiful wild creatures is amazing and depending on just how engaged you become you might end up staying on site for 2-3 hours. Plan for at least an hour and a half, take your camera and enjoy taking it all in.
