Fort Bearizona

Fort Bearizona is the walk-through wildlife section of Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona — about one hour north of Sedona and equally close to the Grand Canyon South Rim, making it an ideal stop on a northern Arizona road trip. While the Bearizona drive-through section lets visitors stay in their vehicles as North American wildlife roams around them, Fort Bearizona puts families on foot through a series of habitats where they come face-to-face with black bears, gray wolves, porcupines, otters, and other native species.

The experience of being at ground level, walking at your own pace through the exhibits, is fundamentally different from any car-window wildlife viewing. Children can stop as long as they want at the bear habitats, watching the animals move, play, and interact with their environment in ways that passing vehicles in the drive-through may miss. The wolf habitat is a particular favorite — seeing North American gray wolves at close range is a genuine wildlife encounter available at very few facilities in the region.

Spring months feature a nursery where baby animals are housed and sometimes available for viewing — an extremely popular element for families with young children. The birds of prey demonstration shows are educational and visually spectacular, appealing to older children and teens as much as younger siblings.

Fort Bearizona is included in standard Bearizona admission, which covers both the drive-through and walk-through sections. Williams, AZ offers Route 66 dining along a historic main street that makes a good before or after meal stop. The town's elevation (6,770 feet) keeps summer temperatures comfortable — bring a light layer even in July.