Bearizona Wildlife Park
Bearizona is a drive-thru wildlife park near the Grand Canyon in Williams Arizona. As you drive through the park, bears and other animals come right up to your vehicle. This is a top attraction in Northern Arizona.
WEBSITE: https://bearizona.com/
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Overview
Bearizona focuses on the mammals of North America, with of course a prime focus on bears. Visitors drive through a three-mile portion of the park where the animals wander free, often coming right up to vehicles.
At the end of the drive, users can visit Fort Bearizona, a walk-through portion of the park that is more like a traditional zoo.
Bearizona is located in the town of Williams, Arizona, nicknamed the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. However, Williams is an hour drive from the Grand Canyon entrance. The town gets is nickname because it was originally located on Route 66 and today is on the Interstate 40. On a cross country trip, it is the closest town to the Grand Canyon.
The park is located right on I-40 so it is a perfect stop when driving through Arizona, even if you are not visiting the Grand Canyon.
Cost and Logistics
Bearizona is open year-round. However, during the winter Williams can get cold and snowy so plan accordingly.
Starting May 1, 2021, tickets are $27 for adults and $17 for children ages 4-12. Seniors 62 and over are $25. An annual pass is available for $100 with an annual carload pass starting at $200.
For the drive-through portion all vehicles must be enclosed. No open-top jeeps or convertibles are allowed.
There is an open-top Wild Ride Bus Tour. However, this 50-person passenger bus has been closed during COVID-19.
The park is generally open from 9 am to 5:30 with the last car admitted to the drive-through section at 4 pm. Hours can vary throughout the year.
Drive -Thru Area
The drive-through section of Bearizona is about three-miles long. There are about 10 different sections separated by fences and gates. The featured animals are all from North America.
In order the drive-through sections include:
- Rocky Mountain Goats
- Reindeer
- Elk and Mule Deer
- America Burro
- Alaskan and Artic Wolves
- Young Black Bears
- Bison Big Horn Sheep
- Adult Black Bears
Of course, the exciting part of Bearizona is that the animals are free to roam and will often come right up to your car. This includes the wolves and black bears.
Below are pictures from our drive-thru in fall 2020.
Fort Bearizona
At the end of the drive-thru section there is a parking lot and the Fort Bearizona walk-thru section. This is a more like a traditional zoo.
Like the drive-thru portion, Fort Bearizona focuses on North American mammals. Animals in Fort Bearizona include badgers, beavers, porcupines, bobcats, otters, jaguars and elk. The Mine Shaft Experience features nocturnal animals.
There are several animal shows. However, these shows have not been operating during COVID. The Bearizona Barnyard petting zoo has also been closed.
Dining
Bearizona features the casual Bearizona Grill with a large outdoor deck and the Canyonlands restaurant. The Canyonlands restaurant has a spectacular location in the large gift shop/jaguar exhibit. The focus is on BBQ and it includes a full bar.
