Not all travellers to Arizona want to see bears. Hikers, in particular, would rather the bears stay well away. But for nature-lovers who want to admire Arizona’s bears from a safe distance, there are a few options.
The best place to see bears in Arizona
The best place to see bears in Arizona is Bearizona, a wildlife park in Williams – the departure point for the Grand Canyon Railway. This safari-style drive-through park has dozens of rescued bears living in habitats kept as close as possible to their forest homes.
Bearizona is also home to jaguars, tundra wolves and otters, amongst other creatures. It also has a series of surprisingly impressive wood carvings.
Which bear species live in Arizona?
The only bear species that lives in Arizona is the black bear, but it lives in surprisingly large stretches of the state. Forest and woodland areas are the preferred habitat.
They can often be seen around Prescott and Flagstaff, while Slide Rock State Park just to the north of Sedona is also a reliable spot for sightings.
5 great experiences around Flagstaff to book now
- 🏜️ Take a day tour to the natural wonders of Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
- 🏙️ Go beneath the streets of Flagstaff on a historic underground walking tour.
- ☄️ Discover what came from space on a full rim tour of Meteor Crater.
- 👻 Learn the spooky tales behind Flagstaff’s historic buildings on an evening ghost tour.
- 🏞️ Take a tour of the Grand Canyon, with an expert guide and transport from Flagstaff.
Seeing bears in Sedona, Arizona
Several tours from Sedona head to Slide Rock State Park, but Arizona Safari Jeep Tours runs specialist wildlife-focused trips that leave early in the morning. This is usually the best time of day for bear sightings.
5 great Sedona experiences to book
- 🚙 Get to red rock views others cannot reach on an off-road Jeep tour.
- 🚆 Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad, passing cliff dwellings, desert scenery and wildlife.
- 🌀 Discover the science and spirituality of Sedona’s vortexes on a specialist tour.
- 🚲 See Sedona’s highlights the easy way on an e-bike tour.
- 🌌 Take a Sedona night sky tour and hear the stories of the constellations.
These tours can be easily built into a wider Arizona travel itinerary, with a wide range of Arizona experiences available here.
Things to do near Bearizona
Grand Canyon Railway – Williams is the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway, making a train journey to the South Rim a natural addition to a Bearizona visit.
Williams Historic Route 66 – The centre of Williams has a well-preserved Route 66 character, with historic buildings, restaurants, shops and roadside attractions that are easy to explore after visiting Bearizona.
Grand Canyon Deer Farm – Just outside Williams, this wildlife park gives visitors the chance to see and feed deer and other animals at close range, providing another animal-focused stop nearby.
Bill Williams Mountain – Rising immediately south of Williams, this forested mountain provides hiking and scenic driving opportunities and offers a change of pace from the drive-through experience at Bearizona.
Sycamore Canyon – This large wilderness area south-east of Williams has hiking trails, forest and canyon scenery, making it an option for adding some outdoor time to a Williams stay.
Alternative attractions
Out of Africa Wildlife Park – Around an hour and 20 minutes south-east of Williams near Camp Verde, this wildlife park has large animals including lions, giraffes and tigers and provides a more traditional safari-style alternative to Bearizona.
Raptor Ranch – Along the road between Williams and the Grand Canyon, this attraction focuses on birds of prey and offers another opportunity to see Arizona wildlife in a more specialised setting.
Slide Rock State Park – North of Sedona, this popular outdoor attraction combines Oak Creek swimming with red-rock scenery and opportunities to see wildlife in its natural environment.
Montezuma Castle National Monument – South of Sedona in the Verde Valley, this historic cliff dwelling is surrounded by desert and woodland habitat, making it a useful alternative for combining wildlife, nature and Arizona history.
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More Arizona travel
For more things to do in Arizona, head here.
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