Wolfdog Sanctuary – Interactive

The tour itself is a 45 minute experience, however you will have lots of time before or after your tour to explore the entire sanctuary on a self-guided walk.

The experience includes a detailed talk in a small group inside two enclosures to understand more about wolves and wolfdog hybrids. The wolfdogs themselves are tame but not domesticated, which means they will be curious and may approach guests who are relaxed and quiet. The tour also includes the option to go on the Sanctuary Walk either before or after the scheduled tour time.

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is located on Range Road 53 on the 1A Highway, 60 minutes from Banff and 10 minutes from Cochrane. Detailed driving directions will be included in your booking confirmation.

Tour times are 10.30am, 12pm, 2pm and 3.30pm, all year round. The tour runs every day from Thursday to Monday, as the Sanctuary is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Tours run in all weather conditions; rain or shine, -30C or +30C. Please ensure that you dress for the weather as you will be outside for the duration of the tour, and wear appropriate footwear as this is a walking tour. On cold winter days, we highly recommend snow pants, gloves, a toque and a warm coat! We ask that tour participants refrain from wearing any real fur products, but Faux fur, sheepskin, leather and down filled jackets are fine to wear, please make sure that they are covered and not in view. Dresses and skirts are not recommended. The wolfdogs love to explore the world with their mouths, and these articles of clothing can be fun for the wolfdogs to grab at. Please avoid using any strong scents or perfumes, as wolfdogs are very sensitive to smells. Fanny packs or small cross body purses are now allowed to enter the enclosures. Large purses and backpacks are not permitted and we try to encourage people to just bring a phone/camera with them. We are able to store guest’s bags at the front desk, or they can leave them in their vehicles.

Guests will be very close to the animals, but are required to stay seated in the viewing area for the comfort of the wolfdogs and to ensure a better experience for the guests. The wolfdogs will be curious and may approach very close to guests who are relaxed and quiet.

Children must be 15 years or older to participate in the Interactive Tour. For children under 15 years, we recommend looking at the Intro Tour (minimum of 10 years) or Sanctuary Walk (minimum of 6 years). Note: We do not offer any visiting options for children under 6 years of age, including newborns. Why These Age Restrictions? Wolfdogs are very sensitive to children due to their size and mannerisms. The presence of younger children can disrupt the wolfdogs' comfort and natural behaviours. To ensure a safe and serene environment for our wolfdogs, we have set these age restrictions. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe space for our wolfdogs. ‍

This tour is currently not wheelchair accessible. Walkers are also not permitted as these items can spook the wolfdogs. For accessible visiting options, please check out our Intro Tour or Sanctuary Walk.

There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change, cancel, or refund your booking up to 24 hours prior to your tour (or up to 7 days prior for group bookings).

Tips are not expected but our staff certainly appreciates them. If you had a great day and wish to indicate so through a tip to the staff they are graciously accepted.