Wolfdog Sanctuary – Intro

The tour itself is a 30 minute experience, however you will have lots of time before or after your tour to explore the entire sanctuary.

The experience at the Sanctuary includes a 30 minute introductory talk with one of the experienced staff members, to understand more about wolfdogs and what the sanctuary does. Guests will be taken into a closed off section of an enclosure (behind a short barrier) to view a pack of high content wolfdog, with the opportunity to photograph them inside their enclosure. In addition, guests will also be able to explore the entire sanctuary on a self-guided walk to view the 55+ wolfdogs on site. Educational signs are placed throughout the sanctuary, so visitors are able to learn interesting and key facts about wolves and wolfdogs. Throughout the day, different activities are scheduled, so while on the walk guests may be able to see different packs get fed, given toys, etc. There is also a gift shop at the sanctuary with a variety of merchandise for sale. All the proceeds of the items sold in the gift shop go directly towards caring for the animals at the sanctuary, as well as continuing their rescue efforts.

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctary 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 10:45am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm and 3:45pm, all year round. The hours of operation are Thursday through Monday. 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 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.

Children must be a minimum of 10 years old to participate in the Intro Tour. For children under 10 years, we recommend looking at into the Sanctuary Walk (minimum of 6 years). Note: There are no 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 the wolfdogs, there are age restrictions. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe space for our wolfdogs.

No, this tour does not involve any interaction with the wolfdogs. For guests interested in this, the Wolfdog Sanctuary Interactive Tour is recommended.

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.