Learn about wolves and their importance in the Canadian Rockies, and watch them interact with humans and each other at Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre.
Golden is a fantastic base for adventurers who love the outdoors, extreme sports and animals. Bears and elk are most commonly seen in the Canadian Rockies, and you might even be lucky to see them around Golden.
If youβd like to have animal encounters guaranteed, there are lots to choose from in Golden. You can see the rescued grizzly bear Boo at Kicking Horse Resort, meet buffalos at Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch or visit wolves at Northern Lights Wildlife wolf centre.
Useful info about Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre
- Location: 1745 Short Rd, Golden, BC V0A 1H1, MAP here
- Open year-round:
- 9 am to 6 pm July β August
- 10 am to 6 pm in September
- 12 pm to 5 pm October β April
- 10 am to 6 pm May – June
- Admission: 15 Cad/adult; 12 Cad/seniors & youth, 8 Cad/child (4-11), infants FREE, 40 Cad/family
- No reservations are required; cash only (ATM is available in the gift shop)
- Contact: [email protected] or call +1 250-344-6798
- They have a seasonal snack shop outdoors with coffee & ice cream, and a gift shop
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33 Fun things to do in Golden
Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre
The wolf centre is located about a 15-minute drive north of Golden. The main goal of the centre is to promote wolf conservation through education.
No reservations are required, and youβre guaranteed to have a 25-minute interpretative talk about wolves suitable for all ages. The talk was fascinating, and I highly recommend a visit.
When you arrive, you see the wolves in their enclosure as soon as you walk through the gate.
No matter how many times Iβve seen wolves in the movies, they still seemed very big. They moved very fast and never made eye contact.
When we visited in spring before closing, we even experienced the feeding. Seeing how fast the wolves tear apart the meat, I gained a different perspective on this beautiful animal.
Currently, the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre takes care of 7 wolves:
- Uno (born in 2017) β the playful one, brother to Murphy and cousin to Farley
- Flora (born in 2012) β the loving and curious one from the pack
- Farley (born in 2017) β the playful and sneaky one
- Mack (born in 2011) β the oldest from the pack, a playful and shy one
- Scrappy Dave (born in 2012) β blonde wolf and brother to Flora
- Murphy (born in 2017) β the cuddly one and brother to Uno
- Honi (born in 2020) β found on the side of the road, she was lucky to survive her injuries and brought to live with the pack
You can learn more about wolves on their website, but nothing compares to seeing them in real life.
And if youβd like a truly unique experience, you can book a wolf photography walk. A group session costs 380 Cad/person or two people. You hike to Blaeberry Valley with a wolf (and wolf handlers) and experience their behaviour in their natural habitat.
When youβre planning your Golden itinerary, donβt forget to put visiting the wolves at Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre on the list. You can combine the wolf visit with meeting buffalos that are only 500 meters away (buffalo tours are at 10:15, and then visit the wolves).
What to do next?
Head to Cedar Lake and enjoy swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking or biking in the area. If you’re feeling adventurous, visit Golden Skybridge with its suspension bridges, rope course, zipline, roller coaster and canyon swing.
