Montana Grizzly Encounter
Montana Grizzly Encounter
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Montana Grizzly Encounter is a grizzly bear rescue and educational sanctuary.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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- MrsmomMesa, Arizona2 contributionsVery educational/ Important Rescue WorkSmall but very informative. Learned the history of the bears that are and have been residents here. The staff was very friendly and informative regarding bears in general as well as safety tips when in bear country. We really enjoyed watching Max. He was so active. We returned later in the afternoon on our drive back from Livingston to Bozeman and saw Bella too. Yes, it’s small and only one bear at a time is out, but it’s important rescue work and we were happy to support them through ticket and t-shirt purchases.Visited July 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 26 July 2024
- Ryan MNew York City, New York6 contributionsSuch a cool experience!My family and I loved it! The facility is small, but we have never seen happier and more active bears (especially in zoos). You could tell that the bears were very well looked after, stimulated and enjoyed their lives. For a good 2-3 hours, we watched a huge Alaskan Grizzly play with stumps, full pine trees, and other toys without rest. He looked like he was having a ball. We also learned a lot from the staff that works there. Fantastic place!Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 19 August 2024
- kctinasFairway, Kansas76 contributionsGreat ExperienceWe took our 8 year old grand daughter to see "Max" the grizzly on her first trip to Montana. I think we had a better time learning about the bears, bear awareness, and bear safety from the excellent guide. I would highly recommend it to families traveling in the area, especially if you are going to be hiking the less populated trails.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 23 August 2024
- Sherri GoolRound Rock, Texas1,072 contributionsWell loved bears.Very informative information about bear safety and hibernation. Up close but with a moat and barrier for protection. Super cute bear. We got to see max ! He was adorable. Gift shop had cute things. We made a donation to the sanctuary instead of shopping.Visited September 2024Travelled with familyWritten 28 September 2024
- Be A TravelerBentonville, Arkansas148 contributionsGo go go here!!!This was wonderful! Got to see a bear just being a bear while Connor, our guide, explained everything you would want to know about bears in an engaging and entertaining manner. The staff shows how they love their jobs and the bears in their enthusiasm and welcoming nature. Andy in the gift shop was a great conversationalist! I would go here again and again. The place is great for all ages, and when I was there a school field trip arrived and the youngsters were full of questions, which Connor handled wonderfully. Since not all the bears can be out at the same time, the ticket is good for two days — so you can come back the next day to see different bears in the habitat. These bears were brought here due to being orphaned in the wild or due to being rescued from unfortunate circumstances. Since they can no longer be in the wild, they are well cared for here and help with education (at a safe distance) but still living their best bear life. Don’t hesitate. Go to Montana Grizzly Encounter!!!Visited October 2024Travelled soloWritten 4 October 2024
- Jessica CSherwood, Oregon7 contributionsGreat experience and great photo opportunities!Super fun to see the bear rolling around in the snow. We saw Max on exhibit. I really liked we could come back over a couple days to see the various bears. Max was being ADORABLE playing with a hide. The staff were super nice and answered all kinds of questions. Would recommend, especially if staying in/near Bozeman where you can come back over the 48 hours of your ticket.Visited November 2024Travelled with familyWritten 9 November 2024
- CLRD4TOStuart, Florida377 contributionsA short drive from Bozeman and worth the timeA simple setup but a great way to get as close as possible to a grizzly bear. The day we visited “Max” the 1100 pound male was out playing in the snow and water. Excellent insight by a guide that was stationed outside with us.Visited November 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 November 2024
- Lani SLos Gatos, California26 contributionsRescued Grizzlies are well cared forThese are rescued Grizzlies that serve as ambassadors to the species. They can't be released into the wild but they are very well fed and cared for. I loved how the staff hid treats all over their play yard to engage the bears. And they do this every day. Amazing.Visited December 2024Travelled soloWritten 15 December 2024
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4.5
717 reviews
Excellent
434
Very good
163
Average
67
Poor
27
Terrible
26
Mary
7 contributions
Jun 2023
This was a fantastic experience. Unlike the bears in Yellowstone Park, these bears were rescued and lived in a secure setting. The guide was a young woman who gave a most interesting talk about the bears in their care but also a safety talk should you encounter a bear ( which is not unusual in Montana!). We got to see the bears up close and watch them play. The bear that was out in the compound the day we visited was called Max and he resounded to his name! It was lovely and educational and I would highly recommend for every age!
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobbiann H
Orlando, FL50 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
It was fun to see Bella playing in the water and watching the switch to Maggi, who adorably was licking jelly off a rock. The price isn't bad for what you get.
It is small with really only the one viewing area to see. The young man speaking first was easy to hear, and I was impressed with how patient he was. I heard him explain the answer to the same two questions no less than four times as people flowed in and out. Each time was like it had never been asked and as someone in hospitality that can be hard to consistently achieve. The next person to speak was a younger woman, and it was harder to hear her. She also came off bored in her tone as she shared information.
I ended up having to leave another tour that was running long early to hit my 2pm ticket time. It would appear that was not necessary as there isn't a structured tour or talk. People were coming and going on a flow. I wish the open entry time entry time had been clearer. I wouldn't have rushed. I certainly could have missed something, but the scheduled in time seemed unnecessary with the demand of that day.
It is small with really only the one viewing area to see. The young man speaking first was easy to hear, and I was impressed with how patient he was. I heard him explain the answer to the same two questions no less than four times as people flowed in and out. Each time was like it had never been asked and as someone in hospitality that can be hard to consistently achieve. The next person to speak was a younger woman, and it was harder to hear her. She also came off bored in her tone as she shared information.
I ended up having to leave another tour that was running long early to hit my 2pm ticket time. It would appear that was not necessary as there isn't a structured tour or talk. People were coming and going on a flow. I wish the open entry time entry time had been clearer. I wouldn't have rushed. I certainly could have missed something, but the scheduled in time seemed unnecessary with the demand of that day.
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dovewood
O'Brien, FL125 contributions
Aug 2022
Wow, we loved hearing the tour guide give so much awesome information about bears and seeing the 900 brown bear put on a real show for everyone. We stayed an hour and a half hearing so much interesting facts about bears and watching this beautiful brown bear play in the water, stroll over rocks and trails then get up pretty close to all the tourist for lots of photos. I didn't expect to learn so much and have a guide that was so informative about bears. It was a super Grizzly experience.
Written 10 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MenaLisa K
Asheville, NC12 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
This may be called a sanctuary, but when the bears are kept in an enclosed concrete den for 90% of the day, I call it a zoo. The 3 bears are let out each day for an average of 2 hours a day. Sometimes more. The lecture was informative, but the speaker could not have sounded or looked more bored.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cowgirl1958
Sonora, KY2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The name implies you will see grizzly bears but in reality you are seeing brown bears. The bears are in a small confined area. You will only see one of 3 at a time due to a small space and they do not interact with each other. The instructor was very informative and knowledgeable. Your ticket is good for a second day.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich
alaama76 contributions
May 2021
Ripoff. Went near the end of May.
They have a very nice young fellow that does quite a bit of talking and gives good information as well as some helpful tips on using bear spray. That was helpful.
Spent $36 for the four of us to watch a bear walk in circles near her entrance for about 15 minutes. It's a bait and switch. You don't see several bears out at once. They explained that they don't really get along with each other.
We spent 15 minutes watching a bear walk in circles as far away from us as possible. They kept telling us, "She wants to go back in." while making her stay outside while some dude bashed the water pool with a stick to entice her to come closer.
They finally let Belle, the 800 pounder, out and she did a little better.
Something seems strange about this place and I don't believe I will go back.
It was fairly crowded - maybe 30 people watching.
They have a very nice young fellow that does quite a bit of talking and gives good information as well as some helpful tips on using bear spray. That was helpful.
Spent $36 for the four of us to watch a bear walk in circles near her entrance for about 15 minutes. It's a bait and switch. You don't see several bears out at once. They explained that they don't really get along with each other.
We spent 15 minutes watching a bear walk in circles as far away from us as possible. They kept telling us, "She wants to go back in." while making her stay outside while some dude bashed the water pool with a stick to entice her to come closer.
They finally let Belle, the 800 pounder, out and she did a little better.
Something seems strange about this place and I don't believe I will go back.
It was fairly crowded - maybe 30 people watching.
Written 8 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunshine1124
Florida27 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Please do not give this tourist trap money. We arrived thinking this was a bear rescue. We paid $18 for the two of us to see A (one) bear. They keep them in small cages the whole time and let one bear out at a time for the public to see. Very sad. When we asked if there was more to see, the girl in the gift shop rudely said, “No, this is it. We switch the bears out every few hours which is why we give you two days to come back to see a different one”. This is a horrible and ridiculous tourist trap that is only there to make money from unsuspecting tourists. Please do not give them $ or support what they are doing. These bears are in cages most of the time for profit.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pattywalshrn
Wallingford, PA16 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
I have been to this attraction several times over the past few years. This year, it was over forty dollars 42 senior citizens and a nine and 11 year old. While I think it is a very educational exhibit, I think it is way overpriced for what you actually get to see and learn. And adding the ice cream truck is really a distraction when you've already paid quite a bit of money to see a bear.
Unfortunately I probably will not be back.
Unfortunately I probably will not be back.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fm28
Newton, MA92 contributions
Jul 2021
As someone else mentioned, this seems like it would be a tourist trap, but is not. The grizzly bear rescue has 4 bears currently in residence. Each was rescued from a situation where it could not survive in the wild (ie perhaps due to being orphaned as a young cub). The bears do not mix (grizzlies live solo in the wild except for mothers and cubs); each has their own den which is not on view to the public. This is not a full-day activity; plan for about an hour.
There is not a viewing "schedule." Rather, at certain times of the day, the doors to each of the dens is opened to allow a bear an optional visit outside into the natural habitat viewing area. Once out in the viewing area, a bear stays outside for as long or short a period as it likes and visitors can view the natural habitat from an area separated by a deep moat. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions, but basically, visitors stand around and watch and photograph the grizzly. So when you visit, be mindful that you will see 1 grizzly unless you hang out for several hours. The reasonable admission ticket ($9 adult) covers the span of 2 days so you can return to catch others you haven't seen.
There is not a viewing "schedule." Rather, at certain times of the day, the doors to each of the dens is opened to allow a bear an optional visit outside into the natural habitat viewing area. Once out in the viewing area, a bear stays outside for as long or short a period as it likes and visitors can view the natural habitat from an area separated by a deep moat. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions, but basically, visitors stand around and watch and photograph the grizzly. So when you visit, be mindful that you will see 1 grizzly unless you hang out for several hours. The reasonable admission ticket ($9 adult) covers the span of 2 days so you can return to catch others you haven't seen.
Written 25 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eddi10c
Edinburgh, UK682 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
12 miles from town and on a highway it’s easy to access if driving or, like me, a $35 each way Uber.
It’s worth the visit for the grizzly - rescue animals (I wouldn’t normally approve of bears in captivity), but there is usually only one bear to see at any one time so the visit might be a quick one. That might make you think twice about taking an Uber out!
The bear we saw was clearly very happy and playful. Max was a big boy! We hadn’t seen a grizzly in our week in Yellowstone so it was worth a visit for us.
Facilities are basic. Portaloos and a small shop. The compound takes only a minute to walk into and see the bear. But it’s worth spending time just watching the play.
I think there is the opportunity to buy soft drinks and coffee too.
Good visit and probably deserves more custom.
It’s worth the visit for the grizzly - rescue animals (I wouldn’t normally approve of bears in captivity), but there is usually only one bear to see at any one time so the visit might be a quick one. That might make you think twice about taking an Uber out!
The bear we saw was clearly very happy and playful. Max was a big boy! We hadn’t seen a grizzly in our week in Yellowstone so it was worth a visit for us.
Facilities are basic. Portaloos and a small shop. The compound takes only a minute to walk into and see the bear. But it’s worth spending time just watching the play.
I think there is the opportunity to buy soft drinks and coffee too.
Good visit and probably deserves more custom.
Written 24 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you need advance ticket End of October
Written 28 September 2022
I don’t believe you would need an advance ticket. There is quite a bit of room.
I would verify they winter hours of operation.
Spring (May 1st): 10am - 5pm Thursday - Monday
Summer (June 1st): 10am - 6pm Wednesday - Monday
Fall (September 1st): 10am - 5pm Thursday - Monday
Winter (November 1st): 10am - 4 pm Thursday - Sunday.
Adults– 13 and Older $10
Children– 4-12 $8
Seniors– 65+ $9
Under 3– Free
Military Discount– $1 off (with valid ID)
Season Passes Available
Written 30 September 2022
With all the controversy surrounding private zoos and fake sanctuaries, I want to know the animals are truly well cared for before I visit. How can you guarantee me and other visitors this?
Written 13 April 2020
Last year was worthwhile. I was there last year and they take really well with their animals. Hopefully it is the same as last year.
I hope that I was of help.
Robby G.C.
Written 14 April 2020
What time of day do they switch the bears or what time is the best to visit?
Written 21 November 2019
When I visited, the bears each stayed out about 45 minutes. The interim period (when no bears are out) varies depending on what the bears want to do. If they don’t want to go out they don’t make them— which I appreciated.
Written 23 November 2019
I like what I've read about the Montana Grizzly Encounter. Can anyone tell me about how long the tour is?
Written 20 December 2017
About an hour, maybe less. Very interesting and the bears are beautiful.
Written 6 July 2018
do you just stay as long as you want to look at the bears is there anything else to do if there is how long to do them
Written 27 September 2017
You can stay as long as you want and also return the next day. Cost is $7 and there is a gift shop to browse.
Written 13 November 2017
Hi Kelly,
As a volunteer at the Montana Grizzly Encounter, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. We take great pride in our facility, and do our best to give the bears the best life possible. All of our bears, with the exception of Bella, were born in captivity, and lived in overcrowded or unethical situations. While the enclosure for the bears may not be huge, it is an area greatly enjoyed by our bears, with two ponds and lots of room to play and exercise. We are a facility licensed by the state of Montana, and have passed all inspections.
We are a rescue sanctuary with the goal of providing bear education and viewing. We have a rotation of volunteers and staff to provide information on our bears and our facility, and we strive to make everyone's visit enjoyable. We do hope you will give us another try.
Christine
Written 21 September 2016
Joshua, I am a volunteer at the Grizzly Encounter and we strive to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome at the Grizzly Encounter. We are sorry you had an unfortunate experience. We also strive to be very kid friendly, and welcome school groups at no charge. We do hope you will reconsider and visit us again.
Christine
Written 11 July 2016
This is a low key “non adventure”. These people are doing a remarkable job saving these magnificent creatures. Go, sit, and reflect on what is happening. This is not a Disney Theme Park! You will not be entertained, but, you might learn something.
Written 30 April 2018
What is it like visiting in the winter? Are you outside the entire time?
Written 6 February 2016
Yes, you will be outdoors, same as the bears. But one would assume that, if you are in Montana in the winter time, then you would have the appropriate clothing to stay warm.
Written 7 February 2016
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