Above: Draco and Leia at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is located in Candy Kitchen, New Mexico. Photograph Courtesy of Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary/Crystal Castellanos.

There’s something beautifully haunting about dozens of wolves and wolf dogs howling in unison. At Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary—home to about 60 rescued wolves, wolf dogs, coyotes, dingoes, and New Guinea singing dogs, a trio of domestic dogs, and a single fox—such an experience awaits. South of Gallup, near El Morro National Monument, Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary offers refuge to these canines, many of them former pets that were either confiscated or turned over by their owners.

The sanctuary features 60-minute guided tours daily from March to December. You’ll see some of the wolves up close while learning about their personalities and unique rescue situations, and the problems with breeding wolves and wolf dogs as pets. Basic tours are $10 and require no advance reservation.

For a more immersive experience, book a feeding tour, wolf walk, or canine encounter. One-hour feeding tours are $25 and give visitors the opportunity to join volunteers as they toss food to the animals. Wolf walks start at $150 for a 30-to-45-minute private walk with a volunteer and a leashed wolf. Canine encounter tours start at $200 and let visitors enter a few of the habitats for more than an hour. For even longer adventures, reserve a campsite, cabin, or the spacious retreat center.

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WHERE (MORE OF)THE WILD THINGS ARE
Wildlife West Nature Park, Edgewood
Visit a variety of rescued wild animals, including owls, porcupines, moose, foxes, hawks, raccoons, and black bears. Open mid-March through October.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio
Each year, Bosque del Apache welcomes home hundreds of migrating sandhill cranes during its annual Festival of the Cranes, November 17–21.

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