A small crowd stands on a gravel path in the mountains west of Colorado Springs, and a guide gives the signal. The group lets out a clumsy, slightly embarrassed howl.
Then the wolves answer, one after another, until the whole pack joins in. That moment is the reason so many Front Range families make the drive up Highway 24 again and again.
The place behind it is a nonprofit sanctuary that gives rescued wolves, foxes and coyotes a lifelong home. Tours are short, affordable and packed with stories about each animal by name.
Keep reading to learn where it is, what the tours cost, which days it is closed, and how to get the most out of a single hour with the pack.
A Wolf Refuge in the Hills Near Divide
Tucked into the pine country of Teller County, this refuge sits closer to home than many Coloradans realize. The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is located at 4729 Twin Rocks Rd, Divide, CO 80814, in the mountains west of Colorado Springs and just past Woodland Park.
It is a nonprofit sanctuary for wolves and other wild canines. The mission centers on education, conservation and lifelong care for the animals that live here.
Guests arrive for guided tours rather than a wander-on-your-own zoo stroll. That format keeps groups focused, and it means every stop on the path comes with a story.
The center is also AZA-accredited, a detail that gives many guests peace of mind about the level of care. The grounds are tidy, well run and easy to find from the main highway.
For Front Range residents, the location is a big plus. Divide makes an easy day trip, and it pairs nicely with time around Woodland Park or the Cripple Creek area.
Nobody needs to plan a week-long mountain getaway to reach it. A free morning or afternoon is enough, and the pack is already waiting.
Rescue Stories Behind Every Name
Every wolf here has a name, and every name comes with a history. Guides walk the group from enclosure to enclosure, sharing who each animal is and how it came to live at the sanctuary.
The staff does not sugarcoat those stories. Some of the backgrounds are hard to hear, and the guides speak plainly about the challenges facing wolves across the country.
That honesty is part of the appeal. Guests often leave with a new view of wolves as intelligent, social animals rather than the villains of old fairy tales and movies.
Tours also cover the bigger picture. Guides talk about the types of wolves living at the center, the current state of wild populations, and laws that affect federal protections for gray wolves.
Plenty of people head home wanting to read more. Some go on to support advocacy groups after a single hour on the path.
Pairing matters too. The team works carefully to match compatible wolves so they are not alone, since these animals are deeply social.
It turns a tour into something closer to meeting a family, one member at a time.
The Pack Howl Finale
Here is the part people talk about the whole drive home. Near the end of the tour, the guide invites everyone to howl together.
Adults may feel a little silly at first. Then the wolves respond, and the entire pack joins the chorus through the trees.
Many guests call it the best part of the whole visit. It is personal in a way a typical zoo trip rarely is, because the group starts the call and the animals answer.
The howl wraps up the regular tour as well as the evening feeding tour. On the later tour, it can make for a memorable close to the day as the light fades in the mountains.
Kids tend to love it. So do grandparents, and so do the teenagers who swore they would not participate.
Moods vary, of course. Sometimes the response is powerful, and sometimes it turns out a little funny depending on the pack that day.
Either way, nobody leaves without a story to tell. Call it a howling success.
Foxes, Coyotes and Singing Dogs
Wolves get top billing, but the supporting cast steals plenty of scenes. The sanctuary is also home to foxes, coyotes and New Guinea singing dogs.
Foxes in particular show up again and again in conversations about the center. Some guests book an interactive fox encounter, where a guide helps the group safely meet fox residents such as Scarlett and Rhett.
Coyotes round out the canine lineup. Seeing several wild canine species side by side helps guests compare their behaviors and roles in nature.
The singing dogs are a fun surprise for anyone who has never heard of them. They add one more chapter to the story of wild canines worldwide.
Other residents appear as well. A big cat named Shamba has charmed some groups, and wolf dogs and horses are part of the larger family too.
All of the animals appear well cared for, with plenty of room. Some guests even note that the enclosures seem larger than those found at bigger zoos in the region.
It is a reminder that the center is more than a one-species stop.
Feeding Tours and Up-Close Encounters
For anyone wanting more than a standard walk, the center offers several upgrades. The feeding tour lets groups watch the animals receive treats while a guide explains their habits.
Wolves often come right up to the fence during these moments. Being just a few feet away is a highlight for many families.
The Meet and Greet goes further. It runs about $140 and includes roughly 30 minutes with the wolves plus the regular tour.
During an encounter, guests sit inside an enclosure, offer treats and give scratches to a wolf such as Zarah. A photographer may be on hand, and the photo packages are considered reasonably priced.
Dress matters for these sessions. Plan on jeans or khaki pants, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes.
The staff explains the rules clearly before anything begins. That structure keeps both people and animals comfortable.
Encounters are a splurge compared with the basic tour. For a birthday, an anniversary or a once-in-a-lifetime moment, many guests say it is worth every dollar.
Guides Who Know Every Wolf
Ask almost anyone about their visit, and the staff comes up fast. Knowledgeable guides are among the most frequently praised parts of the experience.
Names like Gavin, Alexis, Raina, Grace and Sofia pop up often. Each guide knows the individual animals well and fields questions patiently.
That passion shows in small ways. The team clearly explains how the tour works and keeps the group informed from start to finish.
Kindness extends past the tour too. One guest who could not get a ride back from the center was offered a lift by a guide, and another group without tickets was squeezed in for a tour and even an interaction after staff moved their lunch break.
Those stories should not be expected as standard. Still, they say plenty about the people running the place.
Families who returned summer after summer for years describe the staff as wonderful people. That kind of loyalty does not happen by accident.
The animals are the stars, but the guides make the show work.
Hours, Costs and Smart Planning
Good news for budget watchers: the basic tour is easy on the wallet. The regular guided tour has been listed at about $20 to $25 per person for roughly an hour.
The center is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and Thursdays, so plan around those days.
Reservations in advance are a smart move. Booking ahead helps avoid disappointment, especially on summer weekends.
The path is gravel with a couple of inclines. It is generally child-friendly and senior-friendly, which makes it an easy outing for multigenerational groups.
Traveling with a dog? Pets wait in the car, and there is an on-site dog relief area, so keep an eye on the weather and check on your pup between segments.
A gift shop and waiting area sit on the property. Proceeds support the animals and conservation work, so a magnet or shirt doubles as a small donation.
For ride-share users, getting a return ride from this mountain spot can be tricky. Driving yourself is the simplest plan.
Worth the Drive Up Highway 24
Some Colorado outings blur together after a while. A pack howl in the woods near Divide tends to stick.
The value is hard to beat. About an hour, a modest ticket price and a short drive from the Front Range deliver a mix of learning, mountain scenery and real connection with rescued animals.
It suits a wide range of people. Families with young kids, retirees looking for an easy day out and couples wanting something different all find their place on the tour.
The sanctuary also leans on public support as a nonprofit. Every ticket and gift shop purchase helps fund lifelong care for the residents.
Expect some tough facts about wild wolves. Expect, too, to leave with a fresh respect for animals that are often misunderstood.
Pick an open day, book a spot and bring a voice ready to howl. The pack will take it from there, and odds are good the trip will become a repeat on your calendar.
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