Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Alaska's Musk Ox Farm

Alaska's Musk Ox Farm is located in Palmer, just a little ways North of Anchorage in the Matsu Valley. After nearly reaching extinction in the 1940's and 1950's, the first Musk Ox Farm began in Fairbanks in 1964. Since then, it's grown into what it is today - a full blown qivuit producing, working Musk Ox Farm that encourages visitors to learn more about the endangered Musk Ox.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) and NordVPN to stay safe when surfing the web.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Planning Your Trip to see the Musk Ox

Getting to the Musk Ox Farm is quite easy. If you have a rental car you can just head North on Highway 1, otherwise you can take this all inclusive tour that also provides round trip transportation. Personally, I think the best time to visit the Musk Ox Farm is in the early summer or late spring months (think around May) - this is typically when you can see the baby musk ox calves! Otherwise, any warm, sunny summer day is nice - and because it's an outdoor walking tour I recommend wearing comfortable shoes you don't mind getting dirty, putting on some sunscreen, and bringing a zoom camera!

If you want to make sure they aren't sold out of tickets when you want to go, then I recommend booking tickets ahead of time on their website. You'll want to arrive a few minutes early to make sure you have enough time to look through their gift shop and museum.

My Favorite Tours in the Matsu Valley :
- Anchorage to the Musk Ox Farm
- Matanuska Glacier Tour

What to Expect at the Musk Ox Farm

When you arrive at the Musk Ox Farm (preferably a few minutes before your scheduled tour) you'll have time to look through their onsite gift shop and museum! At the gift shop you can find Musk Ox everything (like headbands, ornaments, etc.), Musk Ox qiviut and qiviut made products like scarves, and even copies of Jan Brett's "Cozy" - a book Jan Brett wrote after visiting the Musk Ox Farm! Unfortunately during my last visit the Musk Ox Farm's Museum was under construction but I was still able to see the mounted Musk Ox.

Once it's time for the tour to begin, you'll be lead outside to the working farm - after of course cleaning your shoes of any bacteria from the outside world. The walking tour itself lasts about an hour, and for safety reasons you'll need to make sure you stay with your interpretive guide the entire time. You'll also be asked to never put anything through the fence, crouch down, or stand with your back up against the fence.

During your tour you'll be taught all about the Musk Ox - their lives in the wild vs their life on the farm, how the farm produces qiviut and how they harvest it, their life expectancy and their gestational periods - and on top of it pretty much any question you can think of! If you're lucky you'll be able to see some of the Musk Ox up close, and the earlier in the summer you go you'll also be able to some of the Musk Ox going through their shedding period.

Overall, I think the Musk Ox Farm is a great, family friendly activity! Tickets cost $14 per adult, $8 for kids, and is free for kiddos under the age of 5. The entire tour last about 1 hour, and the staff is great about answering any questions you can think of. If you're looking for something fun to do in Alaska that doesn't require too much planning or physical activity, then this is one of my top recommendations!

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