Callisto Cliffs Goats in Kenai Fjords National Park

More than 4,000 mountain goats roam the backcountry of the Kenai Peninsula, most often in the craggy, glacier-rimmed slopes that overlook the Gulf of Alaska. The western coast of outer Resurrection Bay near Seward offers the state’s best opportunity to see wild goats up close, with animals often perched on ledges and crannies just above the sea. Nannies sometimes give birth to their kids on the shoreline in late May or early June—making the area a popular destination during marine wildlife cruises out of Seward. In fact, the goats are so common and easy to find that guides have nicknamed the stretch between Caines Head and Callisto Head as “goat alley.” Later in the season, the goats tend to climb higher but can still be spotted in alpine nooks throughout the bay. Goats are also not uncommon along the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail by Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, but you will probably have to climb hundreds of feet to find them.

Guaranteed Sheep and Goat Viewing

Dall sheep and mountain goats can be elusive, especially when wet or stormy weather descends to obscure the view. Even a visit to Windy Corner on Turnagain Arm—where sheep regularly appear—will sometimes prove futile. If you don’t mind seeing animals under human care, you’re always in luck!

• Dall sheep and mountain goats are among the most exotic and popular denizens at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage—usually orphaned or rescued animals living out their lives in a rocky, alpine-like habitat. 4731 O'Malley Road in South Anchorage.