If there's one thing for which The Centennial State is known, it's its incredible natural beauty. From mountain peaks to rushing rivers, you can bet the landscape is populated by unique creatures that call Colorado home, too. If you're interested in a wildlife encounter in Colorado, I recommend visiting Divide's Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center. You won't need new hiking gear to get up close and personal with the critters here!

Located under an hour from Colorado Springs, The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is a nonprofit sanctuary focused on public education and conservation programs. Tucked in the shadow of rugged mountainsides, it's the full-time home of various animals, including coyotes, foxes, and even wolves!

Though the CWWC is certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums today, it began in 1993 when founder Darlene Kobobel adopted a wolf dog named Chinook. Chinook had been scheduled for euthanasia, a fate that Kobobel discovered was all too common for wolf dogs. Her close relationship with this special pet inspired her to create a rescue for others like him.

Before long, calls were inundating Kobobel's nonprofit, motivating her to focus on educational outreach. In the coming years, her goals developed, eventually forming the mission of today's Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center.

I recommend making reservations to ensure you get the best experience at CWWC. Naturally, the top-ticket item is an interactive encounter with the organization's ambassador wolves, but the standard tours are also incredibly worthwhile and informative.

And don't forget the center's other residents! Foxes like Zak, who's pictured below, have earned cult followings online for their adorable antics.

While we may feel deeply for nature in the abstract, there's something incredibly moving about interacting with these charismatic creatures up close. Experiencing their personalities and behaviors firsthand gives new context to the importance of conservation.

Not to mention, whether you're visiting with family or with a group, you're bound to live with a smile on your face.

If you're interested in a wildlife encounter in Colorado, you don't need to wait up by your trash bin at night or hope to bump into a bear on a hiking trail. Visit Divide's Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, a fantastic organization and a vanguard of our state's conservation movement. From humble beginnings, the CWWC developed into a nonprofit that's changed the lives of countless animals, touching many people's hearts in the process.

Of course, the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is just one of many amazing businesses in Colorado that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In Colorado, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In Colorado on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.