Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Visit Colorado Springs
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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926 by philanthropist Spencer Penrose to house his growing collection of exotic animals.

Advance e-tickets are now required, including for children age 2 and under, as many days sell out. Get e-tickets at cmzoo.org/visit.

Colorado Springs is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, voted #4 Best Zoo in North America in 2021’s USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. ”America’s mountain Zoo,” starts at an elevation of 6,714 feet above sea level. Bring your camera to capture not only the hundreds of exciting and exotic species but also the spectacular views of the city of Colorado Springs.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is like no other – on a mountainside overlooking Colorado Springs. Feed the world-renowned giraffe herd, hop alongside wallabies, and feel the powerful roars of our African lion pride. After wandering through Rocky Mountain Wild, named #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America in 2021, to visit Mexican wolves, an Alaska moose, grizzly bears, river otters and more, check out Water's Edge: Africa – the Zoo’s newest exhibit, which opened in June 2020. Water’s Edge is home to hippos, African penguins, warthogs and ring-tailed lemurs. Our interactive beach gives penguins access to waddle alongside guests and sometimes even come out onto the sidewalk with them! Visitors can see eye-to-eye with our huge Nile hippos at the edge of their pool, just feet away. A rope bridge will give you up-close, overhead views of the hippo yard.

The zoo is open 365 days a year with special holiday hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve and Day.

For zoo hours and admission prices, click here.

TOP CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO HIGHLIGHTS

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs offers a new experience with every visit and transforms visitors from passive viewers to active participants - through comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts, and interactive animal experiences. Here are the top highlights:

1. Visit the newest exhibit, Waters Edge: Africa
This special new exhibit design enhances the environment of Nile hippos, African penguins, warthogs and ring-tailed lemurs, giving guests  barrier-free views of these incredible animals’ daily lives and the care they receive at the Zoo. Water’s Edge: Africa opened to the public in June 2020.

2. Feed The Giraffes
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado is home to one of the largest herds in North America. Get up close and personal as you feed the giraffes in the African Rift Valley exhibit. The exhibit also features African lions, Colobus monkeys, Grant’s zebra and more!

3. View Modern Art
Did you know that a zoo is an ideal location for a modern art exhibit? The not-to-be-missed Scutes Family Gallery is home to 40 species of reptiles that live in beautiful, unique displays that mimic their individual natural habitats, while helping guests connect with these incredible creatures that might not be everyone’s favorites. Make sure to look up when you approach the atrium. Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths, Chalupa and Bosco, are hanging out in the trees.

4. Ride the Carousel
Take a ride on the historic Carousel. Older than most of the people who ride it, this carousel was a popular attraction at the 1933 Century of Progress Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Built circa 1926 and acquired by Spencer Penrose from the Allan Herschell Company of New York to be installed in 1937, it has become a cherished feature of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo..

5. Experience the Mountaineer Sky Ride
Get a whole new perspective as you soar above the Rocky Mountain goats, grizzly bears and Amur tiger. The Sky Ride is weather dependent.

sky ride

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Have a WILD adventure at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - see the animals, ride an antique carousel, eat a gourmet lunch at the Grizzly Grill and ride…

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