Build Your Itinerary
A visit to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo doesn't have to take all day—or even a half-day. Stop in for an hour or two for a wildly-interactive, animal-watching, outdoor-loving good time. Here are some sample itineraries for self-guided Zoo tours you'll love.
One-Hour Visits
Stop 1: African Rift Valley
Check out our famed giraffe herd, the world's largest captive herd. While you're there, don't miss hand-feeding the giraffes a few crackers! Further down the path, venture up to the view tower and marvel at the spectacular views of Colorado Springs and beyond.
Stop 2: Elephant Yard
Next, head up the hill to the elephant yard to see the okapi. Although they look like a mix of zebra and horse, they're actually related to the giraffe. Don't move on without seeing the rare mountain tapirs and the ever-popular African elephants. On summer afternoons, you can also catch an elephant training demonstration daily at 3 p.m.
Stop 3: Lion's Lair
If you didn't linger too long feeding the giraffes, you'll have time to stop at Lion's Lair to visit with the African lions on your way back down.
Stop 1: Aquatics Exhibit
Our hippos are the hands-down favorites in the Aquatics exhibit (just don't tell the penguins), and wow are they smart! You can see our zookeepers work with them every day at 2:30 p.m. Make sure you also visit the African penguins (feedings are at 11 a.m. and approximately 3:30 p.m. daily) and infamous Komodo dragon, whose sweet personality doesn't match her fierce reputation.
Stop 2: Primate World
Next, head out the back door of the Aquatics exhibit and through the courtyard to Primate World. Here you can get nose-to-nose with gorillas and orangutans. And if you visit on a Wednesday or Sunday during the summer, you can catch an orangutan keeper talk at 2:30 pm. Check out the Rocky Mountain goats on your way back down.
My Big Backyard
Drop in as often as you like for a quick visit with the kids to My Big Backyard. Fun and whimsical, this area features an animal contact area, a tree house (be sure to say hello to the tarantula), an insect-themed playground and oversized everything! Misters in the summer keep everyone's disposition cool.
Stop 1: Australia
Take a trip down under! In the Australia exhibit, you can get toe-to-toe with wallabies, which look like little kangaroos. And immerse yourself in the walk-through Budgie Buddies exhibit with hundreds of free-flying parakeets (budgies), cockatiels and Australian finches. They're just waiting for you to offer them a seed stick—or two ($1 each).
Stop 2: Bird & Reptile House
Move along to the Bird & Reptile House and check out an exhibit that features neither birds nor reptiles, but cats. Asian fishing cats, to be exact. Other unexpected surprises include marmosets, tamarins and monkeys. Oh yeah, you can see lots of birds, snakes and frogs, too!
Two-Hour Visits
Stop 1: African Rift Valley
Check out our famed giraffe herd, the world's largest captive herd. While you're there, don't miss hand-feeding the giraffes a few crackers! Further down the path, venture up to the view tower and marvel at the spectacular views of Colorado Springs and beyond.
Stop 2: Elephant Yard
Next, head up the hill to the elephant yard to see the okapi. Although they look like a mix of zebra and horse, they're actually related to the giraffe. Don't move on without seeing the rare mountain tapirs and the ever-popular African elephants. On summer afternoons, you can also catch an elephant training demonstration daily at 3 p.m.
Stop 3: Australia
Take a trip down under! In the Australia exhibit, you can get toe-to-toe with wallabies, which look like little kangaroos. And immerse yourself in the walk-through Budgie Buddies exhibit with hundreds of free-flying parakeets (budgies), cockatiels and Australian finches. They're just waiting for you to offer them a seed stick—or two ($1 each).
Stop 4: Bird & Reptile House
Move along to the Bird & Reptile House and check out an exhibit that features neither birds nor reptiles, but cats. Asian fishing cats, to be exact. Other unexpected surprises include marmosets, tamarins and monkeys. Oh yeah, you can see lots of birds, snakes and frogs, too!
Stop 1: Rocky Mountain Wild
Here you'll experience native Colorado wildlife in a natural setting. Get an up-close view of a moose and mountain lion. Watch the spirited river otters playing in a waterfall. See the grizzly bears go fishing for trout. And catch your breath at the awe-inspiring views from the fire tower.
Stop 2: Asian Highlands
Head over to where the Amur tigers roam the mountainside and rare leopards lounge among trees and lurk on rocky perches. This tour showcases America's only mountain zoo at its best!
Stop 1: Lion's Lair
The center of the Zoo is where it's at for families. Start at Lion's Lair and let your kids experience the majesty of the Zoo's African lion family face-to-face.
Stop 2: Monkey Pavilion
With lemurs, gibbons, mangabeys and more—there's a lot of monkeying around in the monkeys' home. Linger awhile, and your kids will go bananas watching the monkeys swing from trees!
Stop 3: Bears
Next, take a quick detour over to the bear exhibit to say hello to the spectacled and Asiatic black bears.
Stop 4: Lunch and Rides
The kids will be hungry by now! Try the Grizzly Grill for lunch, followed by a fun-filled carousel or pony ride.
Stop 5: My Big Backyard
Finish your tour at My Big Backyard with its animal contact area and oversized playground. Your kids can run, climb, explore and play until you need to go—or they wear themselves out!
