Ages Elementary and Middle School. Have you ever wondered what animals do when they feel danger nearby? Join us as we study natural animal instincts such as fight or flight, warning systems, and evasive maneuvers. Help us uncover how animals use their senses to stay safe in the wild. Join us as we discover the amazing ways these little ones grow up in the wild. Registration is required. This program is sold out. Interested families can e-mail [email protected] for waitlist placement.
Ages Middle School & High School. From the smallest blades of grass to the largest predators, every organism plays a vital role in keeping nature in balance. Join us as we explore how both plants and animals are linked together in complex relationships and why protecting each strand in the web of life is vital for a healthy planet Registration is required.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is inviting guests to help name Asha’s gorilla baby while fundraising for the new Primate World! Asha, a 32-year-old critically endangered Western lowland gorilla, gave birth to an adorable baby boy on Mon., July 21, 2025. Primate World gorilla keepers have chosen three names for guests to pick from: Ryder, Sully and Abu. Participants can donate any amount starting at $5 until Thurs., Oct. 9, 2025. The name that receives the most combined donations will win!
Adults 21+. Offered September 18. Want a change of scenery on a weekend night? Come join us under the stars for an adults only private evening tour of our mountainside Zoo. We will enjoy a beverage to start off the night, then stroll under the stars to see what our animals do at night, we will even get an opportunity to meet one of our Loft animal ambassadors! This program is for adults only, 21+. Registration is required. This event is sold out. If you would like to be on a wait list , please submit this form.
Ages 21+. Join us for a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo! Tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes include unlimited small plates and two drink tickets. Cash bars also available. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Advanced tickets are required and are on sale online now!
Ages 1-4 years. Registrants will participate in a reptile-themed sensory activity, meet scaly friends throughout the Zoo and help make salads for tortoises! Registration is required.
In 2026, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will turn 100! As we prepare to celebrate our centennial in 2026, we want to share the unique stories that make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo your Zoo. We’re inviting guests, members and friends of the Zoo to share their Zoo history with us – through photos, written memories, or both. We can’t wait to hear how you’ve made the Zoo a part of your story!
Adults 21+. Offered October 3. Want a change of scenery on a weekend night? Come join us under the stars for an adults only private evening tour of our mountainside Zoo. We will enjoy a beverage to start off the night, then stroll under the stars to see what our animals do at night, we will even get an opportunity to meet one of our Loft animal ambassadors! This program is for adults only, 21+. Registration is required. This event is sold out. If you would like to be on a wait list , please submit this form.
All ages. Penguin enthusiasts can join us in Water’s Edge: Africa for crafts, games, and other activities available throughout the day. Don’t miss the keeper demonstrations during penguin feeding times at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as well as a walkabout with a penguin named Napoleon at 11 a.m. There’s no cost to attend IAPAD events, but advance daytime admission tickets are required and can be purchased at cmzoo.org/tickets.
Ages 1-4 years. Registrants will participate in a Fall – themed sensory activity and meet some of our Orange colored friends that call the Zoo home! Registration is required.
Ages Elementary and Middle School. Have you ever wondered “hoo” comes out when the sun goes down? From wide-eyed owls to fluttering bats and glowing bugs, we’ll uncover the secrets of creatures that thrive in the dark! Registration is required.
Ages 6-12 years. *ROAR (Respecting Our Abilities and Resilience) Connections is an evening program designed for children ages 6-12 with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, developmental disabilities/delays or medical fragility. Join us Wednesday, October 29 for a ROAR-ing good time as we learn about the importance of the unique feet found in the animal kingdom. Dress up in your favorite costume and get ready for a paws-itively wild time! Registration is required.
On Thursday, Oct. 30 (Halloween Edition), get an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required and can sell out quickly.
Ages 1-4 years. Offered October 25 & 31. This special holiday edition includes Meet & Greets with a few of our “creepy crawly” but still adorable animals from My Big Back Yard, and painting your own mini pumpkin to take home with you! Costumes are both welcome and encouraged for participants of all ages! Registration is required.
For the last six years, you've ranked us #3 Best Zoo Lights in North America, and we're so grateful for your continued support! Electric Safari has once again been nominated in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards and you can show your support EVERY DAY from today until 10 a.m. MT on Mon., Dec. 1 - VOTE AT cmzoo.org/lights.
Ages 6-12 years. *ROAR (Respecting Our Abilities and Resilience) From a tiger’s stripes to a turtle’s shell, nature is full of amazing patterns that help animals both blend in and stand out. Together we’ll discover how these designs keep animals survive and thrive! Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 years. Participants will explore the zoo, searching and learning about animals that are most active in the evening hours, but sometimes can be encouraged to wake up during the day to say hello to groups like ours! Registration is required.
Ages Elementary and Middle School. Have you ever wondered how animals help plants thrive? From burying seeds to turning soil, wildlife plays a vital role in enriching ecosystems. Join us as we learn from nature’s best gardeners! Registration is required and opens on October 24 at 9 a.m.
On Friday, Nov. 21, get an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required and can sell out quickly.
Age: Middle School & High School. From destructive to essential, wildfires play a powerful role in nature’s cycle. Through hands-on activities and fiery discussion, learners will uncover how wildfires impact plants, animals, and people. Join us as we learn why nature needs a little heat to thrive. Registration is required.
Ages: 1st - 6th Grades. Fall Break Camps are sold out.. From the rings inside a tree trunk to the stripes in a canyon wall, nature is full of layers waiting to be discovered! Each day, we’ll peel back a new “layer” whether it’s the soil beneath our feet, the tree branches overhead, or even the hidden animals in the depths of a pond. Join us as we learn about nature’s “layered” stories and see the natural world in a whole new way, layer by layer. Registration is required. Note: To be added to a waitlist, please email [email protected]
Ages 1-4 years. This special Holiday edition Stroller Safari allows us to practice our kitchen prep the day before Thanksgiving! Registrants will prepare a fun feast for some zoo animals, and participate in other fall themed sensory activities! Registration is required.
All ages. Nightly, Dec. 5 -23, 25 - Jan. 1, 2026. Celebrate nights of mountainside magic during Electric Safari with over 85 light sculptures on over 50 acres! Named #2 BEST ZOO LIGHTS by USA TODAY’S 10Best Reader's Choice Awards! Top off this astounding display by gazing out at the city’s lights and watch all of Colorado Springs sparkle. You'll also enjoy photos with larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals, and our new holiday-safari themed drone show! Save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day! Advance tickets are required for everyone and sell out quickly. (Electric Safari is closed on Christmas Eve Dec. 24). Tickets are on sale now.
Ages 6-12 years. Respecting Our Abilities and Resilience (ROAR) Connections is an evening program designed for children ages 6-12 with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, developmental disabilities/delays or medical fragility. Get ready for a flurry of fun as we explore all things snow! Together, we’ll discover how snowflakes are made, why it snows, and how animals use snow to their own advantage to keep them safe in a winter wonderland! Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 years. Participants will learn about native Colorado species and create safe feeders to help wild animals near their homes find food in the colder months (almond butter, bird seed, cranberries, etc.)! Registration is required.
Ages Elementary and Middle School. Have you ever wondered how scientists track and study animals in the wild? From pawprints to scat, each clue tells a story about an animal’s journey. Let’s discover how to read and uncover the hidden lives in the wild! Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 years. All over the world, people are celebrating as the year comes to an end. We love our Stroller Safari family and getting to watch each little learner grow so much over the past year. Come celebrate with us for one final special holiday stroller safari, before we head into the new year and make all new memories together! Registration is required.
On Friday, Dec. 12 & Monday, Dec. 29, get an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required and can sell out quickly.
Ages: 1st-6th Grades. Join us for a single day or all six days of exploration Dec. 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 & 31. Make a splash for conservation and dive into the habitats of the hydrosphere. From oceans to ice caps, rivers to raindrops, the hydrosphere covers every bit of water on Earth. Join us as we explore how animals and plants depend on our planet’s water systems and discover the science behind weather, currents, and the water cycle. Campers should register for the grade they are in. Registration is required.
Ages 6-12 years. Join us as we go face to face with some of nature’s most extraordinary features in the wild! From long elephant trunks to giant bat ears, we’ll explore how these unique faces change how animals see, smell, hear, and more. Registration is required.
Ages Elementary and Middle School. Have you ever wondered if animals play the same as we do? For many, play isn’t just for fun - it’s an important part of learning survival skills, building social bonds, and even staying healthy! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle and High School, 6th - 12th grades. Summer Session runs May 26, 2025 – August 7, 2026 for Zoo Crew and Junior Zoo Keeper programs. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Teen Programs provide meaningful life experiences that inspire teens to take conservation action both on and off Zoo grounds through education, leadership, stewardship and environmental exploration. Admission to the program is through an application process. Online applications for Zoo Crew and Junior Zoo Keeper will be open during this time. An application fee applies. Once you have completed your application fee transaction you will get an automatic generated email that contains the link to your application! All applications must be submitted by midnight on February 10, 2026.
Mark your calendars - EARLY BIRD pricing and an exclusive member's only summer camp registration period will be open February 2-8, 2026. Then, Early Bird registration continues for members and the general public, February 9-13, 2026. General registration begins February 14, 2026, if not sold out. Summer Camp programs will be available as full week programs to children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Registration is required.
Adults 21+. Offered Jan. 7, Feb. 13, 14, Mar. 7, 2026. Want a change of scenery on a weekend night? Come join us under the stars for an adults only private evening tour of our mountainside Zoo. We will enjoy a beverage to start off the night, then stroll under the stars to see what our animals do at night, we will even get an opportunity to meet one of our Loft animal ambassadors! This program is for adults only, 21+. Registration is required and open online now.
Grades 1st-6th. Offered March 23, 24, 25, 26 & 27. Register for a single day or all five! Theme: Titan Quest: Exploring Nature’s Giants
Think big, dream big and embark on a big quest to the secret world of nature’s true giants. Join us as we explore the remarkable creatures that have mastered the art of living large. From towering giraffes ,mighty elephants, gigantic bugs to colossal tortoises and gentle giant fish, we will uncover the secrets of how these animals play a vital role in their ecosystems. Registration is required and open now.
Adults 18+. Visit Southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado on an excursion to observe the captivating annual courtship behavior of the Greater Sage Grouse. This excursion also highlights local natural areas such as lakes, prairies, and more. Registration is required.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo invites all ages of world class runners and families alike to Run to the Shrine, offered on the evenings of Saturday, May 9 and Sunday May 10, 2026. Run to the Shrine is a 4-mile run/walk course that curves through the Zoo, up to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and back down into the Zoo. Run to the Shrine has become an annual Cheyenne Mountain Zoo tradition, and it is the only time that guests are allowed to travel up to the Shrine of the Sun by foot! In addition, Run to the Shrine is an important fundraiser for the Zoo. Registration is required and will open closer to the event.
Kick off your 2026 summer with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo during the first adults-only event of the season! Don’t miss this adults-only event. Enjoy all-inclusive samples of beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks while tasting delicious eats from area restaurants. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo and have you dancing the night away until 9:30 p.m. This evening is for adults 21 and older ONLY. IDs must be presented on event night. Advance tickets are required and will be available closer to the event.
Ages 21+. Join us for a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo! Tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes include unlimited small plates and two drink tickets. Cash bars also available. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Advanced tickets are required and will be on sale closer to the event.
Ages 21+. Join us for a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo! Tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes include unlimited small plates and two drink tickets. Cash bars also available. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Advanced tickets are required and will be on sale closer to the event.