Do you love taking photos at CMZoo? Check out our Summer Safari Photo Contest! Send in your best photos taken at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo this summer for a chance to win event tickets, animal feedings, or daytime admission passes to the Zoo! You can submit up to three photos total - one photo taken in each of the following months: June, July, and August. The theme is 'summer safari.' Photos must be submitted by Sun., Aug. 31, 2025.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Come explore the outdoors through a whole new lens! Join zoo staff in this beginner’s photography workshop where you’ll learn tips and tricks to capturing the beauty of Colorado’s natural landscapes and wildlife. We’ll put our skills to the test by capturing snapshots of the zoo’s very own animals and nature trail. Registration is required.
On Friday, July 11 & Thursday, July 24, (July Dog Days Tickets are sold out, but August 5 & 22 and September 5 & 24 tickets are still available.) 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.
Ages 12-18. CMZoo’s Youth Leadership Action Board invites you to the 7th Annual Youth Conservation Leadership Conference (YCLC), right here on the mountainside. This conference is hosted by your teenage peers as a common ground conference to work towards worldwide conservation education efforts. Registration is required. Early Bird Registration opens February 1, 2025 at 8 a.m.
Ages 1-4 years. The natural forest habitat we have on the mountain helps many of our animals feel right at home! Join us as we ‘Journey into the Jungle’ to meet some MORE animals who prefer the dense coverage of the trees to the open plains. Registration is required.
On Friday, August 22 (August Dog Days tickets are sold out, September 5 & 24 tickets are still available.). 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.
Now through August 31, 2025, take a Scenic Ride to the Shrine during your Zoo visit! Guests and members can book a guided Jeep tour through the picturesque mountainside above the Zoo to Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. (Shrine access is limited to reservations for Scenic Ride to the Shrine Jeep tours.) Purchase your online Scenic Ride timed ticket reservations now. Ticket reservations are required.
Zoo Members only - Can you believe it? Summer goes by so fast! Enjoy one last after-hours wander through the Zoo at our Members-Only end of summer event! Beat the heat and share a special night at the Zoo. Don’t forget your discount at our Thundergod Gift Shop. All restaurants will be open! Check your membership email for more details. Reservations for the End of Summer Celebration Night event (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) are not required (Advanced tickets are required for any daytime admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
Ages 1-4 years. From pollinators to decomposers, this month we are learning about the amazing world of arthropods! By popular demand, it is finally time to meet & learn all about our bug friends! Registration is required.
All ages. Join us for Red Ape Rally Day! If you are visiting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Thursday, August 28, stop by Primate World from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate orangutan conservation. Download the PalmoilScan app today and learn more at cmzoo.org/palmoil. Activities for the whole family will create Zoo memories while raising awareness for orangutan conservation and sustainable palm oil including: Build your own orangutan nest out of different materials, stop by our photo booth, petition-signing table and coloring stations, play a palm oil grocery game where you will learn about shopping for products containing sustainable palm oil, watch special orangutan enrichment and a keeper talk at 1:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required and available here.
Ages Middle School & High School. Join us in this unique after-hours event as learners join zoo staff and teens to explore the wild wonders of the dark. We’ll learn about nocturnal animals found right in our backyard and the unique adaptations they have to make them so successful at night. Registration is required.
Adults 21+. Offered August 29 (This program is sold out. Space is still available in September,, October & November Date Night Safaris.) 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.
Ages: Middle and High School, 6th - 12th grades. Winter off-season runs November 12 – February 13, 2026, for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Core 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. Off-Season Teen Programs offer weekends, evenings, and after school teen opportunities. Admission to the program is through an application process. Online applications for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Core programs will be open during this time. An application fee applies.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Adults 21+. (Electric Moonlight is SOLD OUT. Please visit Electric Safari for a family holiday lights experience.) Celebrate holiday lights and cheer during this adults-only event, Electric Moonlight. This event combines our festive holiday lights with indoor sampling areas featuring beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks while tasting delicious eats from area restaurants (all while supplies last) – just like at our popular summer event, Moonlight on the Mountain! Advance tickets are required and are subject to selling out; day-of tickets available only if not sold out. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.)
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.
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.