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 in the African Rift Valley, don't miss hand-feeding the giraffes! Further down the path, you will find meerkats, okapi, zebra, Red River hogs, vultures and more. Then venture up to the view tower and marvel at the Colobus monkeys and the spectacular views of Colorado Springs and beyond.
Stop 2: 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 just about every day, check out the animal happenings for details on days and times. Make sure you also visit the African penguins (and check for feedings times too!) and infamous Komodo dragon, whose sweet personality doesn't match its 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 when you visit you won't want to miss the orangutan keeper talk so please check the animal shows and happenings for details. 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, goats, pot-belly pig, chickens, koi, rabbits 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: The Scutes Family Gallery
Move along to The Scutes Family Gallery and check out a whole new way of experiencing reptiles. Over 40 species are on display in an art gallery of sorts. Unexpected surprises include a snake room, cameleon, and American alligators!
Two-Hour Visits
Stop 1: African Rift Valley
Check out our famed giraffe herd, the world's largest captive herd. While you're in the African Rift Valley, don't miss hand-feeding the giraffes! Further down the path, you will find meerkats, okapi, zebra, Red River hogs, vultures and more. Then venture up to the view tower and marvel at the Colobus monkeys and the spectacular views of Colorado Springs and beyond.
Stop 2: 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).
Stop3: The Scutes Family Gallery
Move along to The Scutes Family Gallery and check out a whole new way of experiencing reptiles. Over 40 species are on display in an art gallery of sorts. Unexpected surprises include a snake room, cameleon, and American alligators!
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. Learn more...
Stop 2: Asian Highlands
Head over to Asian Highlands 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 some monkeys swing all around!
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. 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, goats, pot-belly pig, chickens, koi, rabbits and oversized everything! Misters in the summer keep everyone's disposition cool.
Your kids can run, climb, explore and play until you need to go—or they wear themselves out!
