Love this place so much! It's so unique. Me and my boyfriend's favorite zoo ever, and I'm usually very anti-zoo for ethical reasons. You can get close up to giraffes and feed them, there are animals that free roam, you can get extremely close to a hippo, there's a cute building filled with birds that you can feed. Some of the birds will fly on over and sit on you. One wouldn't get off of me and kept nibbling me which we found so funny. The staff will help you if you can't get a bird off of you but that doesn't usually happen. The walk is rough since there's a lot of hills. You will be panting if you don't walk a lot, and especially if it's hot. The sun is strong here. Make sure to bring sunscreen. The food wasn't very good and was expensive, but what do you expect? It's a zoo. I feel like I got my hands on some good coffee but I can't remember. Highly recommend!!! read more

Is it nice? For sure. Is the giraffe exhibit a 10/10? Absolutely. Are there tons of bathrooms, water filler stations, and spots to eat around the zoo? Yes. Is it worth being a top-5 zoo in the U.S? I don't think so. The layout is rather haphazard where you have to go down a path to an exhibit and then backtrack to others. More signage is also necessary. Some of the other exhibits were a bit underwhelming. The best exhibits were the large animals (elephants, lions, giraffes). read more

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I LOVED the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! It's just big enough to spend a morning and still be able to see everything without being totally worn out! My new favorite animal: the OKAPI My favorite animals were the Kangaroos hoping everywhere, the beautiful Giraffes, the red panda, and of course the okapi! If you're in town I totally recommend coming to visit the zoo and spending a morning or afternoon here. P.S. you do have to buy your tickets ahead of time! read more

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This zoo is still being renovated but it's pretty easy to navigate. There wasn't any giraffes at the time but that is the only exhibit they were actively working on. But maybe next time we'll go. All the animals are so much closer to you than at the Denver zoo like I could've pet the wallabies (I didn't the caregiver was around watching them) cause they're just roaming the walkway's grass. But they're so cute!! Plus you can bring your own snacks & drinks with you in the zoo. And sometimes even your own dogs if it's a dog day! read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Wallabies - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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I read this was the #2 rated zoo in the US. Not sure where that came from. Lots of areas had no animals at all and then the ones that did, there was only one. I'm used to zoos with tons of animals and lots of the same types of the same animal. For example, there was one tiger in the tiger area, there were however lots of giraffes. We got a ride on the golf cart to the top so that helped with some of the walking. It's supposed to be built into the side of the mountain but you really couldn't tell. I had an ok time but was pretty disappointed. read more

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This is an amazing stop in Colorado, a must really!! Although this zoo comes with a lot of hills(because you are on a mountain), it really is worth it! They had discounted tickets around 2 so that's when we showed up and we still got to see so many animals! Feeding the giraffes was the star of the show. The kids laughed hard and I even got to pet one! They have everything from sky lifts to animals feedings frequently. The grizzly bear was the best, he was catching fish and doing yoga lol!!! read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Awesome zoo in Colorado Springs. We visited this zoo from Tucson. My kids loved it because there were many animals we dont have at our local zoo. The penguins were the family favorite. They also had some cool monkeys/orangutans that we don't have. Plan to spend at least 2 hours and lots of walking. Downside: some parts were not loops so you had to backtrack the way you went. read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Penguins - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Wonderful zoo!!! Fed rhinos! Loved all the animals. Clean, shady, family friendly. We will definitely come back! read more

Impressive zoo! Clean, well laid out, several attractions and displays. Plenty of bathrooms (5-stars from me!), restaurants, grill, kiosks, and water fountains. The giraffes exhibit was a hit especially at feeding time (you buy leaf's of lettuce) and can even pat the giraffes on the head. The primates exhibit is entertaining. I don't recall seeing any seals, polar bears, or other deep sea animals. The penguin exhibit was underwhelming. Food prices were very reasonable for a zoo. Service was quick and the staff friendly. Admission prices were a bit steep. You have to make reservations prior to arrival via an email form. Parking is limited at the park level otherwise you have a long walk ahead of you. They offer a free shuttle ride to the entrance. Get there early in order to find a parking spot. read more

Way over rated. Very few animals a lot of walking up and down. Probably the worst zoo I have ever been to. Some of the exhibits were a bit under whelming. Only good part was the ride up and down which had a nice view. Would not go back. read more

As a long time fan of Zoos and animals in general, I'd heard nothing but great things about the zoo here. I'm so happy to say that this absolutely lived up to its reputation. The zoo is beautifully laid out with a great selection of exhibits and animals to view and interact with. One of the most special parts of the experience though, is the level of interaction you're allowed to have with the animals. My wife and I were able to feed giraffes and a black rhino and that was such a cool and special experience. Neither of us have ever had another experience at a zoo quite like that. The zoo is also built onto the side of a literal mountain, and while you'll get a little bit of a workout throughout the day while exploring, it made for some awesome scenic views of the zoo and the surrounding areas. We'd highly recommend taking time to visit this Zoo if you find yourself with some free time. It's not surprising this is one of the top 5 zoos in the nation now! read more

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Absolutely stunning. Restaurants available. Free refill cups. Elevators available. Cooling spray fans throughout the park. Large exhibits with great viewing. Don't miss this memorable time. Breathtaking views, feed giraffes and other animals, souvenirs are very expensive, good parking, a lot of uphill walking and, a good amount of resting areas with great shading. read more

One of my favourite, if not one of my favourite zoos I've visited in recent years. First off, the price of entrance was not too bad and they even gave me a small military discount which was nice. The weather was a little cloudy and windy so unfortunately the SkyRide was closed. I will definitely have to come back and try it out soon. The zoo itself get pretty massive with many types of animals having plenty of space to roam around. In certain areas we were able to get really close to the outdoor wallabies and penguins which I've never experienced before. They had a slide presumably for kids but it looked too fun I had to try it out myself. Did not regret it. They had feeding areas where you could feed birds, or even giraffes for a small fee for the bird feed/lettuce. They had to bring the giraffes inside due to weather so there was a small line that moved pretty fast. Time really moved quick and I was sad to leave! A very memorable zoo that you don't see too often in these days. Just good old-fashioned family fun! read more

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Full disclosure, I just don't like zoos. The enclosures can NEVER be big enough for the animals. It's jail. That said, we had some friends in from out of town and they wanted to go to CMZ so I accompanied them - Parking - Excellent Staff - Excellent Cleanliness - Excellent ... but the zoo is on the side of a mountain and simply CAN'T have enough space for the animals. It's undergoing construction to expand some parts, but it simply CAN'T ever have the proper size and elevation for some of the animals. The geography does not allow for this. It seemed cruel to me. I know that the staff and everyone associated mean well and love these animals, but they shouldn't be THERE, more than a mile up in elevation on the side of a mountain. Giraffes and Lions and such live on the plains, they need more space than this zoo can ever provide. It's just wrong. ... also a bottled 16oz Diet Pepsi was $6.40 read more

Beautiful well kept Zoo!!! The staff here really care about the animals and there well-being. There are tons of opportunities to pet all sorts of animals like penguins, kangaroos, birds, and more! There are plenty of areas for kids to play which is great for families. There are water fountain refill stations all throughout the zoo. Parking was easy just make sure to get there early in the am and you will be okay. Reservations are required so make sure to book your tickets in advanced. Highly recommend to anyone! read more

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This is the coolest zoo I've been to! This was my first time coming to Cheyenne Mountain zoo although I've lived the majority of my life in Denver. It was so unique and pretty being located on Cheyenne Mountain surrounded by all of the trees. Everything was super clean and the exhibits were so unique. The nature play area with a spot to look over the hippos with the kids was so cool. Our favorite part was definitely the giraffe exhibit and feeding. You can buy lettuce for just a couple bucks and feed the giraffes. They come right up to you and they were all so friendly and behaved. Some animals, we didn't get to see because they were inside or hiding as it began to thunderstorm and rain throughout the majority of our visit. All this staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. With the rain, we didn't get to eat at one of the sitdown restaurants, but there were a couple really cool places that look over the city and it looked like it would've been a cool experience. We did however get a pretzel near the giraffe exhibit and a beer that we were able to walk around with. Both were good! I totally recommend this zoo to anyone traveling in or around the Denver and Colorado Springs area. read more

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The best zoo I have ever been to! The mountain is a beautiful landscape and there are amazing animals. I loved how the peacocks roamed about and certain areas were more free range for specific animals. My favorite was hand feeding the giraffes! The only things to be mindful of are you walk uphill a lot of the zoo so if that's a concern for you, plan ahead! read more

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Great zoo with tons of animal interaction. They have many animal petting & feeding opportunities. I recommend buying tickets in advance. We went on a Sunday and when pulling in, all signage stated they were sold out & you needed tickets to proceed. Note: Tickets are cheaper in the afternoon. Tickets are normally $20 after 1pm. One of the downsides of our visit was that the sky lift closes at 4:15pm. They also had an entire section under construction so we weren't able to feed or see the giraffes or other animals on that part of the map. They also have a great selection of decent restaurants plus food and drink stands throughout the zoo but they are quite costly. Things to Know: - If you want to visit the Will Roger's shrine, you must have zoo tickets and cannot walk there. - It's free to park. - Sky lift is $5. read more

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As a Kansas City native, the Cheyenne Mountain zoo was truly impressive and I loved every bit of the time I spent there. The giraffe exhibit was nothing like I've ever seen before and I love that we were allowed to interact with the animals such a beautiful zoo. read more

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Great-sized zoo with every animal the kids were hoping to see! The grounds are well maintained, though you should be ready for a bit of an uphill climb. We had such a fun visit and highly recommend it to anyone coming to Colorado Springs. read more

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A small zoo compared to the National Zoo in DC, but they are slowly expanding and improving it! There is plenty of parking. The staff are kind and knowledgeable. We have been here a handful of times so far and have had great experiences. The animals are well taken care of and the facilities are clean (well, as clean as they can be for a zoo). There are plenty of exhibits and activities for littles. Very excited for the renovation of the green grassy area--it'll be great for the spring and summer for picnicking! read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Such a beautiful zoo in a beautiful and unique setting. To start, even though it is at a high elevation with hills up and down, everything was completely accessible. My MIL uses a scooter and didn't have to miss out on a thing. I like to visit zoos in every city I visit and I have to say this is the best I've ever been to for so many reasons. The staff is fantastic and interactive. The exhibits are so natural and beautiful. And the opportunity to feed the giraffes was incredible. I'm hoping to go back during the summer to feed the elephants and rhinos. And possibly one of the biggest perks has to be the food and coffee shop, which I'll review separately, but they were both places I would visit on a routine basis. Not your normal zoo food. If you are anywhere near the Zoo, it's a must see. read more

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The animal closure seem small. The gift shop it is so expensive. when I was buying something, the lady grounded up $.70 without my permission I know it's $.70 but it's the principle. read more

Cool zoo. Different from any of my zoo experiences. Animals were out and playing (for the most part). Wallabies hopping along side people...very soft if you never touched one. Even baby touched it. Lions were snoring or something interesting. Very noisy but just lying there. Giraffes were inside already so we got to feed them...so many. Lettuce very overpriced. At the end of the day, would have been nice if she hooked it up a little more. Baby had run feeding tho...even if she got licked. Animals about to be fed so on alert and staring in a direction which kinda gave you the eebie-jeebies like they were going to pounce. Popcorn good. They sell beer! Food pretty good, but expect to spend a lot! Next time I'm in the springs, I would go back... read more

Having been to so many zoos since Cheyenne- we are certain this is the best one in the country. They take such great care of their animals, their enclosures, and are always expanding! We travel there every Fall and were elated this year to meet Asha's baby Sully. It was the highlight! We fed giraffes and enjoyed the beauty of the moose. Can't wait to return next year! read more

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Probably the BEST Zoo I've ever been too. So clean and well taken care of animals and facilities. Staff is excellent. Highly recommend!

Well taken care of zoo - it almost didn't feel like a zoo. It was an animal experience. Bougie style enclosures and very well set up. Clean enclosures and overall so cool. Lots of animal demos to learn and see them. Lots of steep walking, optional to purchase a bus ride that can be used all day up and down the property. Can't say enough how awesome this place is and how well it is taken care of and the animals. read more

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What a fun zoo to visit! It's located on the side of the mountains so be prepared to walk up and down hills! This is a smaller zoo but with a good variety of animals that appear to be well taken care of. Enclosures were clean and the larger animals had lots of enrichment activities in them. We loved the view of Colorado Springs from the many different lookout points along the way. It was warm when we arrived (Father's Day) but later in the afternoon the clouds and cooler air blew in and we actually ended up getting wet. They have a few great restaurants to eat at, we chose The Grizzley Grill because they had a large variety of food including pizzas, tenders, salads, burgers, etc. The food was all fresh to order and everything was great. Fun experience if in the area. read more

Very unique zoo on the side of a mountain and also the only zoo I been to that you can get so close to the animals! read more

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Bought tickets online. There were more people than I thought but I guess some schools are on spring break. Parked and walked up to get our tickets scanned. They have construction right now so the main entrance is closed off. There are signs along the way from the parking lot to let visitors know what to do to gain entry. After the ticket is scanned, they stamp your hand and give you tokens to put into the donation tableau by the alternate entry. You can support the animals you love by placing the tokens into the specific section. The associate at the entry checks your hand stamp and away you go. It's a little bit of an uphill walk in so wear comfortable shoes. You can pay $3 to ride in the golf cart they drive around. The smaller gift shop is right by the side entrance and there are restrooms as well which are handy. We went into the penguin and hippo enclosure. The penguins are so cute. They come out into a low fenced area and are quite close. I'm glad the child near me who wanted to touch them had his dad tell him not to. Didn't want them spooked and run inside. Hippos were swimming too. So fun! Primates next as he had been waiting to see them. The exhibit had naked mole rats at the entrance. They were funny, scrambling around their habitat. The emperor tamarin with his whiskers was my favorite. He did come closer to peer at us which was fun. Then I saw a gorilla eating lettuce. Just chomping away, not bothered by the people. The orang utan were resting and only perked up when they heard the zoo keeper unlock the main door. We were in time to feed the elephant if we wanted to but I didn't feel like spending the $10. We did watch the people feeding him. It was a cool morning so we went into their enclosure and saw two elephants working with trainers. I did buy lettuce to feed the giraffes and that was fun. They curl their tongues around the lettuce and end up licking your hand. This is getting long so I'll just say that there are so many animals to see and a lot of walking to do. And enough restrooms scattered around that you are quite comfortable. The only thing is that it's sad to see the animals locked up. He didn't like it. Neither did I. But I spent the money and also purchased food to help contribute to their care. Hopefully it helps some. read more

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Worth visiting if you're not Colorado, saw some cool animals that I wouldn't normally see in my local California Zoos! Be prepared to walk up steep hills, bring lots of water, some sort of hat/shade and walking shoes. Elevation is high, low oxygen. We came early in the morning, took about 3 hours to complete with a 2 year old. There is an area with some turf and real grass for kiddos to run around and take a lunch break. read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Meerkat chilling - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Loved this zoo didn't get to cover even half of the zoo but I can't wait to go back and see other half. Brought our 5 yr old toddler and so glad I brought a stroller it's an uphill hike for a kiddo and adults. I really love that every section has a thoughtful play area for kids. The penguin area had a rope bridge and climbing rocks and steps that kids loved. Was amazed by the giraffe feeding area - that was so fun and right atop it is a fun hill that all the kids loved to run up and roll down. Just an amazing zoo and drive up. Plan and book ahead. read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (often called "CMZoo") is considered one of the top zoos in the United States and in the top 5 of animal rehabiliation zoos. It's a unique zoo--literally built along a winding road up the Rocky Mountains. They have a surprisingly large number of animals and several great feeding opportunities. The employees are friendly, even on busy days, and there are plenty of busy days since this is a major destination for people visiting the area. That said, this is a must-visit destination. They do have capacity limits during high-traffic seasons, so if you are a local or new to the area, I recommend going in the morning or during the off-season. Enjoy! read more

My weekend plans started off waylaid but three young gentlemen came to my rescue. That being said to reward them I planned a surprise trip for them to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Luckily I had a friend who I was talking to about my plans said I needed to buy advance tickets and thank god, literally, he did. As when we made the 90 minute trek to the zoo there were signs all over saying tickets sold out. On top of that the zoo closed at 5pm and we had time slots for 1:30. That only gave us 3.5 hours at the zoo. Definitely not enough time. We may have seen maybe 1/3 of the zoo exhibits. The zoo itself is a great workout to get steps in that's for sure. The employees of the zoo were very pleasant and glad that they gave a military discount. When We were leaving and the shuttle driver offered us a ride to the exit. read more

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Awesome zoo! You walk in and can feed the giraffes right away. There's lots of great animals and lots of opportunity to feed them and get really close. If you're in COS you don't wanna miss out! read more

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Everyone, including my wife, raves about this zoo. They're open rain and shine, they say advanced timed tickets are required, and there are no cancellations. We bought our tickets in advance, but then we're regretting our decision as it's raining and then snowing, yes SNOWING, on our way to the zoo on Mother's Day. Well, no refunds, so I guess we're going to the zoo in the snow. Lo and behold, the precipitation stops, and the skies begin to clear as we pull into the lot. There are already a lot more people at the zoo than we're expecting. As it turns out, we had a decent day at the zoo. The giraffe area is the star of the show, and seeing a moose was cool too, although I was more impressed with him than he was with me. I was a little disappointed a few other areas seemed to be without animals, or maybe they just weren't out today. The layout of the zoo is a bit odd, as there seem to be some dead ends that require doubling back from where you came. Shouldn't zoos just be a loop? Apparently not this one. I think we saw most everything, except we never found the bears. Not getting a zoo map may have led to some misdirections as well. Come to think of it, I didn't see anyone with zoo maps. Is that no longer a thing? They had maps posted throughout, and there were QR codes, which didn't seem to work due to questionable internet service. Parking is free, and the ability to drive up the hill and check out the shrine was neat too. It was chilly and windy up there, but the views were still fantastic. I'm sure we'll be back on a nicer day and maybe we'll see more when we're there. read more

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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: A Wildly Wonderful First Visit! I came for the giraffes, stayed for the pizza, and left wanting a membership. We visited for the first time on a Tuesday morning and it was phenomenal. The views alone are worth the trip--this zoo is nestled into the mountains like something out of a storybook. Every exhibit felt intentional and immersive, and the whole place was incredibly family-friendly. One person who made our day truly exceptional was Jay, our shuttle driver. Every time we stopped for a ride, Jay was there with a smile, helping us navigate hills and stroller logistics like a total pro. If you get Jay, consider your day upgraded. He was kind, patient, and somehow made shuttle rides feel like part of the adventure. Management: please recognize this guy--he's the kind of employee who turns a great visit into an unforgettable one. We had lunch at Pizza With a View and--no exaggeration--it was delicious. Great food, stunning scenery, and a perfect midday break. Feeding the giraffes was surreal. Getting that close to those gentle giants was one of the coolest experiences I've had. And the carousel? So fast and so fun I briefly questioned whether we were riding actual unicorns. This was the best zoo experience we've had in ages, and we can't wait to come back! read more

We love this zoo. The giraffe and elephant feeding experiences were so much fun. Well worth it. It is amazing how close you are to the animals. The view of Colorado Springs is beautiful. The was a lot of construction so main zoo shop was shutdown. That was a little sad. read more

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Where I live, we have no admission fee to access the Zoo. Once I heard there was a fee, I knew this Zoo was going to be great. First, you must book online and reserve a day and time. The slots fill fast. I think this is great because it helps with overcrowding (an issue we have at our free zoo at home). We got lucky and found a parking spot close to the front. Our other party had a spot not too far away. We gave our online order info and purchased the skyride at the gate (it's $1 cheaper) and headed in. The park was easy to navigate as it was a big circle. Lots of animals to see and feeding available (for a small fee). read more

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Wow! I love my Conservator memebership! Some friends and I dropped in at 9 am in June and I think we saw every single animal! It was a relatively cool day (for a Colorado summer) and we spent 4 hours walking around! After that, we had lunch at Panino's Westside. It was a great day all around! Thank you, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! read more