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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Category: Active Life Zoos Zoos [Edit]
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo RdColorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 475-9555
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
51 reviews for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
51 reviews in English
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Review from Ginger C.
Denver, CO
I haven't been to this zoo in a very long time since I live in Denver and not Colorado Springs, but I am so happy that I get to go at all because it's so great!
First there's the sky ride: it's like a ski lift that takes you on an aerial tour of the zoo. You go above many of the exhibits and get a beautiful view of the landscape from near the top of Cheyenne Mountain. Once you're finished with your ride you can either walk or take the tram to avoid the hills...there are lots of hills since they didn't level the land for the zoo. Instead, it seems as though they chose to work with the landscape to give many of the animals and exhibits a more natural environment.
Make sure to stop by and feed the giraffes and when you're hungry you can expect way better than your normal zoo food. They have the typical burgers, hot dogs and fries...don't get me wrong, but they have an actual kitchen as well so you can have a turkey or beef club with bacon they cured on site. You can have chicken fingers, pizza, a number of yummy looking salads, macaroni and cheese and even a teriyaki rice bowl with veggies, beef, chicken or seitan for the vegans in the crowd.
It's a little pricey to get in ($17.25 during peak season + $5 for the sky ride), but it was worth every penny! -
Review from Cass B.
Parker, CO
10/3/2011
If you have to go to a zoo in Colorado, this is the one I would go to. I liked it a lot better than the Denver Zoo as most people mention for the more natural setting of SOME of their exhibits. The elevator to get up to the Grizzlies wasn't working properly when I visited so all of my group wasn't able to go up and see them which was kind of a bummer. More than other zoo's I've been to this one seemed pretty focused on helping endangered species. I wish there had been some turtles in the amphibian exhibit, I felt like that part of the zoo was a little lacking in attention or care.
I agree with another poster who mentioned the area for the Mountain Lions being a little ridiculous. I had the same thought as well. I wasn't aware that there was an outdoor and an indoor area for the animals at first, but even still I have to admit I was disappointed to see such large animals not given the kind of space I would think they need or even more of a natural area like some of the others. -
Review from Jen Z.
Colorado Springs, CO
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok, I can't call myself a zoo fanatic or even aficionado, but I've been to a few zoos around the country and I like this one a lot.
First off, I'm a sucker for any place that you can feed the giraffes, so I liked it right off the bat. But I also like the topography of the place and the way they built it into the existing landscape rather than leveling everything.
It's also a nice size. I don't have kids, but I am not so into the zoo that I need to walk all over creation either. This zoo was easy to get through and it felt like we saw a lot in the few hours that we were there.
Many of the exhibits have been updated, but there are still a few "old school" type set ups like the hippos and reptiles. I don't mind that, but I'm sure there are folks who are put off by it. The cat cages are awesome, and the bear habitat is pretty cool too.
With your ticket, you get entrance to the Will Roger's Shrine to the Sun, which you drive up to from the zoo parking lot. It's probably not something that's very interesting for kids, but I thought it was pretty neat. It's easily seen from the SW part of town, where I live, so I was interested to see what it was all about. There's lots of history and memorabilia there about Will Rogers. I didn't read it all, but there were some interesting tidbits that I didn't know about him and his ties to Colorado Springs.
Overall, I think it's a pretty good and accessible city zoo. I've lived places where it's such a pain to get to the zoo, get parked, and get in that you almost don't feel like going by the time you get there. That's certainly not the case here. -
Review from Kristen W.
Castle Rock, CO
2/2/2012
The best!!! This is such a great way to see a zoo. It is actually built into a mountainside and the animals are living in a very natural habitat. You can feed the giraffes and actually touch these beautiful creatures. The wild cats and bears live in attractive habitats that allow you to see them a little closer to their natural environment. The primate house has an entire hillside for the silverbacks. You feel like you are on a gorgeous nature hike and in a zoo all at the same time. Perfect way to spend a day!
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Review from Katrina W.
Annapolis, MD
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have to say one of the only zoos I have visited that is build in the side of a mountain. I found the zoo to be very cleanly. The animal exhibits appeared to be well tended to. My favorite exhibit was the Grizzly Bears. I loved how they had live salmon swimming in the water simulating close to its natural habitat. I also love how they have a ski lift to the top of the zoo.
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Review from Ron N.
1/11/2012
Pricey. If it werent for free passes that my Grandma has had for her annual membership for decades, I could not afford to go here. Having grown up here in Colorado Springs I can say that they have made some great changes over the years and have brought interesting exhibits nearly every year. I just cant justify such an expense regularly. But if you like zoos and giraffes and have some extra change (or bills) then it may not be a bad idea to go here and check it out.
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Review from Jenny C.
8/14/2011
I love this zoo, and I wish we lived closer. The exhibits are pretty well laid out on the mountain. You definitely get your exercise if you decide to walk everywhere (as opposed to taking the tram that goes around). The only exhibit I didn't really like was the elephant area. It seems like their location was an afterthought, or they just couldn't find a better place for them. They're far away and hard to see.
The giraffes, on the other hand, have it really good here. People can pay for crackers to try and feed the giraffes directly. Beware, though, if there's a school group around, the giraffes won't be hungry. When we went with our son, we got lucky that it rained in the afternoon and made everyone leave. By that time, the giraffes were hankering for an afternoon snack and we had them all to ourselves. I have a video of my then two year old feeding a cracker to a giraffe. The look on his face is priceless, and I'm glad we have record of it.
The bear area is pretty cool. They have a pool area with glass so you can watch them swim and play in the water. There is a bird exhibit where you can feed the birds. Beware of bird poop! They have an area for pony rides, which is close to the carousel. There's a lot of stuff for kids to do, and things for them to climb on and get out some of their expansive energy. They have a chair lift which you can take to the top of the mountain. The views from there are wonderful. It's a relaxing trip up and down.
If we lived closer, I would definitely get a membership here. I bet you can come here for several trips and still find something new or different to discover here.Listed in: Kid's stuff, Stuff to do
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Review from Leena V.
7/16/2011
Oiy, mountain zoo, this is. Zoos are a workout, and although this zoo does not seem that big, because it is on the mountain be prepared to leg it. Since it is on the mountain, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo provides some of the most breathtaking views of Colorado Springs and of life. Also, remember it is chillier and windier on the mountain, but the sun's rays are more intense.
Giraffe Herd. Yup. Big, big, big attraction for the kids and even for the adults since you get to feed them all the time. $2 a pop for 3 graham cracker sheet size Triscuit things which I split between my two kids or a few leaves of romaine lettuce. They do have a frequent feeder card which you buy at the zoo entrance; worth it if you live in Colorado Springs. There is an ATM right at the Giraffe feeding kiosk, haha, sucker.
You can also feed Budgies which are birds, but I stepped in the enclosure and stepped right out because I hate bird enclosures where you can plainly see the birds butts hanging right over your head waiting to drop a load at any key moment.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo provides quite a few educational shows; though not the sit down type since - more the feed and talk type. We usually go on Saturdays or Sundays and there are plenty, but I am not sure about the weekdays. On the weekends, I know that there is free/donations welcome face painting in the children's area.
The rides are pay to ride, not included in membership. This includes the tram, but it only costs $1 for the whole day. The carousel is $2 (frequent discount carousel card available) and pony rides are $3 or $4 varying on how many loops around the ring. The sky ride (chair lift) to the Shrine costs money as well, but I am not sure how much since I would rather just hop in my car than pay money for that.
So, it can end up being costly to ride every ride and buy every feeding item possible, but if you have a membership it is not bad and if you get a frequent discount feeder card or frequent discount carousel card. Unfortunately though, as I have found out at most zoos, if you visit once, it probably costs a fortune, sorry. Look on the bright side...parking is free here! -
Review from Rachelle M.
Mission Viejo, CA
6/18/2011
I'm a little torn on how to rate the zoo.
It's enjoyable, for sure. I love how close you can get to the giraffes. I also like the setting and the view.
However, I want to know where they get off charging almost $20 for an adult now (they just updated prices). Just to give a comparison, the Tulsa Zoo is $8/adult. The Denver Zoo is $13. The Kansas City Zoo is $11.50 for adults. So if I'm paying almost $40 for my husband and I (or $50 if my niece is coming) to go to the zoo, I damn well expect it to be a little more than what this zoo is.
Also- as others have mentioned, some of the habitats seem to be lacking. The elephant area just looks depressing, and by the elevators there are some monkeys (or something) in this little cage thing just laying around listlessly. -
Review from Jeremy D.
Chicago, IL
11/28/2011
Digger! Emmett!
Go and see this zoo if you're in the Denver area and, well, like zoos. We recently vacationed in the Denver area and checked it out. You can get closer to a lot of the animals than I've experienced at other zoos.
Staff was very friendly.
Scenery - Well it's set in a freakin mountain!
The names above were the two Grizzly Bears that we were lucky enough to see in some great action. It was very cool how close we were to them. -
Review from Trevor T.
7/27/2011 12 Check-ins Here
A great little zoo nestled in the hills above Colorado Springs. In fact, from several areas in the zoo you get a great view of Colorado Springs and the plains. Also, being in the hills means lots of walking up and down various grades, some steep some not. There's a zoo shuttle that you can ride all day for $1.
They have a good variety of animals on display and their giraffe habitat is simply awesome. You can feed them some lettuce for a few bucks. They also have the standard lions, tigers and bears. Speaking of bears, the bear habitat is also great with a large pool and viewing glass.
The food here is also pretty good. Not just standard zoo fast food, they offer pizza, sandwiches, pasta, burgers and such, the preparation overseen by Chef Beau Green. -
Review from Missy B.
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favorite animal is the giraffe so you can imagine my excitement when my husband and I first visited this zoo and discovered the giraffes were the main attraction! There are so many of them, and they never stop eating, so you will always get a chance to feed them!
Another good thing about this zoo is that it is on a mountain! I feel like I am always walking uphill, no matter what direction I go in! A co-worker and I go here just to talk and get a good workout on the weekends.
There is a military discount for those of you with IDs and it can be used for anyone with you, even if they aren't ID holders.
On another note, check out the naked mole rats... weird. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Denver, CO
9/16/2011
One of the most unique zoo's I have been to, and I have been to several! I love that it is on the side of mountain, and the exihibits are probably some of the closest I have ever seen. The day we went they had a baby wallaby with one of the handlers, which allowed people to get personal interaction with the baby and learn more about the animal. The sky ride is neat, you get a great overhead view of many of the animals, some you might not see if you did not otherwise go up there. Would definitely go back again.
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Review from Michelle G.
Lisle, IL
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
The giraffes make this a five-star review. The entrance fee, cost to feed the giraffes, and size of the zoo make it a four-star review.
Beautiful setting for a zoo - literally, set into the mountain. Not as large as the zoos that I have visited (Miami, San Diego, Brookfield) but feeding the giraffes made it so worthwhile! -
Review from Stephen B.
Colorado Springs, CO
6/4/2011 4 Check-ins Here
This zoo is great. I'm from DC and I prefer this place much more than the National Zoo.
The giraffes are my favorite. The zoo sells lettuce that you can feed to them. Check my photos to see how close they get! lol
The Grizzly Grill is pricey but worth it. I had a burger with a fried egg on it among other things (this was a couple months ago) and it was delish!
My family got a membership for the year. What a great zoo. -
Review from Erin M.
11/19/2011
A trip to this zoo is worth it just to be able to look into the long-lashed eyes of a sweet giraffe and to hold out your hand as their long black tongues snake toward the crackers or lettuce you are holding out to feed them ($2 will buy you enough snack to feed about 4 giraffes or more if you break the treats into smaller portions). Beyond that, as others have mentioned, the zoo is incredibly well done. The Grizzly habitat, for example, is accessed by climbing a rugged corrugated metal tower and cedar bridge, and the habitat itself looks like the inside of a Northwoods Cabin. There are sculptures scattered throughout and caves and other fun places to duck in for a quick picture (yes, we are those people) or for kids to play and hide. Peacocks roam the grounds for extra flair and all the exhibits are well marked and flow naturally into one another. I am not a huge fan of zoos in general, per se, but this one is a gem!
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Review from Jordan M.
Bernalillo, NM
10/15/2011
Very nice beautiful on the side of a mountain. Best Exhibit for the kids was being able to feed the giraffes they loved it. Nice play place for kids could have more information on the animals and alot of the animals were hiding in the way back of the exhibits would probably be better in the summer.
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Review from Dan G.
6/19/2011 11 photos
The viral video of the week reminded me that I was in need of reviewing the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Yes, this is where the hungry lioness tried so desperately to get through the glass to the little infant. You can watch it here...http://www.youtube.com...
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was just outside of Colorado Springs. We started with the chairlift ride to the top, which gives you a unique perspective of the zoo that you usually don't get. We then spent the next two hours just wandering around just checking out all of the animals. They sure have a nice assortment of animals and they easily had the largest collection of giraffes I've seen anywhere. Probably at least a dozen giraffes are right there near the entrance for you to feed by hand. Yes, you read that right, feed by hand. Other highlights of the zoo included a big moose, wallabies, elephants, well trained Grizzly bears that put on a show, and a black bear that was especially excited to see us. CMZ also features an impressive collection of big cats that included a tiger, amur leopard, about four mountain lions and the ever aggresive lionesses of YouTube fame. The kids really liked it and we remembered just how fixated the lions were when they watched us.
We loved this zoo. I'll attach a bunch of my favorite pics. Enjoy.Listed in: Where the wild things are
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Review from Lauren Y.
Los Angeles, CA
6/15/2011
Ahoy Amigos!
THIS ZOO IS AMAZING! And I am NOT a big fan of Zoos, so that is saying a lot.
Let's dive right in shall we?
GOOD:
-Privately owned, and who knows what regulations come along with that, but you can get on average about 7 feet closer to all the animals than other zoos.
-Lots of animal interaction possibilities. And for 2$ you can FEED the giraffes. It was the coolest! You are on a walkway up at their height, and unlike other zoos with keepers everywhere telling you to stop breathing so hard on the fauna, there was NO ONE around regulating the interaction between you and the giraffes, it was crazy! The giraffe heard is HUGE too, I read it's actually the largest in any zoo in the country.
-The location is on a mountain side, so instead of looking out over a flat exhibit, all outdoor exhibits slope up and away from your viewing standpoint. So you can see an animal even if it's way at the back.
-THE EXHIBITS ARE the BEST! I have never seen such natural and creative exhibits. For example, the orangutan's have pretty standard inside areas, but they can also freely go outside to this enormous ropes course thing that (from your viewpoint and theirs) looks like you are way up in the tree tops with them, looking over the mountain and the city.
-Some cool animals you don't normally see in zoos, but that are local to the area like porcupine and moose.
-Small zoo, very intimate. Stays a lot cooler than zoos smack dab in the middle of big cities.
I have no idea why this zoo does not have more stars. My ex and his brother used to work at the Denver Zoo, and tell me that these Cheyenne Mtn. Zoo animals are treated like royalty. Simply because there is more money, for better care, better stimulation and better habitat. I have never been to a zoo where all the animals looked so "active" it was crazy.
BAD:
-If you are looking for the big zoo experience with lots of shows, this doesn't quite have that. There are quite a few educational areas for the kiddies though including an indoor reptile land/bird thing where kids can interact and do various arts and crafts.
-The explanations on the plaques for each exhibit were VERY sparse. Very little information given. I think that is something really lacking at this place. Because if you are going to have very few zoo personell walking around (which I loved) then you need more information written in each exhibit.
-Oh zoo food, how do I always fall for you!? Those soft serve twisty cones get me every time! And they are always so expensive, this place is no exception.
Overall feelings about this place: GO THERE, you won't regret it. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Denver, CO
1/17/2011 3 photos
Since this was a bit of a rough holiday for me, my Mom and I decided to go for a drive to Colorado Springs. Never been and I have to say it was absolutely breathtaking.
It was Christmas Day and it turned out that the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was open - how awesome is that! Good luck for us. It has been on my list ever since I found out I was actually moving to Denver. :)
We came up upon the zoo, truly a mountain zoo - very neat! We received a couple dollars off with our AAA discount - that was a nice bonus.
Entered a very quiet zoo - no crowds at all on Christmas Day which was nice, we got to go everywhere we wanted to go with no waits.
First stop was feeding the giraffes. OMG - I could have stayed there all day. Three huge crackers for a dollar, very reasonable I thought. Giraffes were all inside due to the cold, didn't bother me, meant they were all in closer proximity to me. Baby giraffes included. The giraffes were so gentle and sweet. The long tongues were a bit of a surprise, very neat. Make sure you look in all directions including up, because once they realize you have their favorite crackers the tongues can come from all directions. I would pay the admission just for the giraffes. This is a must go!
We proceeded on to enjoy the rest of the zoo and joined in small talk with a gentleman who was part of the zoo staff. He stated he was going into the Meerkat exhibit to pick up the food trays and asked is we wanted to help. Well, he didn't need to ask twice I was totally sold - let's go! He gave us a few instructions, of coarse no petting. My Mom and I both went into the exhibit and picked up the trays, he also took our picture in the exhibit (I uploaded the pic). Very cool experience having all the Meerkats running around at your feet. :)
This zoo can be a bit of a hike but well worth the effort. The mammal house and large cats were awesome. Cats were very active and running around. One of my faves are the sea otters - love their joy for swimming.
The best zoo I have ever been too. If you are in or around the Denver area I recommend that you go and take in the whole experience. :) -
Review from Jamie L.
7/11/2010
You can FEED the GIRAFFES!!!!!
It's SO cool.
I love that the Zoo is built into the side of the Mountain. Literally. Wear hiking shoes or good sneakers, and drink plenty of water.
There are some beautiful views as you wander up the trails to the Animal Exhibits, too.
Thankfully, the Zoo is on the Small-ish side... because I don't know how anyone who isn't acclimated to the altitude would handle a longer trek.
The animals are in natural-habitat, fenced in areas, with a few free-wheeling ones. (Or maybe that Porcupine just climbed out?)
The moose is cool when he's close... because he's HUGE. I mean... HUGE. Like... Big as a Moose.
There are the usual suspects, too. Tigers, Bears, Critters of all kinds.
Take the trip up to the Shrine, too, if you're into Vista Views. It's absolutely beautiful.Listed in: In The KNOW!, Hey, Man... It's Denver
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Review from Susan H.
12/5/2010 2 photos
This is one of the best zoo's we have been to. Who wouldn't want Giraffe slim on their hands or face? This place has amazing views, well laid out, and the overall habitats seem much nicer, roomier, and realistic for thee animals.
Such a great place overall. Not much to really say but if you have never been - it needs to become a must on your list. -
Review from Emilee D.
8/3/2010
This is my favorite zoo in Colorado. It offers some beautiful scenery and you can feed the giraffes. The admission is a tad bit on the expensive side, but it's because the zoo is privately funded and gets no help from the government. It also participates in a lot of conservation projects.
I tend to make the drive here at least twice a year. I always encounter some fun experience when I visit. In my most recent trip, they were taking care of a skunk. I got to pet her and give her a treat. She was the cutest thing ever!
Despite being a small zoo, there's quite a bit to see here. I suggest the ski lift ride they offer. It gives you an awesome view of the zoo. They even have a tram that runs through if you need some help getting up the hillside. Go on the merry-go-round, that sucker goes pretty fast.Listed in: Emilee Out & About
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Review from Cobra K.
Colorado Springs, CO
1/23/2011 2 photos
I'm sure there's a way of just walking into the Zoo and not paying. We bought our tickets, walked in and noone verified we purchased them. Hum...getting buyer's remorse.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a small little zoo but has a lot of great displays. One of the best displays is the one you're first exposed to...the giraffe exhibit where you're allowed to hand feed the animals graham cracker like treats. -
Review from Chel Q.
Colorado Springs, CO
This zoo is by far the best zoo my family and I have been too. I can honestly say, this is better than the zoo in Oakland, CA and Honolulu, HI. The view is just fantastic and very relaxing. We will definitely be returning again.
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Review from John B.
Aurora, CO
7/20/2010 11 photos
An excellent zoo! Small but very nicely laid out. Very clean, and efficient in every respect.
The outdoor enclosures are very natural looking, and the animals appear to be healthy and happy. It's built on the side of Cheyenne mountain, so there's a bit of climbing to do. But they have a tram that you can ride to the top, then work your way down. A nice feature if you're there later in the day and already tired, or go early and want to conserve your energy for other activities.
We got there right at opening, and were able to watch the gentle keepers move the giraffe herd from their night quarters to the open paddock. They treated them like the beautiful, sensitive creatures they are. Very interesting, especially watching them coax the shy youngsters into the open area. Also, don't miss the Cougar Canyon or the grizzly bear observation area in the Rocky Mountain Wild section.
Your admission includes access to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun at the top of the mountain. Definitely worth a visit. You get to drive very slowly and carefully through the zoo to get up and down the mountain! -
Review from Tori M.
Colorado Springs, CO
7/19/2011
Giraffes were awesome. Pins were small for the animals tho. Didnt get to go all the way through the zoo, but what I did see was good
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Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2006
Do you know what color a giraffe's tongue is? Yeah, imagine seeing that for the first time when you're three years old and holding out this weird looking little rye cracker feed thing for this HUGE animal with the GREEN tongue to come down and wrap said green tongue around your entire hand and proceed to try and lift your tiny cherubic-cheeked body towards it's mouth where of course you're going to be devoured...
I was traumatized.
Then my mom took me to see the tigers.
Can we come back next week?
I saw my first snow leopards here and recently took my nieces to see the zoo at night - a whole new experience and one I recommend most highly.
The Will Rogers Shrine Bells will always remind me of the smells and sounds of this zoo on the mountain.Listed in: If I Break Into "Rocky…, Borrowing the Children
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Review from Kim O.
Houston, TX
7/7/2011
Was pleasantly surprised by this little zoo. Has a very San Diego Zoo feel, but on a much smaller scale. Wide variety of exhibits and most are as close to a natural setting as they can be in a zoo. We got to bet a baby wallaby while we were there. Kids area is very expansive and interactive. Be sure to play the $4 extra for the skylift ride. Beautiful views of both the zoo and of Colorado Springs. Give yourself about 4-5 hours to see it all. You'll be glad you did.
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Review from Kat A.
Arvada, CO
1/14/2008 2 photos
If you're not a big fan of giraffes, don't go. The giraffes are the major draw here. In fact, I'm not sure there were any other animals at the zoo, as I only remember the long-necked mammals and their freaky weird tongues.
Just kidding. There were meerkats. And tigers. I vaguely remember a pretty sweet tiger setup.
Do your stretches at the car once you've parked, because you're going to burn your calories as you wander through the zoo. The hills are steep; this is a workout.
Oh yes, and before I forget: WOOO! GIRAFFES! WOOOOOOO!Listed in: Entertaining the kidlet., Get out there. You're in…
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Review from Jessica D.
Arlington, VA
7/31/2009
I visited the zoo recently for the first time in years. Several highlights stood out:
The grizzlies-- they have a nice big area to roam in, and we were treated to quite the show-- first one grizzly woke the other one up to wrestle, then they went up to the upper part of their enclosure, which has a pond that goes right up to the viewing window and is stocked with trout. Unfortunately, they didn't try to catch the trout, but they played in the water right in front of us, played with foam balls, and dug up a nice deer hip socket to gnaw on. They seemed quite content.
The mountain lions-- I wondered if the grizzlies had one way glass in their enclosure (they didn't seem to notice the gobs of people pressed up against the glass). The mountain lions definitely noticed us, though, especially the little kids and the stuffed animals. A good reminder to watch over your little dogs at home!
The bird house (budgies?)-- tons of colorful birds inside, flying around in the area you walk into. It actually made me nervous (hundreds of birds flying or perched overhead = good chance of getting splatted). But they were gorgeous, every color of the rainbow.
The primate house-- my zoo memories of primates consist mostly of bored monkeys throwing poop at the window. These primates are much better behaved, treating us to graceful acrobatic displays and chilling noises that evoke the jungle at night.
All this and more in a gorgeous mountain setting-- I definitely recommend. -
Review from Aly M.
San Jose, CA
Such a wonderful time at this zoo... we were visiting from California and I'm so glad the first time my daughter went to a zoo it was this one!! The Giraffes are amazing and they blew me away- great way to start the day! We also LOVED the gorillas... they did not like my husband and my best friend's husband and were running and hitting the glass where they were standing- provided some laughter and amazement at the protective nature they have! It's nice that you get to see the bears from above so they can remain in a "natural" environment amongst the trees and mountains. We did a lot of walking so I'm glad I brought my stroller for my toddler because carrying her or having her do all the walking would have meant a shorter time at the zoo for sure. They do have the shuttle but we did not use it...
Overall I would definitely say GO to this zoo. I will take my daughter back when we visit next time! -
Review from Victor B.
Elbert County, CO
6/2/2011
Great Zoo to take the younger children ages 3-7 but recommend the Denver Zoo for a more exciting and all around full experience. The chance to be at any zoo with the kids is fun for any family though. The scenery you get of the Springs is pretty amazing, I must admit too.
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Review from aaron k.
Astoria, NY
8/17/2009
You walk through a gate. then you walk through another gate...
...and then? WALLABIES bounding around at your feet. You are in the cage! They sniffed my shoes. Am I probably over-reacting to this? Yeah. Am I starved for animal attention? I live in New York City, so yeah.
Also, the peacocks roam the park. and attack children who anatgonize them... (or rather they should, I was impressed how much shrieking and pointing and attempt to scare the bejesus out of them the peacocks were able to attack with nary a puffed chest or angry sqwak)
Overall, a good workout zoo. Steep incline, some sketchy non animal exhibits that take biases you wouldn't expect for a zoo, like "ATVs, working together with animals and the park service."
but anyway. fun zoo. and WALLABIES! -
Review from Todd H.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2009
What a great little zoo! It's not large, and it has some parts, like the monkey house, that are ready for renovation. However, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a lovely, cozy feeling to it that I haven't experienced anywhere else.
Part of what makes this a great zoo is obviously the unique location. Being on a hillside affords nice views and an interesting walking experience. But that's not all. Whenever we interacted with zoo staff, they were genuinely friendly and seemed to love their jobs.
Our daughter is a giraffe junky, so we had a blast feeding and petting them. It was an amazing experience being at eye- (er, tongue-) level with such beautiful critters. If you have a giraffe-lover in your life, this is a must-visit zoo. -
Review from Erik M.
Napa, CA
8/22/2010
Famous for it's giraffe exhibit, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one great place I must say. And about the giraffes, they have a lot (12 perhaps?) which you can feed and get close up views of, as in they literally walk up to you and you can rub noses with each other if you wanted...it's amazing.
On top of that, they have great exhibits for their tigers, mountain goats, bats, bonobos and more. Plus with being built on the side of a mountain, you get great views of Colorado Springs below....beware that yes there are a lot of hills to travel up and down, but it's not as bad as I was expecting, but again, the views are worth the little bit of extra work if you ask me.
I think the great ape exhibits need a little work, perhaps more spacious exhibits located outside? And the elephant exhbit seemed a little distant from the visitors, so I think that too could use some work...other than that though, there is a great range of animals here, the exhibits are all really nice and offer great views (outside of the lion one maybe).
Beware, the weather can change in a heartbeat...what may be a sunny beautiful day could turn into a cloudy rain storm in an hour...but some say the animals like the overcast rainy weather better and will get more active...so who knows....I enjoyed myself though, and thought this was a well designed, pretty zoo, which I would go back and visit anytime. -
Review from Ruth B.
San Carlos, CA
8/17/2008
What other zoo can combine great animal exhibits with a great workout? We had a great time during our visit to this zoo. The kids favorite parts were feeding the giraffes, riding the carousel, and the big winner--the sky ride. We also really enjoyed all the animal exhibits, especially the wallabies, where we got to pet a baby wallaby, and the budgies, where we got to feed some very pretty birds. We also happened upon a tour of the monkey exhibit, that was very informative and entertaining.
It is quite a hike to get to the top of the zoo and back down, but it flows pretty nicely, and having the kids worn out and ready to sleep well is not a bad thing. We rented a stroller for our 4 year old (only $5), otherwise she might not have lasted through the whole zoo.
My only complaint was the actual "kids area" of the zoo...there wasn't much, and in the small petting area there was only a very timid bunny hiding under a bench. However, the kids had such a great time at the rest of the zoo, and there's so many other nice animal encounters, that it wasn't a big deal. -
Review from Jeff H.
3/29/2010
Awesome zoo!! I was really surprised at how many cool animals they showcase here given how small the zoo is.
While smaller in size, it more then makes up for it by having really great animals on display. Elephants, lions, birds of prey, and giraffes. All the animal habitats are awesome, and the animals seem very inquisitive of their human counterparts. Staff is really friendly and knowledgeable, always quick to ask if you need anything or have any questions.
As much as I love lions, and I do for sure, the highlight here are the giraffes. You can purchase crackers, walk up onto the balcony and they will eat right out of your hand. It seems a little scary at first to see that fifteen inch long black tongue probing your hand looking for the goods, but it's a worthwhile experience. They just seem really friendly, and if you are really smooth, you can rub their heads while they eat.
Came here with my cousins, and we range in age from 16 to 25 and we all had a blast! -
Review from Shanna V.
Colorado Springs, CO
6/17/2008
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is the best zoo I have ever been too. I would say its about a medium size zoo and if you don't like exercise this might not be the zoo for you because it is laid out in the side of a mountain...
My parents have lived in places all over the world and been to many kinds of zoos, but they say that this zoo is their favorite. The layout is just spectacular and the animal exhibits (while some seem small) are very well done. Visually, it is a fantastic zoo.
The biggest draw is the Giraffe herd. Kids and adults can feed this large herd crackers and watch the trainers working with them all year around. If you aren't a giraffe fan, then this zoo has you covered. My niece HATES the giraffes because they are too big and scary for her, but she loves watching the Meerkat and the Primate section of the zoo. Also, for those who like wallabees (small kangeroos) you can walk amongst them. Pretty fun.
Oh interesting Meerkat experience, one of the sides has small holes that you can stick your fingers in. Meerkats are a lot like ferrets and some of them like to wonder around looking for ways to escape. Stick your finger in the hole when a meerkat is nearby and they will try to do the same. Watch out for those claws! -
Review from Katey G.
8/10/2009
I fed so many giraffes. And they have something like the largest herd of giraffes! All of them hungry for the crackers you can buy for a couple bucks. They love coming up and snatching them out of your hands with their prehensile tongues...eee.
This is quite a mountainous zoo. You will walk up and down. While they try to be accessible to all walks/wheels of life, planning is required if you have walking problems or are in a wheelchair. They had trams and elevators to help people around.
The animals looked cold when I was there. And it was cold! 50 in August? Ay ya. Poor monkeys were huddled together for warmth.
They have wallabies and peacocks that just walk around the place. Like, I saw a peacock meandering about in the parking lot. I think he was making his great escape.
They have turtles, elephants, hippos, bears, wolves, tigers and other zoo staples. Slowly, the zoo is expanding the animals housing, and more space is coming! I'm sure the animals will be happy to hear that.
Overall, a good trip to see some animals and feed giraffes. They have food there, not too expensive, not bad tasting either. Plenty of restrooms.
