Denver Zoo

Overview

The Denver Zoo in City Park is one of the most visited zoos in the United States, home to over 3,000 animals representing 450 species. Its conservation programs focus on species recovery for endangered wildlife.

Highlights

• Toyota Elephant Passage: A 10-acre habitat that is one of the largest elephant exhibits in North America.
• Predator Ridge: African wild dogs, lions, and hyenas in naturalistic savanna habitats.
• Zoo Lights: A spectacular winter lighting event from November through January.

History

Founded in 1896 when an orphaned black bear cub was donated to City Park, the zoo has grown into a 80-acre campus. It became one of the first zoos in the U.S. to eliminate traditional cages in favor of naturalistic habitats.

Visitor Tips

• Zoo Lights (Nov–Jan) requires separate tickets and sells out on weekends.
• Morning visits offer the most active animal behavior, especially in summer.
• Duration: 2.5–3.5 hours.