The World's Only Mountain Zoo: Your Complete Guide to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Most zoos are flat, predictable, and interchangeable. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is none of those things. Perched at 6,800 feet on the slope of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs — just fifteen minutes from The Outrider's front door — this is the only mountain zoo in the United States, and it earns that distinction every step of the way. Winding paths climb through pine forest and rocky switchbacks. Giraffes browse against a backdrop of Pikes Peak. Black bears laze in enclosures that look out over the city. It's a genuinely one-of-a-kind experience, and it's sitting right in your backyard.
Why This Zoo Is Different
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was founded in 1926 by Spencer Penrose — the same man who built The Broadmoor hotel and the Pikes Peak Highway. His vision was a zoo that used the natural terrain of the mountain itself as habitat, and nearly a century later, that philosophy still defines the experience. The zoo climbs over 100 vertical feet from entrance to summit, and each exhibit takes advantage of the elevation, the views, and the native landscape in ways that flat-ground zoos simply cannot replicate.
The Outrider Tip
The zoo is a genuine uphill walk — wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The elevation gain is noticeable, especially on warm days.
The Giraffe Experience
The African Rift Valley exhibit is the zoo's signature attraction, and for good reason. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has one of the most successful giraffe breeding programs in the world, and the feeding experience — where visitors can hand-feed romaine lettuce to giraffes at eye level from an elevated platform — is genuinely extraordinary. The animals are relaxed, curious, and close enough to study the patterns of their coats and the texture of their tongues. With Pikes Peak rising behind the enclosure, it's one of those moments that feels almost surreal.
The Outrider Tip
Giraffe feeding lettuce is available for a small additional fee at the exhibit. Arrive early in the day when the giraffes are most active and the lines are shortest.
Beyond the Giraffes: What Else to See
Rocky Mountain Wild — Colorado's Own Wildlife
This exhibit focuses on species native to the Rocky Mountain region — mountain lions, grizzly bears, moose, and North American river otters. For visitors who want to see Colorado's iconic wildlife up close without a backcountry permit, this is the best opportunity in the Pikes Peak region. The grizzly bear habitat, built into the natural rock of the mountainside, is particularly impressive.
Asian Highlands
Home to Amur tigers, red pandas, and snow leopards, the Asian Highlands exhibit wraps around a steep section of the mountain and offers some of the zoo's best elevated views. The red pandas — small, rust-colored, and endlessly watchable — are a consistent crowd favorite.
The Mountaineer Sky Ride
An open-air chairlift carries visitors from the zoo's upper exhibits to the summit of the property, offering panoramic views of Colorado Springs, the plains to the east, and the Front Range stretching north. On clear days, the ride alone is worth the visit. It's included with zoo admission.
The Outrider Tip
Take the Sky Ride up and walk back down through the exhibits — it saves your legs for the best parts of the zoo and gives you the views first.
Practical Information
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is open year-round, with seasonal hours that typically run from 9am to 5pm. Adult admission is around $30, with discounts for children, seniors, and military. Parking is included. The zoo is busiest on summer weekends — weekday mornings offer the best combination of short lines, active animals, and comfortable temperatures. Allow at least three hours for a full visit.
Getting There from The Outrider
From our front door at 229 Manitou Ave, take US-24 east toward Colorado Springs, then follow Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard south to the zoo entrance. The drive is about fifteen minutes. The route takes you past The Broadmoor — Penrose's other legacy — and the entrance to North Cheyenne Cañon Park, making it easy to combine a zoo visit with a canyon hike on the same day.
After the Zoo, Come Back to the Canyon
A full day at the zoo — especially with the elevation gain and the summer sun — calls for a proper wind-down. Our sauna and cold plunge wellness area is the ideal recovery after hours of walking mountain switchbacks, and the fire pit patio is the right place to let the afternoon settle while you replay the moment a giraffe ate lettuce from your hand. The zoo is fifteen minutes away. The recovery is waiting. That's the Outrider way.