Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
America’s mountainside zoo climbs steeply above Colorado Springs, pairing close giraffe encounters with expansive views and serious conservation programs. Use the shuttle or Mountaineer Sky Ride strategically and plan the route by elevation, not just exhibit order.
Artwork inspired by John F. Carlson
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. At an elevation of 6,714 feet (2,046 m) above sea level, it is the highest zoo in the country. The zoo covers 140 acres (57 ha), 40 of which are in use.
Use the shuttle or Mountaineer Sky Ride strategically and plan the route by elevation, not just exhibit order. The famous giraffe feeding is optional; watching herd spacing, browsing, and voluntary movement can be more informative than a close photograph.
- Focus
- Mountain zoo above Colorado Springs
- Experience
- Exceptionally steep visitor route
- Allow
- 4–5 hours
Quick guide
- Interpretive pair
- Wildlife interpretation with a Colorado lens
- Closing move
- animal choice, habitat design, and repeated observation
Build an evidence-led visit to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Choose
- Plan the route downhill
- Watch
- Watch giraffes before crowds peak
- Observe
- Giraffe feeding is optional; behavior matters more than proximity.
- Prepare
- Real grades and fast mountain weather require access planning.
Good to know
Grades are real and weather shifts quickly on Cheyenne Mountain, so accessibility planning and footwear matter more than at a flat urban zoo.
Notice these
- America’s mountainside zoo climbs steeply above Colorado Springs, pairing close giraffe encounters with expansive views and serious conservation programs.
- The famous giraffe feeding is optional; watching herd spacing, browsing, and voluntary movement can be more informative than a close photograph.