Denver Zoo

I wanted to visit the Denver Zoo back in September but never got the chance to so was glad to finally check it out last month.  I love visiting zoos around the world and was adding another one to my list.

Getting There

My friend and I were staying at TownePlace Suites Denver Downtown which was about a 15 minute drive to the zoo.  We used the same taxi driver who had the wheelchair accessible vehicle to take us that morning.

accessible taxi driver dropped us off right at the front entrance of the zoo

When we arrived at the zoo, we asked the person at the ticket counter if there were any discounts available for wheelchair guests and their companions.  We were told that the wheelchair guest pays the regular adult admission of $25.20, while the companion ticket was free.

at the ticket booth, we got free companion ticket after paying for 1 adult admission of $25.20

About Denver Zoo

Denver Zoo is a non profit organization that was founded in 1896.  It is on 80 acres of land and home to over 3500 animals across over 550 different species.  The zoo is laid out in a large loop, with exhibits both inside and outside the loop.

zoo map

Exhibits

lion

Current major exhibits: Primates, Cats, Hoofed Mammals, Birds, Tropical Discovery, Toyota Elephant Passage, Harmony Hill, Northern Shores, Pachyderm Habitat, Bear Mountain, Stingray Cove and Travelling Exhibits.

giraffe

Other attractions in the zoo include: Conservation Carousel, Denver Zoo Railroad, 4D Theater, Animal Hospital, Wildlife Conservation Education Center, and Wildlife Encounters outdoor amphitheater.

elephants

Accessibility

Denver Zoo is really wheelchair friendly.  It starts out with free admission for a caregiver/companion of a wheelchair guest.  The zoo was really flat with paved pathways everywhere.  The grounds look really well maintained and it was very clean.  We had no issues wheeling around outside or inside any of the exhibits.

was easy to get around the zoo

Entrances to the indoor exhibits and aviaries didn’t really have wheelchair push buttons for automatic doors.  We expected that but luckily I bring a friend to help me with the doors.  We watched an elephant feeding show at Toyota Elephant Passage and they had wheelchair accessible spots and seating for their companions.

flat grounds

Denver Railroad actually has a fold out ramp to allow wheelchair passengers to get on the train.  It costs $4 per person per ride unless you are an annual zoo pass member, it would be $2.  There was no free companion ride ticket either.

accessible spot for elephant show

My wheelchair was tied down.  The ride was really short as it only took us around the Into The Wild area to see a few animals for a few minutes.  It was not worth doing again.

ramp to get on train

After the train ride, there was nothing left for us to see, so we got a regular taxi to pick us up to bring us back to the hotel.

wheelchair tied down for the ride

Final Thoughts

We had a great time visiting Denver Zoo as we stayed over 4 hours.  With free companion tickets and great accessibility, it is definitely worth visiting at least once.  Down Under, the Australian exhibit opened a week after our visit and there is new future home of sea lions opening soon.  I may have to come back to see these new additions.

rhino