Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Colorado
How this list is ordered: by how complete our listing is — how much we hold on opening hours, ticket prices, accreditation, photographs, animals and facilities. It is a measure of our own coverage, not a judgement of the venue. We hold no visitor scores or conservation assessments, so “best” here means every zoo in Colorado that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Indoor spacesWheelchair accessible routesParking
Butterfly Pavilion
Zoo in Westminster
The building runs to 30,000 square feet on 11 acres and holds five principal exhibit zones. Because insects are imported from abroad, the operation falls under USDA regulation.
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Keeper talk or showParking
Denver Zoo
Zoo in Denver
Dating from 1896, the zoo traces its start to a gift of an orphaned American black bear. It is run by the Denver Zoological Foundation, with part funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District and the remaining income from tickets and private gifts. It is the city's best-attended ticketed attraction.
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Keeper talk or showRides and attractionsBehind-the-scenes tour
Pueblo Zoo
Zoo in Pueblo
Open all year, the zoo holds over 500 animals from upwards of 125 species. Animals on show include Otter, Lions, African Penguins, Red Panda and American Bison.
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Animal feeding experienceRides and attractionsAssistance animal policy
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park
Zoo in Colorado Springs
The zoo sits 6,714 ft up, the highest-altitude zoo in the country, and covers 140 acres of which 40 are developed. It holds over 750 animals of nearly 170 species, more than 30 of them endangered.
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Animal encounterGuided tourPicnic area
Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center
Zoo in Divide
Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center, opened in 1993, is a zoo in Divide, United States. Things to do include Standard Tour, Feeding Tour, Full Moon Tour, Kids Tour and Educational Tours.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 6 venues above are listed alphabetically by name, the same order used throughout this site. We do not collect visitor reviews, star ratings, ticket-sales figures or a conservation-impact score, so none of those exist here to rank by — “best” in this page’s title means every venue that qualifies for this list, not first-to-last by quality. If we ever add a data source robust enough to support an honest ranking, this note and the order above will change together.