Feed Giraffes Eye-To-Eye From A Mountainside Boardwalk In Colorado Springs

A giraffe can lean over a railing and take lettuce right out of your hand. At one Colorado zoo, you can make that handoff while standing eye-to-eye with the giraffe.

The newest home for this herd has 11 different feeding zones, both indoors and outdoors. One of them is an elevated boardwalk set right into the side of a mountain.

I like how the design lets you meet giraffes from several heights. You can stand eye-to-eye, face-to-face, or down near their enormous hooves.

The building even has a clear roof that lets natural sunlight pour inside.

This zoo also sits higher above sea level than any other zoo in the country. So the view behind your giraffe might try to steal the show.

I can’t imagine a more scenic spot for a lettuce delivery, can you?

Your Lettuce Has Never Traveled This High Before

Few animals can look you straight in the eye from a mountainside, but giraffes pull it off with style. At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the new Giraffe Center makes that moment the main event.

The building is officially called the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe. It opened on September 15, 2026, and it covers about 12,000 square feet.

Its star feature is an elevated boardwalk. From up there, you can hold out a piece of lettuce and meet a giraffe at its own level.

That changes the whole experience. Instead of craning your neck, you get to see those long eyelashes and that busy tongue up close.

The herd here is one of the largest reticulated giraffe groups in North America. So you have plenty of tall, spotted customers waiting for snacks.

Giraffe feeding runs daily during regular zoo hours, from opening until closing. Hours can shift for holidays and special events, so check the schedule before you go.

A quick tip helps here. Hold the lettuce out flat and steady, then let the giraffe do the work.

Those tongues know exactly what they want, and they rarely miss.

Eleven Ways To Say Hello To A Giraffe

Eleven. That’s how many interactive feeding zones the Giraffe Center offers, spread across indoor and outdoor spaces.

Most zoos give you one feeding platform and call it a day. Here, the designers clearly wanted each visit to feel a little different.

The zones let you meet giraffes from three main angles. You can go eye-to-eye, face-to-face, or feet-to-hooves.

Each angle shows you something new about these animals. Eye level reveals their faces, while ground level shows just how massive their legs really are.

Kids especially benefit from this setup. A short person and a tall person can both find a spot that feels right for them.

The indoor zones are a nice bonus on chilly mountain days. Colorado weather can change quickly, and the zoo stays open in all kinds of weather.

Try visiting more than one zone if you have time. Watching a giraffe from above and then from below feels like meeting two totally different animals.

Bring patience, too. Giraffes move at their own pace, and the best moments often happen when you simply wait and let them wander over to you.

Sunlight Pours In And The Giraffes Get A Workout

Look up when you step inside the Giraffe Center. The roof is clear, so natural sunlight floods the space all day long.

That bright design helps the building feel open instead of boxed in. It also means the giraffes enjoy daylight even when they hang out indoors.

Outside, the expanded yard has another clever trick. Switchbacks wind across the slope to encourage the giraffes to move through the mountain terrain.

Think of it as a zigzag hiking trail, just built for animals with very long legs. Moving up and down the hillside keeps the herd active and curious.

The layout fits the zoo’s whole personality. The entire place is built right into the mountainside, with terraced paths and exhibits stacked up the slope.

So the giraffes aren’t the only ones climbing. You’ll be walking uphill and downhill too, which makes comfy shoes a smart choice.

Spend a few minutes just watching the herd use the yard. Seeing a giraffe calmly stroll a switchback is oddly graceful, like a runway model on a mountain trail.

Honestly, it might inspire you to tackle the next hill with a little more confidence.

Every Leaf You Hand Over Supports A Bigger Mission

Behind all the fun lettuce moments sits a serious goal. The zoo founded the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe in 2022.

The program focuses on improving giraffe care around the world. It also works to promote conservation for these tall animals in the wild.

The new building gave that mission a proper home. Now the care work and the guest experience happen in the same space.

I believe that matters for families. Kids can feed a giraffe, then learn why protecting giraffes is important in the very next breath.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It also takes part in the Species Survival Plan, which helps manage animal populations carefully.

The zoo is home to more than 30 endangered species overall. Giraffes are simply the most famous faces of that work.

Fans of these animals can also look for World Giraffe Day events. It’s a fun excuse to visit and learn something new about the herd.

So when that tongue grabs your lettuce, you’re part of a bigger story. Not bad for a handful of greens.

Pack Water Because This Zoo Lives Above The Clouds

Here’s a fun bragging right. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sits at 6,714 feet above sea level, making it the highest zoo in the country.

That height brings huge views of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. It also brings thinner air, which can surprise visitors from lower places.

Drink plenty of water before and during your visit. Sunscreen is a good idea too, since the sun feels stronger at high elevation.

The zoo’s terraced layout means lots of slopes. Plan for hills and give yourself time to rest between exhibits.

Layers help on mountain days. A warm morning in Colorado can turn breezy by afternoon, so a light jacket rarely goes to waste.

Strollers are handy for little ones who tire out fast. Grown-ups might secretly wish someone would push them up the steeper paths, too.

Don’t rush the giraffe boardwalk, either. It’s a great spot to catch your breath while a giraffe calmly munches beside you.

The reward for all that climbing is the scenery. Few zoos let you watch animals with an entire city spread out below like a giant map.

The Giraffes Have Some Very Hungry Neighbors

Giraffes may get top billing, but they aren’t the only animals happy to see a snack. The zoo offers several other feeding experiences worth adding to your day.

African elephants have their own feeding opportunity. Eastern black rhinos do too, though that one is seasonal.

Bird lovers can hand-feed colorful budgies. Having a cloud of tiny feathered friends land near you is a cheerful change from towering giraffes.

Domestic goats round out the list. They’re a great pick for younger kids who want a hands-on moment at ground level.

Beyond feedings, the zoo holds more than 750 animals from nearly 170 species. You’ll find African lions, penguins, hippos, wolves, bears, tigers, and mountain lions.

Wallabies and a range of primates add even more variety. It’s easy to fill a full day without seeing the same thing twice.

Try planning your route around the feedings that matter most to your group. That way nobody misses the elephant moment they’ve talked about all week.

And yes, you’ll probably leave with stories about a budgie, a goat, and a giraffe. That’s a pretty great lineup for one afternoon.

Float Over The Zoo Before Heading Up The Mountain

After feeding giraffes from a boardwalk, why not go even higher? The Mountaineer Sky Ride is an open-air, ski-lift-style ride that floats above the zoo.

From your seat, you get wide views of Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, and the plains stretching beyond. It’s like seeing the zoo on a living map.

The ride climbs to Mountaineer Summit. Up top, you’ll find a yurt and a playground waiting for anyone with energy left.

The Sky Ride costs extra beyond regular admission. Still, it gives tired legs a break while your eyes do all the work.

Zoo admission also includes access to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. This historic landmark sits farther up the mountain and offers sweeping views of the Pikes Peak region.

Reaching the shrine means driving slowly through zoo areas. Give yourself extra time so you don’t feel rushed before or after your zoo visit.

Pairing these two stops makes a full mountain day. You get animals, history, and scenery without ever leaving the same ticket.

Good luck choosing your favorite view. Each spot seems determined to top the one before it.

Refuel With Pizza And A View Of The City

All that climbing builds an appetite fast. Luckily, the zoo has several spots to grab a meal without leaving the grounds.

Grizzly Grill serves handmade pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. It also comes with views of the city, which makes lunch feel like a mini vacation.

Pizza with a View lives up to its name. This European-style pizzeria offers hand-made pizzas, salads, and gluten-friendly and vegan options.

Longneck Café is a fitting name near giraffe country. Stop there for coffee, snacks, and light lunches when you just need a quick boost.

Taco Terrace opens seasonally. If it’s running during your visit, it adds another tasty choice to the lineup.

Prefer to pack your own food? The zoo welcomes picnic meals, which helps families stretch their budget.

A picnic also lets you eat on your own schedule. Snack breaks between exhibits can keep small hikers happy on those uphill paths.

Just remember the lettuce is for the giraffes. Your sandwich is a different story, and nobody on the boardwalk will try to steal it.

A Century Of Mountain Magic Calls For A Smart Plan

Spencer Penrose founded the zoo back in 1926. That makes 2026 its centennial year, and the new Giraffe Center arrived right on time for the celebration.

USA Today also named Cheyenne Mountain Zoo the second best zoo in North America in 2025. That’s quite a birthday present.

You’ll find the zoo at 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. It’s open daily, year-round, and the last admission comes an hour before closing.

Every visitor needs an advance timed-entry ticket, including members. Buy online before you arrive, since tickets are generally non-refundable.

The zoo operates in all weather, so a snowy day doesn’t cancel the fun. Just dress for whatever the Colorado sky decides to do.

Special events add extra reasons to return. Boo at the Zoo brings Halloween fun, while Electric Safari lights things up for the holidays.

WildNights sleepovers let families stay after dark. Dog Days even let you bring your canine buddy along.

With a century behind it and giraffes at eye level, this zoo keeps finding new ways to impress. Your lettuce is waiting.