There's no better way to learn about animals than to get up close and personal with some friendly creatures at our local zoos, aquariums, farms, and sanctuaries. We've rounded up more than a dozen places to visit in Colorado for hands-on animal encounters. Venues are listed in alphabetical order.
Nearby Animal Encounters
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary (Commerce City)
Animal residents include llamas, chickens, goats, cows, pigs, turkeys, equine, and more.
To learn about and participate in community events, visit facebook.com/brokenshovels.
Butterfly Pavilion (Westminster)
Animals include invertebrates of all kinds.
Prices start at $15.95 per adult and $10.95 per child (ages 2-12). Children under 2 are admitted for free.
Giggling Life Care Farm (Brighton)
Animal residents include horses, donkeys, ponies, steer, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and sheep.
Guests can book birthday parties, after-school programs, homeschool enrichment, summer farm and art programs, equine-assisted therapy, and other family-friendly events.
Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary (Erie)
Luvin Arms is home to more than 90 rescued animals including cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, ducks, horses, a chukar partridge, and a llama.
Sanctuary tours are scheduled on select Saturdays and Sundays, June 6th to November 29th. Book online. Suggested donations are $20 per adult and $10 per child for tours. Participate in virtual events.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (Commerce City)
Enjoy an 11-mile self-guided audio wildlife tour. You'll encounter a variety of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles along the way.
Animal Encounters Worth the Drive
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs)
Animals of every variety are represented at this 146-acre facility.
Timed e-tickets must be purchased in advance, and are subject to selling out on popular days. Ticket pricing varies by day and time, depending on peak admittance. For adults, ticket prices range from $21 to $29, and for children, tickets range from $0 to $24.
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center (Divide)
Animal residents include wolves, coyotes, and foxes.
Tour the sanctuary. Experience a full moon tour, feeding tour, or meet & greet encounter. Fees range in price based on experience. Prices start at $20 per adult. Kids (ages 6-11) can partake in a Kids Wolf Tour for $15.
Denver Zoo (Denver)
Animals of every variety are represented at the Denver Zoo. Close-up animal encounters include reptiles, llamas, giraffes, porcupines, sloths, parrots, camels, and more.
Tickets start at $25.20 per adult (ages 16-64) and $18.90 per child (ages 3-15). Guests under 2 years old are admitted for free.
Downtown Aquarium (Denver)
Animals include fish and aquatic creatures of every variety.
Tickets start at $27.99 per adult (ages 12-64) and $21.99 per child (ages 3-11). Guests under 2 years are admitted for free.
Englewood Farm & Train at Belleview Park (Englewood)
Animal residents include sheep, a pig, goats, guinea pigs, reptiles, and more.
Open daily (Memorial Day through Labor Day), 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, guests can visit for only $3 per person (under 2 are free). Tickets are available for purchase online.
Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary (Deer Trail)
Animal residents include cows, pigs, goats, yaks, sheep, turkeys, roosters, hens, ducks, geese, and swans.
Tour the sanctuary on weekends with a pre-scheduled appointment.
Rescued Friends Animal Sanctuary (Fort Collins)
Animal residents include chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and alpacas.
Volunteer during an upcoming Work Day.
Sunflower Farm (Longmont)
Animal residents include goats, horses, sheep, chickens, llamas, a tortoise, and more.
Farmfest day tickets are $18 per person. Farmfest evening tickets are $27 per person. Guests under 12 months old are admitted for free. Reservations are required.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary (Keenesburg)
The Wild Animal Sanctuary hosts more than 600 animals including lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves, hyenas, servals, bobcats, lynx, foxes, coyote, and coatimundi. The facility has also rescued horses, donkeys, ostrich, emu, camel, yak, alpaca, cats, dogs, parrots, and other birds.
Tour the sanctuary. Open 7 days a week. Book online. Tours are $50 per adult and $30 per child to cover the cost of the tour. Donations above this amount are requested to help care for the animals.
The Wild Animal Refuge (Springfield)
An extension of the Wild Animal Sanctuary, this facility will become home to lions, tigers, bears, wolves, or other captive animals in need of a new home.
Become a founder by purchasing acreage of land to expand the facility. Donate online. This facility is not open to the general public. Founders will have opportunities to visit The Refuge.
W.O.L.F. Sanctuary (Bellvue)
Animal residents include wolves and wolf dogs.
