Utah's Hogle Zoo Tours

At the base of Emigration Canyon, Utah's Hogle Zoo is one of Salt Lake City's most popular family-friendly attractions. Its 42 acres (17 hectares) are home to more than 800 species of animal. Exhibit highlights include the Elephant Encounter, with African elephants and white rhinos, and the Asian Highlands, featuring five endangered species of Asian cat.

The Hogle Zoo—Utah’s largest—offers daily programs, wildlife demonstrations, bird shows, and special events such as public giraffe feedings and up-close wildlife animal experiences. The zoo also offers a wide variety of classes for both children and adults. Kids won’t want to miss a ride on the Zoofari Express Train or exploring the Lighthouse Point Splash Zone, a nice place to cool off during the heat of the day. 

Utah's Hogle Zoo is located east of downtown Salt Lake City, across from This Is the Place Heritage Park, near the University of Utah. The zoo is most easily reached by car, as there is limited public transportation. Other nearby attractions include Red Butte Gardens and the Natural History Museum of Utah. 

The Hogle Zoo is open from 9am to 6pm daily March through October, and 10am to 5pm November through February. The zoo is extremely popular with local families, so make sure to arrive early on weekends or holidays to beat the crowds. Visitors enjoy free admission to the zoo the last Wednesday of the month in December, January, and February. 

ZooLights and BooLights are two of the zoo’s most popular annual events. Each event features the zoo lit up in festive fashion, plus plenty of nightly entertainment and activities for the whole family. The Annual Art Show, held from the end of January through March, offers locals artists the opportunity to show off their wildlife- and nature-inspired art.