Wild Denver - Aquariums, Zoos & Animal Sanctuaries

From native Colorado species to exotic creatures from around the globe, the Mile High City is filled with amazing animals.

Conservation efforts help protect delicate butterflies, restore bison to their natural habitats and rescue large carnivores from abusive situations. These initiatives extend far beyond Colorado, but you can learn all about them here and appreciate the natural world with renewed awe and splendor.

Downtown Aquarium

Colorado may be landlocked, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have plenty of marine life for you and your family to gawk at. The Downtown Aquarium features fascinating sea creatures, sharks and more. All in all, there are more than 15,000 fish, mammals and plants, including an exhibit of swimming Sumatran tigers.

And if you're left with the urge to get a little wet yourself, you're in luck: snorkelers can Swim with the Fish in the Under the Sea tank and mingle with rays, eels, and other denizens of the deep. Certified divers can explore the tank with A-1 Scuba of Littleton.

The Shark Cage Experience drops you into the Shipwreck tank for a look at five shark species, green sea turtles, and green sawfish with the help of a diving guide and compressed air. Certified divers can also jump in this tank with A-1 Scuba, and possibly walk away with a shark’s tooth.

Included with aquarium admission, the aquarium’s meet-and-greets give visitors a chance to interact with a sloth, octopus, shark, crested porcupine, and feed and pet stingrays, depending on the day. The aquarium also has an electric train, the Aquarium Express, that explores the wetlands along the South Platte River and a 4-D theater.

FAMILY TIP: This family-friendly attraction has a restaurant where you can dine next to sharks and schools of colorful tropical fish. Also, stroll the grounds around the aquarium for kid-focused activities, like petting zoos and educational programs.

Downtown Aquarium

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Lions, tigers, bears — and so much more! Set aside several hours for exploration at the Denver Zoo, an eye-opening experience for all ages. One of the most popular zoos in the nation, the Denver Zoo has 2,500-plus animals, representing more than 750 species. Here are some highlights:

Stingray Cove: Here you can safely touch and feed an array of stingrays and sharks in a 15,000-gallon saltwater pool. The pool is low enough for young children to reach while providing zones for the animals to rest and hide when they need a break.

Down Under: See Australian animals like cassowaries and kangaroos. Its Wallaby Way habitat includes “free-ranging” wallabies, where you can follow the trail and be with them.

Harmony Hill: The zoo's grizzly bear habitat (along with some raccoons) brings guests closer than ever to these magnificent animals. Harmony Hill was designed to bring rescue grizzly's stories to the forefront and help educate visitors on how to live in harmony (hence the name) with bears in the wild and in backyards.

Toyota Elephant Passage: It's one of the largest elephant habitats in North America, with two miles of trails on 10 acres of land. You'll also see one-horned rhinos and Malayan tapirs.

Predator Ridge: See lions and spotted hyenas on a 5-acre expanse that simulates the African savanna.

Primate Panorama: This lushly forested section provides a home for a variety of primate species like lowland gorillas, Sumatran orangutans and ring-tailed lemurs.

Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital: Learn what it's like to be a veterinarian at a zoo where you might witness an actual procedure.

FAMILY TIP: Don't miss live animal demonstrations, take a ride on the Denver Zoo Railroad and catch a film at the 4-D theater!

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Baby sloth with its mother at Denver Zoo

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Denver Botanic Gardens

Just south of the expansive City Park, you and your family will find the spectacular 24 acres that make up Denver Botanic Gardens. Trust us; you won't just be stopping to smell the roses. As you follow the winding paths through the grounds, you'll discover no less than 32,000 diverse and delightful plants from such faraway places as Australia, Africa and the Himalayas. There are dozens of gardens to enjoy, including the internationally recognized Japanese Garden.

FAMILY TIP: Explore the whimsical Mordecai Children's Garden, where kids can interact with plants and the natural world.

Butterfly Pavilion

The world’s first accredited zoo for invertebrates, the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, is home to 5,000 butterflies, bugs, and other critters. Invertebrates represent 97 percent of all animal species.

The twice-daily butterfly releases offer another unique experience. Butterflies from all over the world emerge from their chrysalises in a special chamber, then are transferred into the Wings of the Tropics exhibit.

The Colorado Backyard exhibit gives kids an opportunity to get their hands dirty. “In the Dugout, they’re able to, with the assistance of our staff and volunteers, actually dig into the dirt and handle live mealworms,” says Quermann.

FAMILY TIP: Visitors can actually hold Rosie the Tarantula, a Chilean rose hair tarantula.

Wild Animal Sanctuary

Now with four properties — including the new 23,000-acre Wild Horse Refuge near Craig, Colorado — the Wild Animal Sanctuary houses around 450 of its 900 rescue animals in Keenesburg, about 40 miles northeast of Denver.

Among countless other rescue stories, the sanctuary saved 39 tigers that once belonged to Joe Exotic, the “Tiger King,” from the Netflix series.

The mission is “to rescue, rehabilitate and restore." It's the oldest and largest carnivore sanctuary on the planet. They specialize in rescuing captive-bred large carnivores from illegal and/or abusive situations.

Visitors with day passes can view the resident lions, tigers, bears and other animals from a 1.5-mile elevated walkway. It's best to arrive about three hours before sunset or first thing in the morning.

Looking for a unique experience? Summer Safari Dinners are fundraisers held sporadically from May to September.

FAMILY TIP: Avoid midday. Animals have fur coats, so they’re in the shade or underground.

Wild Animal Sanctuary

Where to See Bison

For millions of years, bison helped maintain the plains, but they were nearly exterminated in the 19th century. Thanks to modern conservation efforts, they are being restored to their natural habitats. There are three places near Denver where you can admire these majestic animals: Buffalo Herd Overlook, Daniels Park and Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary

Smooth Alpaca Experience

Domesticated Animal Encounters

Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary

Founded in 2015, Luvin Arms in Erie is now home to more than 150 cows, goats, pigs and other farm animals that were often living in situations of neglect.

“I think if we had to sum it up in one word, it really comes down to that Sanskrit word, ahimsa, which means nonviolence toward all living beings,” says Kelly Nix, Luvin Arms’ managing director. “Our goal here at the sanctuary is not only just to rescue farm animals coming from the animal agriculture industry, but it’s also to really focus on the educational component.”

Visitors can take a variety of tours, including the Connecting Community through Compassion Tour and the Kid Connection Tour. Nix says Luvin Arms’ Cow Cuddle (it’s exactly what it sounds like) gets reliably positive feedback. “We refer to cows as grass puppies,” says Nix. “Most people will say, ‘I had no idea cows were friendly.’”

Smooth Alpaca Experience

Joe Sarto, owner of Smooth Alpaca Experience in Morrison, wants to share his love for alpacas. Sarto’s five-acre ranch is now home to seven alpacas and three goats. He says guests can expect “a burst of serotonin” during their two-hour visit.

“A lot of people will get a giggle out of it because you’ll see their distinct personalities and their characters.”

One is quiet, another is a bit of a bully. “Then we’ve got the head dog, which is Pablo Picasso,” says Sarto. “I just call him the benign dictator.”

The ranch also has wheelchair-accessible experiences.