General Information
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, YEAR ROUND
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Current hours: 10:00am-4:30pm
Some animals go off exhibit 30-45 minutes before closing. Museums are locked 15 minutes before zoo is closed.
Hours/Admission
Open Daily, Year-Round (except Thanksgiving & Christmas)
Winter Hours (Dec. 1 – Mar. 31) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Summer Hours (Apr. 1 – Nov. 30): 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Enter at Main Entrance (near pool), North Entrance near Bridge or Fort Montgomery Trail Gate Entrance.
The trail from the parking area at Bear Mountain to the main entrance of the zoo, along with the trail through the zoo itself, is fully paved and suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids.
Please note that terrain within the zoo is somewhat hilly.
We do not permit the riding of bikes, scooters, roller blades/skates, or skateboards.
Click here for a Trailside site map: Trailside Map
Trailside Admission: $1/person suggested donation
Fieldtrips and Group Visits: Schedule School or Group Visit.
Parking: Park at Bear Mountain State Park. Daily fee $10/vehicle. Allow 20 minutes to walk from parking to Trailside. Allow 1 to 2 hours for your visit.
Handicap Parking: Pay parking fee at Bear Mountain State Park & display parking fee ticket on dashboard. Park in designated handicap parking spaces outside of Trailside service gate on service road off Bear Mountain bridge road. For a map of where Handicap-only parking is, click here.
Empire Pass: $80/year for unlimited day use at most NYS Parks, Historic Sites & recreational facilities. Purchase online at Empire Pass or at Bear Mountain State Park Office and other NYS Parks and Historic Sites.
People with Limited Mobility & Disabilities: This portion of the Appalachian Trail is fully paved. We welcome strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids. Please note that terrain within the zoo is somewhat hilly. The north end of the zoo is flatter, making it more accessible to those with limited mobility.
Directions to public parking:
Trail from Bear Mountain Inn to Zoo Front Entrance:
Rules of Conduct for Visitors
- No Pets, Emotional Support or Therapy Animals are allowed in the Zoo. Service Animals ARE Permitted. This page has an explanation of the differences in the “About Service Animals” section at the top of the page. Take Pets and other non-Service animals on Blue Blazed By-Pass Trail.
- No Feeding of Animals, no banging on exhibits, no throwing things in exhibits
- No yelling, whistling, or making noises at exhibit animals
- No Smoking any device or substance
- No Picnicking
- No Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, or Roller Skates/Blades allowed in the Zoo
- No Music or Bullhorns
- No Balloons of any kind (this includes latex, vinyl mylar, etc.)
- No Collecting Plants, Animals, Rocks or other Natural Materials
- No Abandoning of unwanted pets in Trailside or anywhere in NYS Parks
- No Birthday Parties or other celebrations.
- No Wedding or other professional photography
What to See