The Minnesota Zoo opened on May 22, 1978, in Apple Valley, Minnesota, as one of only two state-supported zoos in the United States (the other being the North Carolina Zoo). Spread across 485 acres, it was among the first zoos in the country to organize its exhibits by animal habitat rather than by species, grouping creatures along trails such as the Northern Trail and the Tropics Trail instead of in traditional taxonomic houses.
Today the zoo is home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species, from Amur tigers to Grizzly Coast brown bears, alongside Discovery Bay’s 1.1-million-gallon aquarium complex. Its most talked-about addition is the Treetop Trail, a 1.25-mile elevated pedestrian loop built atop the zoo’s original 1979 monorail track, which opened to the public in July 2023 and is billed as the world’s longest walkway of its kind.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Apple Valley, Minnesota
- Opened: May 22, 1978
- Size: 485 acres
- Species: About 500 species, roughly 4,500 animals
- Annual Visitors: About 1.3 million
- Famous for: The 1.25-mile Treetop Trail, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop
The Zoo Experience
Visitors move through habitat-based trails rather than a traditional species-by-species layout. The Northern Trail showcases animals native to regions north of the 45th parallel, such as tigers and reindeer, while the Tropics Trail recreates an indoor rainforest. Russia’s Grizzly Coast focuses on Far Eastern Russian wildlife, and the Wells Fargo Family Farm offers hands-on encounters with domestic animals for younger visitors.
Discovery Bay houses the zoo’s aquarium exhibits, including sharks, coral reef displays, and a dolphin habitat within 1.1 million gallons of water. The zoo also hosts the Minnesota Zoo School, a public high school for environmental studies operated on zoo grounds.
The Treetop Trail
Opened on July 28, 2023, the Treetop Trail repurposes the elevated track of the zoo’s original monorail, which had operated from 1979 until its retirement in 2013. The 1.25-mile loop rises up to 32 feet above ground, letting visitors look down on tigers, moose, bison, and camels from a bird’s-eye vantage point.
Planning for the trail began in 2018, with a ceremonial groundbreaking in April 2022. The project has since won architecture and design awards for its adaptive reuse of existing infrastructure rather than new construction.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Minnesota Zoo FAQs
Where is the Minnesota Zoo located?
The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, Minnesota, about 20 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
When did the Minnesota Zoo open?
The Minnesota Zoo opened to the public on May 22, 1978.
What is the Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo?
The Treetop Trail is a 1.25-mile elevated pedestrian loop built on the zoo’s former monorail track, opened in July 2023 and described as the world’s longest walkway of its kind.
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Photo: Iain Campbell / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.