Closure Alerts

Christmas Day: The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will be closed on Wednesday, December 25th, for both day admission and ZOOLIGHTS, presented by Olympia Trust Company. Normal operations will resume on December 26th.

New Year’s Eve: On Tuesday, December 31st, last entry for day admission and members will be at 3 p.m. with grounds cleared at 4 p.m. to accommodate set up for our Zoo Year’s Eve event, presented by Orange Frog.

Thank you for your understanding.

Animal Viewing Impacts

Land of Lemurs Walkthrough & Outdoor Gorilla Amphitheatre: The two outdoor animal viewing areas will close for the season beginning on October 15. Lemurs and gorillas will be viewable in their indoor habitats.

African Savannah Yard: Our Hartmann’s mountain zebras and ostriches will be off-view until early 2025 while we complete exciting upgrades in the African Savannah Yard, including the construction of a new Savannah Barn for the animals. Our giraffe tower will continue to be viewable throughout the project.

Thank you for your understanding.

Public Notice

Pesticide application to control the invasive species Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) will occur within the property boundary of the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo under approval from Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. For full details or information on appeals, click here.
Calgary Zoo

Getting Here

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is located east of Calgary’s downtown core, on beautiful St. George’s Island.

Arriving By Car

Access to St. George’s Drive is off Memorial Drive, both east and west. Signage will direct you all the way to the gate.

Address: 210 St. George’s Drive NE

Arriving by Transit

The easiest way to take city transit to the zoo is the CTrain line. The Northeast line (Route 202 or the “Blue” line) will take you to Zoo Station. When you arrive, make your way to the North Gate Entrance – it’s less than a five-minute walk.

Arriving on Foot or Bike

We are located just off the Bow River Pathway which provides easy access whether you are walking or biking. Following the Bow River Pathway will take you to Alberta Plaza, which leads to the North Gate Entrance.

If you are biking or scootering, there are convenient and safe racks for parking, which are monitored by our security team’s cameras:

  • In Alberta Plaza by the North Gate Entrance
  • In the West Lot

If you are unsure about where to leave your bike or scooter, you can call Guest Relations for help at (403) 232-9300, extension 2.

Parking

The North Lot is our primary parking lot and is open year-round. It is located at 210 St. George’s Drive NE, between the zoo’s North Entrance and TELUS Spark Science Centre.

The West Lot is our secondary parking lot. It is located at the west end of St. George’s Island, off Zoo Road NE.

Parking Fees

Parking is managed through ParkPlus, by the Calgary Parking Authority. The North Lot costs a flat rate of $13 per day, and the West Lot charges $2.25 for every 30 minutes of parking for a maximum of $13.
Payment can be made through the ParkPlus app. Payment machines are located in the following locations:

  • Alberta Plaza (North Lot)
  • West Lot

Payment at the machines can be made via credit and cash ($1 and $2 coins). To pay with Visa Debit, you can pay online using your phone by using the instructions on the payment machines, or zoo staff can give you a QR code to use.

Parking is valid for 24 hours from the time of entry. Tickets for failure to pay are issued by the Calgary Parking Authority.

Note: Members can register with ParkPlus to receive free parking. To learn more visit our frequently asked questions here.

Monthly Parking

A limited number of parking stalls in the North Lot are available for purchase through the Calgary Parking Authority for monthly use.

Cost: $70 + GST per month
Where: Calgary Zoo North Lot – ParkPlus Zone 8301 (84 St. George’s Drive NE)
When: 24/7, with guaranteed availability Monday-Friday, 2:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Outside of these hours, availability is on a first-come, first served basis.