Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

We went on a day trip and got here when it opened at 10:00. The crowds got bigger as noon rolled around and still we were able to visit most of the exhibits except for the farm. This is not an enormously large zoo but it is situated on slope side which makes those up hill trek a bit of a challenge when we have been walking for hours. It counts for a good workout for me.

The staff are all very nice and courteous. The grounds are well kept and clean, the food court was ok. Nothing out of the ordinary and it is on the pricey side for a simple burger.

The restrooms are near the entrance and another at the farm. I’m sure there are more but these are the ones we came across.

The parking is easy and the overflow will just go into the shared garage with the ice rink.

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I had a fantastic experience at Turtle Back Zoo! The exhibits are well-maintained, and the variety of animals, especially the diverse cat family species, is impressive. What truly stood out was the thoughtful design – exhibits were aligned with their respective continents. For instance, the Asian exhibits were beautifully crafted in an authentic Asian style, enhancing the immersive experience. The friendly and knowledgeable staff added an educational touch by sharing interesting facts about the animals while making rounds. The zoo's commitment to conservation and education, coupled with its attention to cultural details, makes it a great place to spend a day reconnecting with nature and learning about wildlife. I highly recommend it!

We visited the lovely Turtle Back Zoo for the Christmas lights and had such a delightful time. The best part was that we had to donate food or clothes to enter instead of paying for a ticket, which was so thoughtful! Our visit included a fun train ride (with a half an hour wait time), face painting (for an extra cost), visiting Santa Claus, the touch tank for the rays, Christmas themed food and drinks and of course, the mesmerizing lights. We had a lot of fun here and can't wait to visit the zoo during summer and see the animals.

Very nice place to go with kids. The animals are well kept and you have a lot to explore. Feeding the giraffe was something special. The small train was enjoyable for the kids.

In town for the day with my 4-year-old nephew, with a few hours to kill, so we decided to check out the zoo! We were there from 11:30 to 3:30 on a Wednesday in December and it was the most perfect time I've ever had at a zoo. We had almost the entire place to ourselves. Even though it was just under 50° out. The sun was bright and shining and it wasn't windy so it was a gorgeous day to walk through the zoo. Not having any crowds or people meant we could stay as long as we wanted at each animal, we got perfect pictures with no people in the background, and my nephew had the entire playground to himself for almost an hour!!! Skip the food here, and eat before or after you go to the zoo because we paid $16 for a personal pizza and a small bag of goldfish and that was the worst pizza I've ever had!!! The staff were super friendly and very helpful, and the zoo was very clean. Bummed that we couldn't have been there a little bit later in the day to see the lights which started at 5:00 p.m., but with all the Christmas and holiday decorations it was still magical to walk around and see everything!!!

Just GO!! This place was awesome!! We found this gem while searching for something to do in the area and it did not disappoint!! The park was very clean, had a lot to offer and animals seemed very well taken care of with huge enclosures! They look like the recently added new areas and a lot of time/ effort put into new walking paths, buildings and landscapes. I WILL BE BACK! Also parking was FREE and they do have strollers for rent.

Had a really great time at the holiday lights! The decorations were beautiful with ample photo op areas. Also liked that the reptile house was open to observe some animals. The red pandas exhibit was also open/ they were one of the only animals active at night. We passed on the smores activity but it’s another fun seasonal activity they offer (8 dollars for a kit with marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers).

Great zoo for little kids. It's definitely worth the membership if you live close by. The members only events are especially fun. The habitats are well done, and you can tell the animals are healthy and cared for. I also appreciate that they are using a lot of native plants on the grounds, and hope they continue expanding that effort.

It blew my mind that this was a donation only exhibit. It was beautifully done!!! Glad to see that county's don't just want money from people, but are collecting foods and coats for the less fortunate and families can enjoy a great night out! Well done!

Great family atmosphere. Great if you have kids to take to enjoy seeing some of the great species that the Earth has to offer.

Went with my teenage baby sister and a friend of mine. Had a blast. Definitely recommend to visit if you are in the area.

This place is fun to visit. Kids will love to spend time here
Visited on weekday and it was almost empty. You can easily spend 3-4 hours getting information about all the animals. You can feed the giraffe for $5. Train ride is scenic and it was free. Not sure if it was free on weekday. Parking is free.

Awesome place to go with the family. The kids love to see all of the animals and there are even a few that they get to feed. The place is big enough for a day trip but not so big that you feel like you didn’t get a chance to see everything when you leave. Prices for food aren’t even too terrible. Overall would solidly recommend and would definitely go back again.

Beautiful place to visit in all season of the year. Kids will have great time. In Holidays season, this park is allowed to enter without fee to see their holiday decor and light which is going to be very festive. This place had great vibe all the times I visited here.

Accessible and amazing zoo for people of all ages and interests! The paths are easy to navigate on foot, with a stroller or in a wheelchair. Misters located throughout the zoo for those hot days!My favorite stops were the Touch Tank, Giraffes and Otters. Somewhat unique to this zoo is the abundance of seating facing and very close to animal exhibits! Perfect for lunch breaks or just a walking break.

Plenty of bathrooms around the zoo and clearly marked. The bathroom in the Touch Tank was never full and there was ample seating in the exhibit for those waiting. Bonus, you got to touch the rays again while you were there!

The exhibits are beautiful, with adequate space for animals and tools to showcase natural behaviors. The educational signage is well placed and informative. We spent about 2-3hrs here, only doing a few of the paid attractions, and just had to explore the South Mountain Reservation while we were in the area.

Touch Tank feed for the stingrays is $3. 1-2 pieces of fish but definitely something worth doing if it's your first time! The stingrays were very gentle and playful. Keep in mind, some of the attractions are cash only!

Bonus stop at the sea turtle hospital to view the live feed! It was a wonderful exhibit, just wished they had a little more on their work with the turtles.

Parking is free and only a couple steps from the zoo's entrance. Traffic cones, staff and signs were very clear.

Plenty of staff at the entrance booths. To use AZA reciprocity, we had to go in-person but there were no lines. Daily shows vary and are posted by the entrance (which only means we'll have to come back again and again).

For the avid pin collectors, there's a good variety in the gift shop by the exit.

The zoo is amazing perfect place to visit with the kids I enjoy it so much bring me back when I was a little girl we made it to a family tradition

Wonderful adventure for any age and any size group. Not huge but has everything you need for a great time. Many beautiful animals and plants with plenty of seating and rest areas throughout. Food and vending is also available throughout the park and at the Cafe.

This is the best zoo I’ve ever been too.. it is smaller than the Bronx zoo but you get to see all the animals awake or at sleep., my 2 year old loved it. Will definitely be back.

Great Experience At An Affordable Price.

The zoo is much larger than you'd think. African, Asian, and American exhibits. The three standouts are the giraffe feeding and the butterfly & bird sanctuary. Highly recommend!

Plenty of food and drinks around the park.

Free parking lot. Strollers are welcomed. You can also bring in your own snacks and food which is a nice plus.

I recommend coming when it opens because it gets so busy around 1pm. There is a parking garage that is free, along with ground parking, with a very short walk to the front of the zoo. The park is SO clean and is 100% stroller/wagon/wheelchair friendly. There is now a bar that serves beer, wine and liquor above the cafe and even though the chicken tenders were expensive for 4 of them ($8), they were delicious! The animal enclosures were actually really large, which was nice for the animals. You can tell they put a lot of love into this zoo!

We have gone to the turtle back zoo more times than I could count! We love it. We've gone in different seasons as well and it's always a blast for the kids. Big enough, but not too big. We love everything about it.