Mobility at the Zoo

The Alaska Zoo has 20 acres of gravel trails which wind through grounds which are natural boreal forests. Trails are maintained throughout the year for all conditions and most are mobility accessible. We do have one hill near the tiger habitat which is marked as steep and an alternate route is indicated on the black bear bridge. We offer the following options for those who feel they might need mobility assistance to visit our zoo. See our wheelchair map (pdf).

All-terrain Wheelchair Rental

The zoo is proud to offer visitors with mobility concerns the rented use of an all-terrain wheelchair! The zoo purchased this chair to provide a rental option for those who have limited mobility. It is not motorized and does require a person to assist in pushing, however it is designed to go over rough terrain so it should be much easier to push and steer on our trails than a conventional chair. We only have one to offer for rentals at this time. If you are interested in donating funds for us to purchase additional chairs, contact us today!

Note about winter use: The chair has been winterized with special tire studs for traction on the maintained trails! Contact volunteer@alaskazoo.org if you have questions.

How to rent the chair: We do not allow reservations in advance, chair rental is on a first-come basis at the gate. Be sure to check our hours before you arrive. Last entry is always 30 minutes before closing. When you arrive at admissions, you will be asked to fill out a form, see form here (pdf).

Please keep the following in mind:

  • Renter or parent/guardian must be 18 years or older.

  • Non-refundable fee of $25 will be charged at the gate.

  • A drivers license or credit card must be left at admissions during the rental.

  • Time limit for use is 2.5 hours with a 30 min. grace period before additional charges accrue.

  • Weight capacity is 250 pounds, only one rider at a time.

Golf Cart Rides

Due to volunteer and staff shortages, golf cart rides will be available by advance request via email to Volunteer Coordinator Chelsea Vukovich at volunteer@alaskazoo.org. We need at least one week’s notice and rides will be scheduled if we have a volunteer driver available on a case-by-case basis.