Riverview Park and Zoo

News and Special Events

Spanning over 55 acres of park area along the shores of the Otonabee River, Riverview Park and Zoo is proud to be the only FREE admission accredited zoo in all of Canada, open daily from 8:30 a.m. until dusk all year round. We offer 25 animal exhibits, with more than 40 different species and over 150 animals calling us home. Being an entirely outdoor facility, be sure to check the forecast ahead of your visit and come dressed and prepared for the weather.

Summer operating hours are currently in effect with Guest Services and the Gift Shop open Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 a.m. to  6:00 p.m. You can purchase ice cream, chips and candy here and take home a souvenir from your trip to the zoo.  Better yet, consider symbolically adopting your favorite animal, including our barbary sheep. Come see Spicy McHaggis and Meryl Streep's new addition to the family born a little over a month ago!

A reminder that our miniature train ride and splash pad are operational, both weather and maintenance permitting. Follow our socials or check our website ahead of your visit for any known status updates to be posted. The splash pad opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 7:00 p.m., while the train ride opens at 10 a.m. with the last train leaving the station at 5:45 p.m. Train tickets are $2.00 per person, with kids 2 and under riding for free, and purchased directly at the train station on a first serve basis.

Stop by our North American River Otter Exhibit at 1:30 p.m. daily to see the otters receive their afternoon enrichment snack and have the chance to ask a zookeeper some questions. "Meet the Keeper" takes place at 2:30 p.m. weekdays where one of our educators highlights a different animal species each day so you can learn more about the zoo animals.

Interested participants can now sign up for our annual Bondar Challenge photography camps (July 17-18 and August 14-15), as well as Zoo Camp Day (August 8). A reminder that the Annual Fun Run will be taking place this year in September, with proceeds helping support accessibility improvements in our playground.

Consider booking one of our covered picnic shelters located in the lower park  to host your family reunion or birthday party celebration!  Weekend availability in June is extremely limited, but dates still remain available to book in July through to Thanksgiving Monday. Please note that for safety reasons the riverfront walking trail continues to remain closed. We ask guests to respect the barricades and closure signs posted until cleanup is complete.

We've had some exciting things "hatching" at the park recently. More details coming soon!  We look forward to seeing you all this summer.

The Riverview Park and Zoo Team

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