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Zoo Brew is an awesome way to enjoy Hogle Zoo without dealing with obnoxious screaming children, plus you can enjoy a few beers while taking in the animals. The zoo spans 42 acres donated by the Hogle family in 1931. It features over 150 different animals through 8 different exhibits.
The Utah zoological society was founded in 1911 on a small plot in Liberty Park. It moved to the current location in 1931. You can learn more of the history on their website (outside link)
The zoo does Zoo Brew once a month during the warmer season. We have done it twice before, but both times I felt like we ran out of daylight and didn’t get to see everything. So we decided to try for an earlier one this year. The trade off is that it was quite a bit more hot. But, we still had a good time, and did finally see everything so it was a win.
Quick Details:
Length: Depends on how much you wander, we did about 4.25 miles today.
Trail Type: Meander, loop-ish option.
Difficulty: It is paved and generally flat, DR2.
Elevation Gain: we did about 177 feet, but we went to the bottom like, 3 times.
Restroom: Several.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: Fee area. Normal zoo tickets start at $26.95. The special event starts at $21.95 and does not include drink tickets (those were $10 each this year).
To Get Here:
From i15 take either 6th South of 9th South (depending on what direction you are coming from). Once you have exited, make your way over to 8th South. Head east. After 13th East 8th South will curve slightly to the south, then back east and become Sunnyside Ave. Continue heading east for about 2 miles, and the zoo will be on the right.
Ew, it is super hazy today (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).
The Trail:
The entrance. As you can see it is a very popular event! Last time we waited in line for over 10 minutes, this time was a much quicker entry. Probably because we arrived closer to the opening time.
Fun Hogle zoo sign while we waited to get our wristbands. It lights up at night.
I absolutely adore these lion drinking fountains. They have been here since I was little at least.
From the side.
The drinking fountain is right outside the actual lions. Part of the African Savannah exhibit. We did this one a little wonky today, hitting it in spurts. It was built in 2014 and is the largest exhibit at the zoo.
Another lion.
Onto the Primate Forest. Built in 1997.
Titi monkeys. Or as we over head another guest call them the titty monkeys. LOL.
The spider monkey is having a nap.
Over to the High Desert Oasis. Built in 2005.
Mongolian Wild Horse.
Neat elephant art. Back in 2023, the zoo made the tough decision to send their elephants to the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium to provide the best chance of producing offspring. I am glad I got to see them once before they left. I am also glad the zoo made the right choice for them, even if it means I might never see an elephant again.
Another wild horse.
Bactrian Camel.
Fun mural.
Wild horse again.
White Rhinoceros horn replicas. We didn’t see the Rhino today.
Zebra. A Mountain Zebra to be precise. Did you know there are 3 different species of zebra? I didn’t before now.
Again.
Another camel.
The Conservation Carousal. In the Oasis Plaza.
Random old cabin. I am sure it is significant, but I didn’t see a sign explaining why. They decorate it nicely for Halloween though.
On to the Rocky Shores exhibit. Built in 2012.
Live band.
Little lighthouse in the play place, which is currently closed. Whaaaat? you don’t want inebriated adults playing in here? LOL. Anyway, I didn’t realize it was a slide before now, and I kind of wanted to go in it!
Bald eagle wingspan.
I’m pretty close!
The bald eagles. These eagles were severely injured in the wild and can no longer fly, so their chances of survival were pretty slim. So, they are being cared for here.
Otter Falls made possible by the R. Harold Burton Foundation. I have not heard of that before.
The only otter we saw was this bronze statue. Which is fine, because the sun glare was particularly bad here.
Side note: I love how bronze statues show where people touch them. It is particularly funny on human statues. If you know, you know. LOL.
Big ol sunflower.
California sea lions.
Cute man-made waterfall.
Harbor seals.
The dogs of the sea man. They look just like my dogs when they stretch and yawn.
We had the lovely experience of seeing them in the wild on our first trip to Depoe Bay in Oregon.
The sea lions again. We saw a bunch of these in the wild at the aptly named Sea Lion Caves.
The outfit employees use to work in the tanks.
Animal bones. The boat says Yaquina. I wonder if that is in reference to Yaquina Head in Oregon.
Polar bear.
Rocky Shores tower. It looks like you should be able to get up there, but I didn’t notice a way. Maybe it’s employees only. Est. 2012.
Grizzly Bear. We have seen bears in Yellowstone, but I am pretty sure they were all black bears.
Better view of the grizzly bear.
Another one.
Cute little river and waterfall.
Suited for Survival.
The big bridge across Emigration Creek.
Emigration Creek below. The bridge is pretty high up, but it is very study so it doesn’t trigger my fear of heights.
Downstream is lost in the canopy.
Upstream is lost in the canopy too.
The side of the bridge.
Holy crap I managed to catch the bridge without any people. Its not a particularly special bridge, but its neat, and I like bridges.
Entering the Asian Highlands. Built in 2006.
This buildings looks a lot older than that.
A magpie enjoying the misting spray. I don’t remember there being misters when we have been here before. But, like the magpie, I sure enjoy it right now.
Red panda! Sadly he is sleeping cause they are one of my favorites.
He sure is cute.
This magpie scored some food.
More old looking buildings. I guess this was built to look like a Himalayan Village, so maybe not old at all.
Snow leopard.
The new cubs Pavlova and Bhutan.
Amur tiger.
Again.
The Five Senses.
I was a little nervous to try the smell me thing here, but after I read the sign I gave it a go LOL. I was worried it was going to be cat pee. o.O
Cute little stream.
Oh, they moved the Pallas Cats to here (they were in the Small Animal Building). One of them died (at a ripe old age of 13) in 2024. They got a new one in 2025.
So cute.
More big cat statues.
Amur leopard.
Markhor.
Info.
I love the crazy antlers.
Another one of the fun lion statues.
The front.
I had to get a picture of me getting a drink in it. So fun!
You can see This is the Place Heritage Park across the way.
Administrative building.
The View of the Zoo view point offers a better view of This is the Place.
As well as the Oasis Plaza below.
Fun statue.
Entering the South Hill Animals exhibit.
Great horned owl.
One of the few owls we see fairly often in the wild most often at Antelope Island.
Red-tailed hawk. Another bird we see fairly often in places like Farmington Bay. I believe they are the most common hawk you can find in Utah.
Back to the African Savanna.
Giraffe.
More mountain zebras.
Adult and baby giraffe.
Zebra and the ostrich poked its head up.
We found some porcupines in meercat manor. Sadly, no meercats.
Definitely not the kind of porcupines we see around here.
Both of them.
Monument to Gorgeous a beloved gorilla.
The plaques, the bottom in braille.
Down to the Oasis Plaza. Its about time for another drink.
The Conservation Carousal again.
Little closer.
Uh oh. Are we going to get rained on? Spoiler, no. But this system did cool it down significantly and made it more bearable.
Heading towards the Small Animal Building. Built in 1971. It features 3 biomes and an atrium. containing the most species of any exhibit in the zoo.
In hindsight, I would have probably hit it up just before the Asian Highlands to make a more simple loop, but meh, we might not have seen some things doing that so, maybe I am happy with how things fell today.
Tortoises.
Siamese Crocodiles.
Inside.
Sand cat.
Momma and baby. They are currently running a contest to name the baby.
Emperor spotted newts.
Momma and kitten again. Oh! They are so stinking cute.
I didn’t catch what kind of snake this was.
Quick pop out to the west side of the SAB.
Red fox taking a nap. We have seen these guys in the wild too.
Another tortoise.
Back inside and into the central aviary.
These guys are cute.
Closer.
Even closer.
Rooster and hen?
Hornbill.
Hyrax.
Blood python.
Another snake.
Fruit Bats.
Jamaican Boa.
I forget what this guy is.
Sloth. That’s about all we can see of the one at the aquarium too.
Black footed cat.
Another.
Back to the Oasis Plaza.
With the Conservation Carousal.
Peacock. Speaking of… I didn’t see any of them today. I wonder if they still have them.
Wolf, seal, penguin and an okapi.
I love old carousals.
More detail.
Caught it between rides.
Closer.
Est. 1931. I thought that might have been how old the carousal was, but no, that is when the zoo was established. I did a little digging and found the carousal was put in in 2008. I am not sure if they brought an old one in, or if it is a reproduction.
Fun peacock light detail.
The penguin again. Can you tell we like penguins? LOL
The animal names are listed on a beam above them. Fun.
Fun donation game.
Wildlife Theater.
Again.
Onto the Great Apes exhibit. Built in 1983, it is the 2nd oldest exhibit building.
This one made a connection with this guy.
Another.
Some hiding.
Youngun.
Biggun.
Napping.
I assume mother and child. It was crowded in here so I didn’t get to read any of the signs.
Looking at the website, I think these are Western Lowland Gorillas.
It appears we finished just in time as they seemed to be closing the building.
Gorilla statue.
Okay.
Neat!
Little hole in the moody clouds.
Back over to the Primate Forest.
The Eastern Black & White Colobus Monkey decided to come out. I love the long hair!
The spider monkey is still sleeping.
The howler and/or Titi monkeys.
This is the Place again.
Passing by the African Savanna again.
Lion statues.
The other lion drinking fountain.
Again.
I don’t think we have ever explored this building.
We couldn’t see any of the lions, so I didn’t take any pictures.
They put some skulls, or skull replicas into the walls.
Twiga Terrace. This pavilion offers a nice view into the African Savanna. They also do a giraffe feeding experience at the beginning of the evening. It was absolutely worth it last time.
Twiga is Swahili for giraffe.
It also offers a nice view of the exhibit. Unfortunately, it appears the giraffes have gone to bed.
The Hogle Zoo sign again.
Mountains above.
Giraffe statue.
Alternate train engine. We went back and fourth as to riding the train or seeing Wild Utah first. We opted for the latter since we haven’t seen it in daylight.
The Aline W. Skaggs Wild Utah exhibit. They did not post when this exhibit was built, I found it was built in 2024. I thought it was new!
Well, maybe that is not accurate, maybe completed in 2024 is more accurate? From what I have found it seems it used to only be accessible by the train.
I feel like I have been seeing the Skaggs name almost (but not quite as much) as often as I have seen the Eccles lately. It is nice to see rich people giving back to the community instead of taking more. Cough Ryan Smith Cough.
I didn’t take a picture of the sign, but there are several statues of some of our tiny friends throughout the area.
The new Stillman Bridge. It is definitely not as amazing as the long destroyed original that was over Parleys Creek at the mouth of Parleys Canyon.
"Charles Stillman, Salt Lake County Commissioner of Roads and Bridges (1918-1922), erected the historic Stillman Bridge across Paley's Canyon gully. It was in operation until a new four-lane highway was built in 1964 for a new overpass."
I appreciate the recognition, but this basic bridge is so pale in contrast to what was a neat bridge that I wish I had been able to see with my own eyes before it was destroyed. It was such a well built bridge it took 4 attempts to bring it down due to i80 going through Parleys Canyon.
Again.
Names on the planks. I didn’t catch what they were for. But, I am deducing descendants and/or relatives of Charles Stillman and maybe others.
Stillman Bridge. I mentioned I like bridges right? haha.
Oh snap, I managed to catch it without people.
Again. It is a basic truss bridge.
Upstream Emigration Creek.
Downstream.
The other side of the bridge.
The Norma W. Matheson Education Animal Center (completed in 2024). We have never done this one before either.
Outside.
Western Screech Owl.
Sign.
Burrowing Owls. I have found these guys on Antelope Island. They are super fun to watch.
Info.
A meal that hasn’t been eaten yet. Yuck!
I loves them!
Raven.
Chuckwalla. I have never heard of that.
But, that is the benefit of zoos. You learn things.
So, just a few weeks ago I thought a statue in Ogden looked like an ant nest aluminum cast. And well, here we see an aluminum cast of an ant nest! Fun. They were closing up, so I didn't get a picture of the sign unfortunately.
Badger burrow. I just recently saw my first badger in the wild. It was amazing!
Porcupine. Oh, he’s just a baby! We have seen porcupines a few times, mostly on Antelope Island.
Here comes mama.
Bah! I hate the fence! But I mean, it has a purpose.
Big horn sheep. We have yet to see these in the wild in Utah, but I have spotted them on the way to Oregon.
Mountain lions. We have not seen these in the wild…. probably for the best.
Emigration Creek again.
Donkey? I’m not really sure.
Train tracks.
I love these milage signs. Lets see, we have been to Causey Reservoir (briefly), The Bonneville Salt Flats, Not to Fish Springs yet, but it has been on my list for a minute, McConkie Ranch that was super neat, And Lake Blanche is an amazing, but tougher hike.
The other side. Lets see, Causey, yes. Canyonlands, not yet, but it is on my list. Salt Flats, yes. Waterfall Canyon is neat. Fish Springs, again, on the list.
I think this is the first directional sign like this that I have been to most of the destinations. That is super fun!
Another bridge.
We both wondered why this bird was letting us get so close before realizing it is another one of the little statues. Oh man, we are old.
The train.
Continuing along.
Emigration Creek below.
The side of the new Stillman Bridge.
Back to the Entry Plaza.
We took a bathroom break, taking turns holding each others beers. while I waited for Landis I walked the like, 100 feet over to the train station to see about it. I learned the last boarding was at 8:45 (just missed it, damn). I asked for future reference if we could bring our beers on it, he said no, but people leave them next to the tracks by the station. Okay, cool, good to know for next time.
On my way back to the restrooms I was stopped by security because I was holding 2 open containers. She was nice, she asked if I was holding it for someone else, I said yes, he’s in the bathroom. She said you know it is illegal to have 2 open containers in public. I said, shit, I’m sorry, I wandered over here to ask a question. She said okay, but just so you know, you could get in trouble for having 2 open containers. and she let me go.
Fucking Utah. Here is another example of their bullshit nanny laws. I am obviously holding my husbands beer while he is in the restroom. Leave me the fuck alone. I get she was doing her job, so I wasn’t an asshole to her, but fucking hell man. At least she didn’t make me dump it out or confiscate it.
Beers on the train station.
After this I decided we should try to see the otters again, so back to the west end of the park.
Elephant statue.
Back to High Desert Oasis.
Artistic elephant statue again.
Camels.
Zebra butt.
Oasis Plaza again. We stopped in to pick up our final beers.
The carousal again.
Closer.
Another peacock light, and a lion mural.
Rhino statue.
Meh. Better view of Otter Falls, but still no otters. Poop.
Seals and sealions again
Seal.
Sea lions.
Seal statue.
Alright, we are running out of time, so time to head on back.
The eagles again.
Suited for Survival.
The fun lighthouse slide again.
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With a shipwreck and splashpad. Fun!
Another playground.
The elephant statue again.
A pair of great horned owls. These are wild, not in an enclosure. They just happen to be hanging out on the zoo grounds. How fun!
Blurry flight shot.
Chillin.
Different angle.
Taking flight again.
They keep switching trees.
Owl butts.
A little blurry but here comes a third! They must be a family of some sort.
Yep, 3 owl friends. Hooray! I wish I had better lighting, or at least my tripod.
One taking off.
Oh, I guess he/she was just repositioning.
Alright, that was a fun sighting, but time to move on. I think it is funny that these owls decided the zoo grounds were a great spot to hang out.
The lion drinking fountain again.
The Hogle Zoo sign again. Darn, I was hoping to see it lit up again.
The gift shop.
Mountains while we wait for our ride.
The entrance, with everybody else waiting for their ride.
The new fancy ticket system. I guess it is better than those awful paper wrist bands.
The giant meandering path we took today. LOL.
Alright, that was fun! I think we finally saw everything this time! I guess you really do need about 3 hours here. Holy crap! I enjoy wandering around, looking at the animals, and having a beer while I do it. I also really enjoy not having to deal with screaming kids. I enjoyed the earlier in the season trip with more daylight, it was just a little more warm. Meh… 9 out of 10 squirrels today.
As for difficulty, it is paved, DR2.
Dogs are not allowed, so be sure to leave Fido home for this one.
