Turtle Back Zoo
Zoo · West Orange, New Jersey
An Essex County zoo in the middle of South Mountain Reservation that has quietly become one of the busiest attractions in northern New Jersey — around two hundred species on a compact site, AZA-accredited, and heavily rebuilt over the past two decades from what was a small municipal animal collection in 1963. It takes its name from TURTLE BACK ROCK nearby, a Jurassic basalt outcrop whose weathering pattern looks like a turtle shell. Giraffes, sea lions, penguins, a big Australian aviary and a good reptile house, and it is twenty minutes from Manhattan.
560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey, 07052, United States
Open most days year round with shorter winter hours and some holiday closures; last entry well before closing. Modest admission with reductions for children, seniors and Essex County residents. BUY ONLINE — TIMED-ENTRY TICKETING HAS BEEN USED AT BUSY PERIODS, and THE ZOO REACHES CAPACITY ON FINE WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, after which the car parks close and entry stops. Parking is free but the lots fill by mid-morning on fine days and the reservation approach roads jam. Keeper talks and feeds run to a schedule POSTED ONLY AT THE ENTRANCE. The giraffe feeding is a seasonal paid extra and can sell out. Some animals are off exhibit in cold weather. The adjacent treetop adventure course is separately ticketed.