The Lehigh Valley Zoo is a small zoo located in the heart of the Trexler Nature Preserve in Schnecksville, PA. The zoo is home to over 300 animals, from petite poison dart frogs to towering giraffes. Arranged in a single loop, you can easily tour the entire zoo in an hour. If you stop to watch the antics of the playful animals, read the signs, or snap photos of your children at the numerous animal cut-outs, you could easily spend a few hours wandering around.
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Usually, the Lehigh Valley Zoo isn’t very crowded but on our recent visit we encountered many school field trips. Even with all the students though, the zoo didn’t feel too crowded. We did leave the penguins until the end since they are right inside the entrance and everyone was stopping there. We headed to the birds of prey, where there are hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls. The birds were just being fed so we got to watch them devouring some (already deceased) mice.
The wolves were hiding in the upper area of their enclosure (as they often are) so we didn’t get to see much of them. Next are numerous smaller enclosures with animals such as turtles, lynx, bobcat, porcupine, and fox. The zoo is also adding a red panda enclosure which should open in the summer of 2024.
One of the most popular animals at the Lehigh Valley Zoo is the giraffe. The zoo is home to two giraffes who are usually roaming around their enclosure eating greens. For an additional fee, you can climb the observation deck and feed the giraffes.
Next are more large animals such as the oryx, ostrich, zebra, and kangaroo. If you have younger children they will enjoy the farm animals, especially the hungry goats. You can not enter the goat pen but the larger goats will put their front hooves up on the top fence rail and eat out of your hand. There is a goat food dispenser but it only accepts tokens so if you want to fed the goats you will need to remember to get tokens when you purchase your admission.
The loop around the zoo ends with the reptile and amphibian house. This is not a large building so strollers are not allowed inside. There is also a gift shop and snack bar, but outside food and drink are also allowed.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo has numerous special events though-out the year, including decorating the entire zoo with lights for Christmas. The zoo is inexpensive and also participates in both the AZA reciprocal admission program (if you are a member at another zoo) and Museums 4 All. Parking at the zoo is free.
Because the Lehigh Valley Zoo is located in the heart of Trexler Nature Preserve, you wind though the preserve to get to and to leave the zoo. The preserve is home to several elk and a bison herd. These animals can usually be seen on your drive out to the main road. If you want to extend your day outdoors, there are numerous hiking trails through-out the preserve. If the weather is warm, I would highly suggest packing a picnic lunch. The best place to eat is very shortly after you leave the zoo. You will ford the Jordan Creek (literally, you drive through the creek!). There is a small parking lot there with grass, a picnic table, and best of all – the creek! The creek is very shallow and slow moving here – perfect for wading or splashing in on a hot summer day.
My Takeaway
The Lehigh Valley Zoo is a small but inexpensive zoo. There are numerous animals to see and it is an enjoyable way to spend an hour or two.