The Lehigh Valley Zoo is not trying to be the Philadelphia Zoo or the Bronx Zoo. It does not need to be. What it is, tucked into twenty nine acres inside the 1,100 acre Trexler Nature Preserve in Schnecksville, is a perfectly sized zoo for a family day out, with enough animals to impress, enough activities to fill a morning, and enough charm to make you want to come back.
The Animals
The zoo is AZA accredited, which means it meets the highest standards for animal care in the industry. The collection includes giraffes, penguins, kangaroos, zebras, camels, wolves, bison, elk, bobcats, peacocks, porcupines, and a family of river otters who are, without question, the most entertaining residents.
Lorikeets have their own aviary where visitors can enter and hold feeding cups while the colorful birds land on their arms, shoulders, and occasionally their heads. It is the kind of experience that produces photos you will frame.
The Experiences
Giraffe feeding is the signature experience. During warmer months, you can purchase lettuce and hand feed the giraffes from an elevated platform. The feeling of a giraffe's tongue wrapping around a piece of lettuce in your hand is something you do not forget.
Paddle boats let you circle Lemur Island, where ring tailed lemurs sun themselves on rocks and watch you with mild curiosity. Behind the scenes wagon rides offer a closer look at the larger animals in the preserve setting. These experiences cost a few dollars extra but are worth it.
The Setting
The Trexler Nature Preserve that surrounds the zoo is 1,100 acres of rolling Lehigh County countryside. Bison and elk roam in large enclosures that feel more like pastures than pens. The preserve provides context that most zoos lack: you are not just visiting animals in cages, you are visiting animals in a landscape that echoes their natural habitats.
Hiking trails within the preserve extend the visit beyond the zoo itself. The Trexler Border Trail is popular in summer and offers views across the preserve that include the larger hoofstock grazing in the distance.
What's Coming
The zoo is in the middle of a major upgrade. A new Children's Activity Area is under construction, expected to be completed between 2025 and 2027. The project includes an accessible playground, a new barn and barnyard area, the Isaacman Family Education Center, and a splash pad that will make summer visits even more appealing for families with young kids.
Planning Your Visit
The Lehigh Valley Zoo is open year round, with seasonal hours that expand in summer. The zoo is small enough that you can see everything in two to three hours, which makes it ideal for families with young children whose attention spans have limits.
Memberships are popular among local families who visit multiple times per season. The combination of the zoo and the surrounding preserve makes Schnecksville one of the best family destinations in the Lehigh Valley.
