Outgoing
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo 1
Playground
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo 2
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo 3
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo 4
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo 5

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange

Feed a giraffe face-to-face, ride the endangered species carousel, and explore a prehistoric playground at this beloved hillside zoo. The hilly terrain means comfortable shoes are a must, but the up-close animal encounters make every step worth it.

family-friendly
up-close animal encounters
hilly terrain
interactive experiences

Tips

🚗free multi-level parking (weekdays confirmed)
👟wear hiking shoes — it's super hilly
🦒feed a full-grown giraffe for $5

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA

turtlebackzoo.com

Upcoming at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

Friday, Jun 12
Night Moves

Night Moves

June 12 at 8pm

See the zoo in a whole new light, literally. Night Moves takes you behind the scenes after hours to discover how nocturnal animals use senses you never knew they had.

Sunday, Jun 14
Nature Guardian: Searching for Salamanders

Nature Guardian: Searching for Salamanders

June 14 at 9am

Get your hands dirty with salamander research at Turtle Back Zoo. This family program lets kids and adults become citizen scientists, learning conservation through real fieldwork in local wetlands.

Family Nature Club

Family Nature Club

June 14 at 9am

Wildlife walks and salamander searches for the whole family. Family Nature Club gets kids (and parents) outside exploring Essex County parks, from pollinator parties to citizen science projects.

Directions