3 Things You’ll Love About the New North America Trek at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

When you think of the animals you see in your own North American backyard, the critters that come to mind might not be the ones you’d expect — or even want — to see in the zoo. But rest assured, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s new North America Trek is not an exhibition of white-tailed deer, raccoons and opossums (though the latter can be found in the zoo’s Adventure Cove area). The North America Trek opened June 20, 2025. 

Spanning 8 acres and six different animal habitats, the new region opened June 20, 2025, and is a tribute to the animals of our national parks. It helps to remind us that our landscape in the United States and our neighboring North American countries is incredibly diverse, spanning mountains, oceans, dense forests and rolling flatland.

This portion of the zoo, which can be found by locating the towering arch proclaiming “North America Trek,” is located off to the right as you enter the zoo. It feels like a slice of America’s great national parks dropped right into the heart of our state. Here’s what my big takeaways were:

The North American River Otter: It’s no surprise that these cute and playful critters are a fan favorite. Visiting with a group of coworkers, I can say with that I have never seen a group of grown women run as fast as we did to reach their habitat. The topic of otters was buzzing in the office before we left, and we were rewarded with a great view of them playing together under the water and traversing their habitat that came complete with a water feature that replicates a small riverbank. Their sleek bodies glided through the water effortlessly, and the 80-something-degree weather made it a great time to see them in action.

The Theming: The phrase “It feels like we’re in ‘The Lion King’” was uttered more than once throughout our time in this portion of the zoo. Now, there are obviously no lions in this area of the zoo, but the sentiment rings true due to the theming of the space drawing us in like a movie scene. This was especially true of the Mexican wolf habitat. These creatures were backdropped by a towering, rocky formation (hence the feeling of being in “The Lion King”), complete with a rushing waterfall down the front. Couple that with the river replicated for the otters and the colossal nest found in the bald eagle enclosure, it’s clear that the North America Trek brings immersive theming that makes visitors feel right at home with the animals.

The Ongoing Progress: There’s still more to love about the North America Trek coming in the next few years. Seeing a sign at the end of the exhibit that this was only the first phase of the project was exciting. As we wound through the area, visiting with the animals and feeling immersed in different parts of our country, I was left feeling like I didn’t want it to end. There are plans in the works to expand the North America Trek and make it even better, with some designs for Phase Two of the project in the works. Come 2028, we’re going to be exploring even more of what animals make our national parks so special.

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Can’t-Miss Sights
There’s so much more to explore across the rest of the zoo as well. Here are some other things to see across the property that, in our opinion, are a must.

Baby Girl: The newest member of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s elephant herd is here. Her name, Rita Jean, was announced Sept. 5 and honors the late Rita Jean Wolfe, whose family has been involved with the zoo for decades. The baby elephant currently resides in the Asia Quest area of the zoo with the other elephants and can likely be found clinging close to other members of the herd.

Sea Potato: The manatee has always been one of my favorite creatures; they seem humble, happy and unbothered. I parked myself at their tank for several minutes to watch their slow-floating lifestyle and to see them bob to the surface for a bite of lettuce. Several trips to Florida have made these guys a favorite of mine and believe me when I say a shirt in the adjoining gift shop with an image of a manatee under the words “Sea Potato” almost came home with me.

Creatures Aglow: As we wandered through the zoo, we caught glimpses of some of the animals brought to life through colorful and ornate Asian lanterns, from a massive sea creature in the center of the zoo to koalas, tigers and peacocks to fantastical creatures like unicorns and a phoenix. The lanterns are amazing in the daylight, but they take on a new life at night. The lanterns were hand painted by Chinese artists and are on display select evenings through Oct. 5. I was entranced by these during our visit, so I know that I will personally be heading back to get a peek before they’re gone.

For more information about the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and North America Trek, visit columbuszoo.org.

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