FAQ's & POLICIES

What are your hours?
We are OPEN 7 days a week from:

September - May 9:00am - 4:00pm
June - Labour Day 9:00am - 5:00pm

See Home page to verify

Do you have to pay for parking?
Yes, parking is $8 for the day. You may either pay by scanning the QR codes prominently featured throughout the lot or directly at the admissions counter. Please ensure you’ve registered your vehicle before entering the facility to avoid incurring additional penalties. If you have any questions, please ask a staff member for assistance.

How do you get to the zoo?
Located at 5048 264th Street in Aldergrove BC.
If taking Highway 1, take Exit #73. We are 1.4km south on the left side.
If taking Fraser Highway, we are 3.7km north on 264th Street (Aldergrove-Bellingham Highway 13) on the right side.

Do you have a family rate?
We do not offer a daily admissions family rate, however, we do have a family membership pass that comes with 2 adults and 3 children.

How long does it take to walk around the zoo?
It depends! Most people take between 1.5 – 3 hours. (1.5 hours is usually a good minimum if you have never been to the zoo before.)

Do you have alternatives to walking?
The Safari Express Miniature Train is a staple way to travel around the zoo, but Safari Cycles (multi-person bicycles), Critter Cruisers, and wheelchairs are available for rent at Guest Services.

What are your train times?
Train times can vary based on weather, maintenance, and demand. We can run the train every 20 minutes at our peak.
Please check in with any admissions staff member or at the train station to find out how often the train is operating.

Can I reserve tickets to the train?
Train tickets can’t be reserved for a specific time. Train seats are given on a first-come first-served basis.

Do I have to buy admission tickets for a specific day?
Online admission tickets are valid for one year until used and can be used on any date the Zoo is open to the public.

Admission tickets bought on property are valid for the day they are purchased on.

Do I need to buy tickets for children under three?
Children under three are free for admission and the train (must be accompanied by an adult).

Can I feed or pet the peacocks?
Please do not feed or pet the peacocks. We are aware that their begging game is top notch, but they are on specialized diets and do not need the extra carbs or sugar. Our peacocks also prefer their personal space and are not interested in joining your game of tag.

Is re-entry allowed?
Re-entry is allowed within the date of your visit. Guests who wish to re-enter can have their hand stamped at Grizzly Gifts or Guest Services before leaving.

Can we bring our bikes, scooters, etc. Into the zoo?
The Greater Vancouver Zoo is home to over 140 species on 120 acres with 3km of wheelchair-accessible paved pathways! We encourage you to bring your own (non-motorized):

• Bicycles
• Scooters
• Rollerblades
• Skateboards
• Wagons

For the safety of our animals, motorized recreational equipment (e.g. hoverboards, scooters, powered ride-on toys, etc.) are NOT allowed.

**Motorized wheelchairs are allowed. Electric mobility aids are allowed at a maximum speed of 7km/h.

Can we bring our pets to the zoo? What about service dogs?
For the safety of our animals and yours, we kindly ask you to leave your furry friends at home.

The Greater Vancouver Zoo recognizes the importance of service dogs to some members of the public. Only dogs certified by one of the accredited schools recognized by B.C.’s Guide Dog and Service Dog Act will be permitted entry onto zoo grounds. Therapy and emotional support animals, including dogs, will not be permitted entry, as they are not eligible for certification under the GDSDA.

If you wish to come to the zoo with a service dog, you must call ahead at minimum 24 hours in advance. This is especially true for international visitors as we will need time to verify your dog's certification.

Handlers must present upon arrival proof of vaccination (including rabies) and service dog certification. They are also required to check in and check out at Guest Services so Animal Care staff can be informed of the presence of a service dog on zoo grounds.

Due to the sensitive nature of some of our animals, a portion of the zoo will not be accessible to service dogs. A map outlining these areas and a list of rules will be provided to handlers upon arrival at the zoo. Please note that service dogs are permitted on the train and this is a great way to see the rest of the zoo.

Please see our full Service Dog Policy for more information.

Do you have gift cards?
We offer both Gift cards and E-Gift cards. Gift cards may be purchased on property. E-Gift cards may be purchased through the online ticket store.

Please follow our policies to encourage a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone:

• Please respect all animals and plants. This is their home and you are visiting them. Please do not touch, chase, tease, or yell at any animals as it causes them unnecessary stress. Please stay out of all garden beds as the plants that we toil over won’t grow if you keep stepping on them.
• Respect all barriers and signs. They are there for the safety of both the animals and guests at the Zoo.
• Do not feed the animals.* The diets of all our animals are closely monitored to ensure their optimal health and well being. Feeding anything not approved by the Animal Care team is prohibited as it can lead to health issues or be potentially fatal. This includes human food you bring or buy as well as flowers and greenery onsite (local plants can be toxic!).
• Do not touch the animals.** Zoo animals cannot be touched without permission from a zookeeper to ensure everyone's safety and to reduce stress on the animals. Inappropriately touching the animals may result in bites, scratches, or worse, as well as disease transfers between you, the zoo animals, or your pets.
• No outside food or beverage. Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the zoo. However, guests are welcome to bring bottled water. If you wish to enjoy your own food, please leave it in your vehicle. If you need to leave and re-enter the zoo, we offer hand stamping for easy access.
• We are a smoke-free & vape free environment. Guests who wish to smoke are welcome to have their hand stamped for same day re-entry when leaving our grounds to smoke in the parking area.
• We do not allow balloons or confetti inside the zoo. This is to avoid accidental ingestion by the animals as well as to be environmentally responsible.

*One of the best ways for the keepers to know if an animal is sick is whether or not it is eating. If visitors feed them, we cannot properly monitor their health, which may also lead to obesity or disease.

**All contact with the animals is carefully monitored by the Animal Care staff to ensure the animals are not stressed. Guests in your home are one thing, but guests in your room or touching you without consent is very different.

Service Dogs
Service dogs certified by B.C.’s Guide Dog and Service Dog Act, or a dog accompanied by a trainer with a valid ID from a GDSDA school, are permitted on zoo grounds while following our Service Dog Policy.
For the safety of our animals and yours, no other pets/support animals are permitted as it provides an unnecessary level of stress and zoonotic disease transfer for all animals involved.
Please see our FAQs or full Service Dog Policy for more information

Adult Caretakers
With the presentation of an Access 2 Card a caretaker will be permitted entry to the Zoo at no charge. To receive free entry for a caretaker an Access 2 card must be presented, with no exceptions.

Photography/filming
You may be filmed, video-taped or photographed during your visit with us. Entrance on the Greater Vancouver Zoo premises serves as permission for the Greater Vancouver Zoo and guests to use your image.

The commercial use of photographic, video, film images and illustration of the Greater Vancouver Zoo and its animals is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the Zoo. Please contact socialmedia@gvzoo.com for further information.

Grizzly Gifts & Online Store

Shipping

The Grizzly Giftshop is happy to offer Canada Post trackable shipping within Canada. Shipping costs will be calculated per item at checkout.

Please note: We are currently not shipping outside of Canada.

All online orders are shipped through Canada Post. Once your order has been shipped, you will receive a shipping notification email. All orders are fulfilled and shipped within 48 hours of your order confirmation email. Please note orders that are placed Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday will not be processed till Monday.

Typical shipping times are 7-14 business days, depending on the final shipping destination.

Returns and Exchanges

In-store:
For regular-priced items, you have 14 days from receipt for refund or exchange. All discounted items purchased are final sale.

*All returns and exchanges must be completed at the Grizzly Gift shop with the original payment.

Online
For regular-priced items, you have 30 days from the shipping email for a refund or exchange. All discounted items purchased are final sale.

*All returns and exchange shipping costs are at the customer’s expense.

Please note that all products for refund or exchange must be in original condition and unused, unless received damaged or defective. Shipping charges are not refundable.

Terms and Conditions of Daily Admission

All tickets purchased are non-refundable and non-transferable. Unauthorized duplication or sale is prohibited. The Greater Vancouver Zoo is not responsible for unauthorized duplication or lost tickets. Admission is subject to compliance with Zoo policies and applicable laws, by laws and regulations. Failure to comply with the Zoo policies may result in expulsion. Please note daily admission tickets are valid for one entry and are valid on any date the Zoo is open for public.