Minnesota Zoo Receives Award Because of Unique Feature

Well, this is super cool.  I remember back in 2023 when this new feature at the Minnesota Zoo was being constructed.  It looked like something from some futuristic movie.  Everyone walking above everyone else to get from one place to another.  And not just in the fashion of a bridge, but this thing is treetop level.  Hence the name, Treetop Walkway.

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This feature has been available for about 2 years now, and it's something that everyone should experience if you are heading to the Minnesota Zoo.  Plus, they just took in a few more animals that needed to be rehomed because of the recent closure of Sea Quest.

From the Good News Network - 

There’s no better way to observe and enjoy wildlife than when they aren’t aware of your presence, and hoping to create these conditions at the Minnesota Zoo, the administration has converted an old monorail track into a pedestrian walkway that’s winning awards.

Opened in 2023, the Treetop Trail was recently called the Best Specialty Construction of the Year by Engineering News Record.

The walkway is the old monorail track.  The track has been reconstructed so that pedestrians can walk along at their own pace and observe the animals below.  If you want to get your steps in, this is one of the ways to do it.  The walkway is about a mile and a quarter long.  So with all the other walking you'll probably do while at the zoo, it's a great way to get a walk in, get your steps in, and have some fun while doing it.

“The Treetop Trail marks a new chapter for the Minnesota Zoo,” said Minnesota Zoo Director and Foundation President John Frawley in a statement at the Trail’s opening. “As we look ahead to the Zoo’s next 45 years, the Treetop Trail is a major step in furthering connections to nature and animals in an accessible and immersive way.”

The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota is open daily from 10am to 4pm.  You do need to purchase tickets online.