Sequoia Park Zoo

About Sequoia Park Zoo

Sequoia Park Zoo is a zoo at 3414 W Street in Eureka, California, operated by the City of Eureka. The zoo's website calls it the oldest zoo in California and one of the smallest accredited zoos in the country. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and Wikipedia gives 1995 as the year accreditation began. The zoo states its mission as inspiring conservation of the natural world by instilling wonder, respect and passion for wildlife and wild places.

The zoo occupies a small part of a larger park. The zoo's about page puts it on six acres next to a mixed-growth redwood forest. Wikipedia describes the surrounding park complex as including 60 acres of second-growth coast redwood forest, and Visit Redwoods describes the park as 67 acres. The zoo's about page reports over 150 animals representing 50 species, including bald eagles, river otters and spider monkeys. Wikipedia, using 2013 data, reported 195 vertebrates, about 1,700 invertebrates and 54 species.

The park around the zoo has developed trails, bridges and stairways through redwood groves, a duck pond, two creeks, picnic areas, two playgrounds and a seasonal flower garden, according to Visit Redwoods. It lists the Sequoia Creek Trail as a paved three-quarter-mile route that accommodates wheelchairs and strollers.

History

The zoo's website and Wikipedia give 1907 as its founding year. Wikipedia reports that the zoo was free to enter for its first century and began charging admission in summer 2008. It says AZA accreditation followed in 1995.

The largest recent addition is the Redwood Sky Walk, which Wikipedia says was completed in 2021 and Visit Humboldt says debuted that year. The zoo describes it as a self-guided interpretive experience of ramps, platforms and bridges, some suspended 100 feet above the forest floor, and Visit Humboldt gives the route as a quarter mile. The walk is mostly wheelchair accessible according to Visit Humboldt, with an optional suspension bridge section at the end that has open mesh decking and is less accessible. Visit Redwoods says the walk is subject to weather-related closures. Its entrance is inside the zoo, and Islands reports that the walk is included with zoo admission.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's about page names several facilities: a black bear and coyote habitat; the Watershed Heroes habitat, with North American river otters, eye-level aquariums of native fish, the McLean Raptor Aviary, a watershed playscape and an underwater otter viewing tunnel; the Nancy Hilfiker Aviary, a free-flight habitat with a winding walkway; and the Barnyard, a hands-on area with domestic animals. It also lists the Evergreen Eatery and a gift shop.

According to Wikipedia, the habitat, funded by the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, houses three black bears named Tule, Ishung and Nabu, and the aviary holds birds including scarlet ibis, spotted whistling ducks, grey parrots and golden pheasants. Islands also describes African gray parrots and golden pheasants in the free-flight aviary. The zoo's about page names spider monkeys among its animals, and Wikipedia describes an educational building called Secrets of the Forest with insects, reptiles and amphibians of the redwood forest.

Visit Redwoods describes the watershed play area as a place for children to learn about salmon, with clear walls giving views of salmon and otters underwater. Islands names spotted owls, bald eagles and ravens in the birds of prey exhibits, and miniature horses, guinea pigs and goats in the Barnyard. Visit Redwoods describes a red panda habitat with a bamboo forest.

Red pandas remain part of the collection: the zoo marked International Red Panda Day on September 19, 2026. A February 2026 post on the zoo's website asks local gardeners to donate bamboo to feed Saffron, Henny and other animals, noting that red pandas can eat several pounds of bamboo a day and that the zoo grows over 100 bamboo plants on its grounds.

Conservation and programs

The zoo's website lists an Education and Conservation section and options for rentals, room reservations and birthday parties. Its new Zoo Explorers class for ages 5 to 8 meets at the Lamoree Learning Lab and zoo habitats, with a first session in fall 2026 on bears, red pandas and native fish. Its navigation includes Get Involved and Donate sections. Islands says the zoo houses animals that need human intervention to survive.

Fall 2026 events listed on the zoo's website include California Biodiversity Day on September 6, International Red Panda Day on September 19, Firefighter Appreciation Month in September, OktoBEARfest on October 10, presented with Humboldt Cider Company, and Boo at the Zoo on October 31. The zoo and Sky Walk close early on October 10 for OktoBEARfest.

Visit Redwoods says gift shop and cafe proceeds support zoo operations.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. The same page says that from October 1, 2026, the zoo moves to winter hours and is open Tuesday through Sunday. The Redwood Sky Walk entrance is inside the zoo. The zoo's website says admission can be bought at the zoo ticket booth on the day of a visit, and Visit Humboldt says Humboldt residents receive a discount. Ticket prices are on the zoo's website.

The zoo is accessible from Highway 101 and Broadway near Bayshore Mall, according to Visit Redwoods, which also says dogs are permitted on the park's redwood trails on a leash but not on the zoo grounds. Islands places the zoo less than 10 minutes from Old Town Eureka. The phone number is 707-441-4263, and the zoo's email address is zooinfo@eurekaca.gov.