Address: 125 Bridgewater Ave
Phone: 715-723-0051
Website: Visit Now
Community: Chippewa Falls
Category: Explore the Outdoors / Hiking + Biking
Irvine Park and Zoo is one of Chippewa Falls’ signature year‑round attractions, offering more than 318 acres of scenic land, wildlife, history, and family‑friendly recreation. It’s also free to visit, which reflects William Irvine’s original vision of making the park beautiful and accessible to everyone.
- Experience:
Enjoy a mix of outdoor and educational experiences in one park. Visitors can hike scenic trails along Duncan Creek, explore the free Irvine Park Zoo (home to black bears, a variety of birds, hyenas, bobcats, bison, and more), and make sure to visit the Red Barn Petting Zoo in the summer. Step back in time at the preserved Sunny Valley School House and Norwegian Log Home, listen for live music at the historic bandshell, and take in views from the Glen Loch Dam overlook. Along the trails, you can walk through a small bear cave, climb 60‑foot‑high sandstone rock ledges (about 500 million years old), and spot birds and wildlife in a natural creek setting. - Access:
The park is open year‑round with no admission fee and covers more than 318 acres in Chippewa Falls. The zoo operates daily in season (typically 10 am to 3:30 pm weekdays and 10 am to 4:30 pm weekends, with extended hours after Memorial Day), while trails, picnic areas, and historic sites remain accessible throughout the year for walking, running, snowshoeing, and cross‑country skiing. Parking and restrooms are available on site, and the park regularly hosts school groups, community events, and tourism trolley tours. - Good to know:
In summer, Olsen’s Ice Cream Shop is open in the park, making it a popular stop after a zoo visit or hike. From Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day, visitors can enjoy the Christmas Village with more than 100,000 lights and 100 displays, viewable by car or on foot. The zoo is supported by the nonprofit Friends of Irvine Park Zoo, which helps fund animal care, enclosure improvements, and enrichment so the park can remain a free, high‑quality attraction for families and visitors from across the region.
Click to view the irvine park map
