Folsom City Zoo Day Trip With a Fun Train Ride

The Folsom City Zoo is smaller than most zoos but has various animals to see and a fun train to ride. There is a surprising assortment of animals housed at the Folsom City Zoo. Most of these critters are orphaned, seized, or relinquished and cannot be released into the wild.

View everything from raccoons, black bears, mountain lions, and even two tigers, Misty and Pounce.

The Folsom Zoo Sanctuary is run by the City of Folsom and was established in 1963. The main focus is to “promote responsible and appropriate behavior toward all animals.” Even though the zoo is a sanctuary, it’s still an excellent place for a family day trip destination within easy travel distance of Sacramento

And if checking out all the animals is not enough incentive to get your kids off the couch and into the car, there is always the Folsom Valley Railway train ride to seal the deal.

Exhibits at the Folsom City Zoo

Black Bears, five of them call the zoo home. The bears have their wading pool courtesy of a California Park Bond fund grant.

Wildcats at the Folsom City Zoo include tigers, cougars, mountain lions, and bobcats.

Primates include several monkeys that have always been a favorite with children.

Canines, foxes, wolves, wolf hybrids, and a coyote.

Rounding out the list of critters and the Folsom Zoo, visitors can see sheep, mule deer, macaques, squirrel monkeys, raccoons, skunks, eagles, and pigs.

Folsom Valley Railway

The Folsom Valley Railway is adjacent to the zoo and is perfect to end your day trip. This fun little train is the only 12-inch gauge railroad remaining in the United States.

A real miniature steam engine pulls open-air rail cars on a mile-long track. The trip lasts about ten minutes, and the fare is only a few dollars. Chances are, you may want to ride more than one time.

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is a great place for a family day out for a small price. Every dollar you spend at the zoo goes toward the care of these animals.

Getting To the Folsom City Zoo

Plan on spending about an hour checking out the zoo and taking a trip or two on the steam train. Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary 403 Stafford St, Folsom, CA 95630 Phone: (916) 351-3527 Call for hours and when the train is operating.

Places to Take Kids in Northern California

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Folsom Lake Camping