The Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop, is officially open to the public. The project, which saw 1.25 miles of a former monorail structure repurposed into a walkway, will take guests 32 feet above the ground and provide new views of and experiences with the zoo’s diverse wildlife, hardwood forest, and wetlands.

The scheme’s design was led by Minneapolis-based Snow Kreilich Architects, alongside engineering firm Buro Happold (known for its work on the High Line in New York City) and landscape architecture and urban design practice TEN x TEN. The construction leader was PCL. Together, the team was committed to minimizing disruptions to the zoo’s animals and guests before, during, and after construction.

“The Treetop Trail marks a new chapter for the Minnesota Zoo,” said John Frawley, the institution's director and foundation president. “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.”

Planning for the walkway began in June 2018, with its groundbreaking in April 2022. The original monorail track opened in 1979 and was retired in 2013. The new trail adds 70,000 square feet to the zoo and consists of 400 20-foot modular sections. Each component was wheeled into place using a custom-made trolley fabricated for this project. 

It also utilizes nearly 1,000 tons of new structural steel, which functions to reinforce angles, walkway frames, and handrails around the curves in the trail. The entrance to the trail also features the zoo’s new animal ambassador habitat, where guests will be greeted by several species native to Minnesota.

As said by structural engineer and associate principal with Buro Happold, Fraser Reid, “We applaud the vision of this worldwide leader in wildlife conservation, the Minnesota Zoo, in conceiving the Treetop Trail to creatively adapt and reuse this existing structure and offer year-round access to diverse wildlife amid hundreds of acres of beautiful natural forest, ponds and marshes, as well as a unique perspective of Minnesota Zoo’s animals.”

The $39 million endeavor was funded through a mix of public and private support. The trail’s July 28th opening date coincided with World Nature Conservation Day.