Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails

Yes. General access to Erb Discovery Trails is included with your Detroit Zoo ticket. Some experiences — such as Stingray Cove access and the stingray feed, Wild Explorer VR and private animal encounters — have separate pricing.

Erb Discovery Trails is home to bush dogs, burrowing owls, bamboo sharks, chickens, giant anteaters, stingrays, prairie dogs, domestic goats, alpacas and miniature donkeys.

When you purchase a Stingray Cove ticket, you can touch the stingrays under the careful supervision of our animal care experts. You can also feed* the stingrays if you choose to purchase a feed ticket. 

*Limited availability

Stingray Cove is a unique, interactive experience designed with animal well-being as the top priority. To support this, entry and feeding are offered as a separately ticketed experience so we can carefully manage the number of guests in the habitat at any given time. This capacity management helps reduce stress on the animals, allows them to choose when and how they engage with guests and ensures they always have space to rest.

The additional fee also supports the specialized care required for this habitat, including advanced life support systems, continuous monitoring and dedicated animal care staff who ensure the stingrays and bamboo sharks thrive. By maintaining a controlled, smaller group environment, we’re able to provide both the highest level of care for the animals and a more meaningful, up-close experience for guests.

Yes. Paved, ADA-accessible pathways run throughout Erb Discovery Trails, including a paved section within the Goat Encounter Yard.

Yes. Trail Mix and Dippin’ Dots serve snacks, drinks and more during seasonal hours. Most dining locations are open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Yes. The Gathering Pavilion, Stingray Cove and the entirety of Erb Discovery Trails itself are all available for private rentals. Contact the Zoo Events team for pricing, availability and booking details at [email protected].

Erb Discovery Trails is open during regular Detroit Zoo hours. Some dining, attraction and retail locations operate on a seasonal schedule. Check the Zoo’s hours page for the most current information before your visit.

Erb Discovery Trails spans 7 acres, making it the largest project in Detroit Zoo history.