Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
4.6(5.9K)google
4.2(278)yelp
Bird WatchingFreeOutdoorWildlife Watching
Overview
Offering an extraordinarily unique, highly educational, and immersive approach to wildlife viewing, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park covers over seven hundred acres of pristine meadows and forests near Eatonville. The park is dedicated exclusively to conserving native Pacific Northwest fauna, allowing massive American bison, majestic elk, moose, and mountain goats to roam completely free in a massive habitat. Visitors can board an open-air tram tour to spot these creatures or explore forest paths to see wolves, cougars, and grizzly bears in natural exhibits.
Practical Info
Mon9:30 AM – 4:00PM
Tue9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wed9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Best TimeMay through September offers the most agreeable climates. Arriving exactly at the 9:30 AM gate opening to secure a slot on the signature open-air Discovery Tram Tour is highly strategic; the cool morning air drives huge free-roaming herds of American bison, moose, and elk to graze close to the tracks before retreat to shade.
Getting ThereTucked inside dense subalpine forests at 11610 State Route 161 near Eatonville. To drive from Tacoma, head south on WA-7 S for 15 miles, turn left onto WA-161 S (Meridian Ave E), and follow the highway straight south for 10 miles. The grand wildlife park gates will appear clearly on your right, providing an expansive complimentary lot.
Travel Tips
- The Premier Tram Tours require timed reservations and often sell out early; secure your designated tram seating online beforehand or immediately upon park entry.
- Outside food is strictly banned from being carried near animal viewing areas; wheeled devices including scooters, skateboards, and roller-shoes are illegal on walkways.
- Animals are most dynamic during early morning opening hours or late afternoon; they retreat deep into dense shade during midday heat, so structure your arrival to optimize viewing.
Reviews
Positive
- Riding the iconic open-air tram through hundreds of acres of free-roaming zones where bison and elk walk beside you offers incredible interactive fun.
- The infrastructure maintenance is flawless, featuring a massive wooden kids' adventure park and flat, accessible canopy paths perfect for families with toddlers.
- The crowd management is mature with structured entry screening; staff and guides show immense love for animals, keeping safety measures meticulous.
- Driving routes feature smooth road conditions, and the park provides a massive, completely free parking lot with reliable hours—highly convenient.
Heads up
- Tickets cost nearly $40; without spending extra on secondary walking tours or zip-lining, just viewing a few bears and wolves can feel like a low value.
- The tram route is strictly fixed by the park; since animals roam freely, they sometimes hide in distant woods, leaving riders seeing only brush, which can disappoint.
- The internal fast food is expensive and mediocre, and the animal plushies in the gift shop carry high markups, showing a distinct tourist-spending trap.
- Weekend afternoons bring exploding tourist densities; tram lines easily exceed an hour, and the venue becomes very noisy with kids, lacking a peaceful vibe.