Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Well… I suppose a trip to the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is something more like elk and bison and otters, but you get the point! This is one family-friendly attraction in Washington that you won’t want to miss — and it’s only about an hour outside of Seattle, making it a perfect day-trip. Now, let’s go wild! Wildlife, that is!
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
It only takes an hour to get to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park from Seattle, but we guarantee that you’re going to feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle of city life when you’re here. NW Trek takes families far outside of the usual zoo experience, with wildlife animals that you won’t see elsewhere… besides maybe the Discovery Channel. From bison and otters to elk and bears, get ready to get up close and personal with some true wild animals!
There are two ways to experience Northwest Trek Wildlife Park: the Tram Tour and the Walking Tour. But you don’t have to choose one or the other! Each offers a different way to see the variety of animals, so you’ll want to plan on doing both.
The Tram Tour lasts 50-minutes, taking you right into the middle of the wildlife in their natural habitats. The trams are open-air, so that you can literally be looking a bison in the eye, and each tour is lead by naturalists who will give you the inside scoop on the animals.
The Walking Tour is a completely different experience that leads you around a separate area of the park, exposing you to grizzly bears, cougars, coyotes, porcupines, bald eagles and more. We love that the path around the walking tour is nicely paved, making it great for kiddos who want to run from animal to animal and for bringing little ones in strollers (Psst! You can even rent strollers at the park!)
Need even more of an excuse to visit Northwest Trek? Maybe the newly installed zip line will peak your interest! It flies you through the canopy of the park, giving you an entirely different way to see the animals… from above! There are also special events that happen practically every weekend at Northwest Trek, from demonstrations on how to safely camp when there are bears in the area to park tours for budding photographers to ride along with the park keepers into the VIP areas of NW Trek — you won’t want to miss these! Be sure to keep an eye on their website for detailed information.
Don’t forget to wear good walking shoes and dress in layers, and, since this is the Northwest, you’ll want to throw a rain jacket in the car, just in case! There is food available at the park, or you’re welcome to bring your own.
Address: 11610 Trek Drive E., Eatonville, WA 98328
Phone: 360-832-6117
Online: nwtrek.org
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