Northwest Trek Wildlife Park sits on 725 acres of forest and meadow near Eatonville, Washington, about an hour south of Tacoma. Unlike a conventional zoo, its signature experience is a tram tour through a 435-acre free-roaming area where bison, Roosevelt elk, mountain goats, caribou, and trumpeter swans move freely without fences separating them from visitors.
The park traces its roots to 1971, when founders David and Connie Hellyer donated their vacation property to Metro Parks Tacoma to be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary. Northwest Trek opened to the public on July 17, 1975, and has since grown into an AZA-accredited facility, operated alongside its sister institution, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, by Metro Parks Tacoma.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Eatonville, Washington
- Opened: July 17, 1975
- Size: 725 acres, including a 435-acre free-roam area
- Species: About 43 species, 200+ animals
- Annual visitors: Around 200,000-220,000
- Famous for: Tram tours through a fence-free range of native Northwest wildlife
The Free-Roam Experience
The heart of a Northwest Trek visit is the narrated tram tour, which carries guests through the free-roam area where animals like bison, elk, and caribou live without barriers separating them from the path. Visitors who prefer to explore at their own pace can also take the self-guided Wild Drive, steering their own vehicle through a similar stretch of habitat to spot grazing herds up close.
Beyond the free-roam zone, the park’s developed area features enclosures for species that can’t safely mix with the public, including grizzly and black bears, grey wolves, cougars, and wolverines. Off-road Keeper Adventure Tours in open-air vehicles give smaller groups an even closer, guide-led look at the habitats.
Conservation and Growth
Northwest Trek has expanded steadily since its founding, growing from the Hellyers’ original donated acreage into the 725-acre park it is today. As an AZA-accredited park, it participates in species survival efforts for animals native to the Pacific Northwest, pairing public tours with behind-the-scenes conservation work.
The park also emphasizes outdoor education, with miles of nature trails, a discovery center, and a children’s play area built around a hollowed-out tree stump, giving families hands-on ways to engage with the region’s forests and wildlife beyond the tram route.
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Northwest Trek Wildlife Park FAQs
Where is Northwest Trek Wildlife Park located?
It’s located near Eatonville, Washington, roughly an hour’s drive south of Tacoma.
What makes Northwest Trek different from a typical zoo?
Its centerpiece is a 435-acre free-roam area where animals like bison, elk, and caribou live without fences, viewed via tram tour or a self-guided driving route.
How big is Northwest Trek Wildlife Park?
The park covers 725 acres total, home to about 43 species and more than 200 animals.
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Photo: pnwnature / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.