Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Washington
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Washington state is full of wilderness and the unique array of ecosystems make it home to one of the most diverse collections of wildlife species in the country. As you are traveling to or from Mount Rainier and Seattle, a stop at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a must for any animal lover. Located just 50 miles south of the Seattle/Bellevue metropolitan area, this 725-acre wildlife park will get you some unrivaled views of some truly amazing creatures.
The Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is nothing like a zoo. Much of the grounds are designed to allow animals to roam freely as you view them from your car or a tram system. This allows them to develop social groups and establish homes like they would in the wild. The park’s primary objective is conservation, helping raise orphaned or providing injured animals with care and safety. You will be pleased to know that funds from your ticket purchase will be directly helping with this mission. As you look out your window and see a moose and her calf mere feet from the road, you’ll be glad you stopped.
When you visit a typical zoo, you walk up to the enclosure, sometimes jockeying for position against other visitors, and stare at the animals in a synthetic environment. Along the Wild Drive at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, YOU are in control and the only people you’ll be competing with for views is whoever is in your vehicle. The drive meanders around the over 400-acre free roaming zone of the park, where animals are able to freely explore and live their lives.
Along your drive, you are likely to encounter bison and elk herds, moose, and some curious groups of mountain goats. Be prepared for encounters to be within just a few feet of your vehicle as these animals are completely free.
The route will take you through a variety of habitats like the lake, the meadows, and the forest where you can observe these animals in their preferred comfort zones. It is important to note that space on the drive is limited and a separate vehicle pass for the experience must be purchased.
Want to get even closer? Consider booking a private Keeper Tour. This experience gives you direct access to a knowledgeable park staff member that can tell you all about the amazing creatures before you. The 90-minute tour has a safari-like feel as you drive out into the lands, going off-road in an open-air jeep to view animal herds up close and personal.
Keeper tours are limited to just the folks in your vehicle, so the experience is a focused and intimate one. These tours are also an add-on option that requires an additional purchase fee (be advised it is not cheap: ~$400 for the group), although standard park admission is included. Finally, if you have really little ones along for the trip, be advised that kiddos under five are not permitted on the tours for their safety.
Speaking of kiddos, there is an awesome nature-themed playground just for them. If your little ones need to do some serious running around before they can focus for some animal viewing, take them to the Kid’s Trek. The unique design of the playground mimics the environment of the Pacific northwest and welcomes the children to engage as though they were specific animals.
Scamper across the climbing net like a spider, explore the timber dam like a beaver, and bounce on the trampoline to flap your wings like a trumpeter swan. Parents will be happy to know that access to the Kid’s Trek is included with your park admission fee. There are some higher features in the playground so you may want to make sure your smaller kids stay within a safe area.
If you prefer to do your exploring on foot, grab a map and hit the park’s nature trails. Over five miles of winding trails will bring you to the enclosed habitats of some of the wilder (dangerous) animals in the park. Trails are a combination of gravel and pavement so you can choose the experience that’s right for your group.
Along the nature trails, you’ll find the park’s carnivores in their dedicated habitats. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe large brown bears, wolves, cougars, foxes, wolverines and more. One of the most interesting features is within the forest area, where you can look right through the glass into the dens and burrows of animals like badgers, beavers, and otters.
We can’t make any promises about the grizzly bears, but the Cheney Discovery Center has a variety of amphibians, reptiles, and insects that you can meet up close. Try to find the gopher snakes curled up, waiting for their next meal. If you’re lucky you may even get to witness a feeding. Watch the banana slugs as they munch on plants, travelling at an astounding 0.006 miles an hour.
The center also has a number of hands-on activities for children. Learn together about the black bear’s seasonal habits, from hibernation to cub care. Learn how wasps form colonies and make their nests. The center does a great job of making these educational activities engaging and fun for your little ones.
Your closest camping option to the park would be the Rainbow RV Resort, just three miles to the north. Seated on Tanwax Lake, this campground offers an incredibly scenic camping experience with Mount Rainier clearly visible in the distance. The resort offers a full hookup RV camping experience as well as a fully stocked camp store, laundry, and bathhouses. The lake itself is an awesome source of entertainment with excellent trout fishing and boating. A variety of boats are available to rent from the resort if you want to get out on the water.
If a clean, family-oriented camping experience is what you’re looking for, try out the Lakeside Place Family Campground which also sits on Tanwax Lake (10 miles). The very affordable full hookup RV campsites are nestled within the densely forested 300-acre property. Campers will enjoy lake access for boating and fishing as well as a number of on-site hiking trails and plentiful outdoor games.
If you and your group are looking for an option without a bunch of little kiddos running around, consider Rainier View RV Park (nine miles). This adults-only campground offers fantastic unobstructed views of the mountain in a gorgeous forested setting. Your campsites will, however, be directly next to other RVs (i.e. no secluded enclave sites). Along with 30- or 50-amp electrical service, the park also offers a laundry facility and bathhouses. For fun, take a stroll on nature trails that cover seven acres of the property.
If peace and quiet is one of your top priorities when it comes to selecting a campground, look no further than Buttes RV Park (18 miles). Situated at the very back of a gated community, the park’s 14 sites are nestled into their own heavily wooded nooks for a secluded feel. Full hookup sites are 50-amp electrical only (you’ll need an adapter if your unit is 30-amp only). The only common service is a laundry room, so it’s easy to stay tucked away in your RV with your group if you prefer. There are also a variety of walking and biking trails in and around the community for you to stretch your legs and enjoy some fresh air.
Do you prefer to be near the action of a modern city? The Majestic RV Park (23 miles) is just a few minutes from downtown Tacoma. The campground offers 88 RV campsites with full hookups that can accommodate rigs up to 75 feet in length. All of your needs will be met with the onsite Wi-Fi, dump stations, laundry room, bathhouses, and a well-stocked store. The outdoor pool is heated so you can comfortably take a dip even on cool fall and spring days. For shopping, entertainment, or a bite to eat, drive just five minutes or so to downtown Tacoma where you will find everything a major U.S. city has to offer.
If you’re feeling hungry during your visit, there are two dining facilities within the park. For a quick bite, you can grab a snack or drink at the Trek Treats walk-up window. For a sit-down meal, head over to the Forest Cafe, where you’ll find an assortment of burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
If you are craving more options than what’s available at the park, there are a couple of small restaurants scattered in the immediate area, although your closest dining hub will be in Eatonville a few miles to the south. Here you’ll find Mexican, Chinese, smokehouses, pizza, and a number of American grills and cafes. For a huge variety, head up to Tacoma and its suburbs where you’ll surely find whatever you’re in the mood for.
No matter where you stay, the close encounters you will enjoy at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will surely be a unique experience that you and your camping companions will talk about for years to come.