Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Wildlife park and nature reserve in Eatonville, Washington, US.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park covers 723 acres near Eatonville, Washington, and is divided into a 435-acre free-roaming area, a walking tour area, and five miles of nature trails. Electric trams cross the free-roaming zone, where moose, bison, Roosevelt elk, caribou, mountain goats, and trumpeter swans range without barriers. The walking area holds enclosed exhibits for grizzly and black bears, wolves, cougars, wolverines, and bald eagles, plus the Cheney Family Discovery Center and Baker Research Cabin.
David and Connie Hellyer donated their vacation property near Eatonville to Metro Parks Tacoma in 1971, and the park opened on July 17, 1975. A 2000 sales tax increase secured about half of its income, and 100 acres were bought along the northern border in 2005 to shield the tram route from housing. A further 7-acre land bridge in 2007 brought the park to 722.89 acres.
The park's Cheney Family Discovery Center lets visitors touch fur pelts of Pacific Northwest animals and see rough-skinned newts, Pacific tree frogs and garter snakes. The Baker Research Cabin, set between the gray wolves and red foxes, shows wolves and red foxes via remotely controlled cameras. Kids Trek Playground at the entrance is built around a climbable 20-foot hollow tree stump with rope nets, ladders, tunnels and slides.
Trams run through the 435-acre free-roaming area and are included with admission. The self-drive Wild Drive requires a reservation and is limited to 15 vehicles, led by a staff member. Five miles of nature trails start near the walking tour, and the Kids Trek Playground sits by the main entrance.
A special Jeep adventure tour takes visitors off-road with an animal specialist for close encounters with native animals in remote sections of the park. This experience offers views of wildlife that typical visits cannot provide.
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