One of the best parts of school, other than lunch, was the occasional field trip. Few things were as exciting, or as memorable, as a day spent learning outside of the classroom.
With remote learning, our kids are spending more time than ever indoors. Why not create a field trip of your own? You can give your kids a break from the computer screen and see some nature from the comfort of your car.
Northwest Trek is a wildlife park in Eatonville, Washington (about an hour from Seattle). The wildlife park has been a popular field trip destination for because of its focus on education and the abundance of animals. The park’s free-roaming area is a 435-acre space with herds of Roosevelt elk, bison, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, swans and deer. The central area of the park has walking trails where you can see grizzlies, bald eagles, otters, cougars, wolves, and more.
Wild Drive
My family has visited Northwest Trek twice since the COVID-19 pandemic began. We first visited when the Wild Drive became available because, let’s face it, we really needed to get out of the house. Wild Drive is fantastic because you can drive your can experience the awe and wonder of seeing a moose or newborn bison calf from the comfort and safety of your own car.
The tour times can be reserved online and each group is limited to 10 vehicles. Its $80 a car, which is a pretty reasonable cost when you consider how many kids you can pack into a car. The tour is led by one of the Northwest Trek’s wildlife experts who gives live narration as you drive through the 435-acre free roam area. You can hear the narration through the radio in your car.
During our visits, we enjoyed seeing the herds of Roosevelt elk and the mountain goats. In several spots the animals were right up close to the road and looked at us curiously as we drove by. I knew that Bison were big, but it was something else to drive a few feet from one and to think about how big it was compared to our SUV.
For the Wild Drive, you can bring up to 8 people in your vehicle and reservations are required. You don’t need to wear a face covering in your car, but you should bring one because you will need it to use the restrooms or if you plan to walk through the main areas of the park.
If you don’t want to drive your car, the 90-minute Keeper Adventure Tours are another option that just opened up. On these tours, a guide takes you aboard an open-air Jeep on paved roads, on gravel tracks, and occasionally off-road through the free roam area. For these tours you can bring a single household only (up to 5 people) and face coverings must be worn.
Wild Walk
My family visited Northwest Trek a second time so that we could experience the Wild Walk (which had just opened) and to go on the Wild Drive again.
The Wild Walk is the main area of the wildlife park where you walk on paths to see the animals in their exhibit areas. In this section you can see the grizzlies, bald eagles, otters, cougars, and wolves.
It is worth noting that the Wild Walk and the Wild Drive are two separate experiences and need separate tickets.
They currently do not require timed tickets for the Wild Walk, but it is worth checking the Northwest Trek website before your visit to see if anything has changed. I recommend buying your tickets in advance because it makes it even easier when you get there. You just scan your ticket and head into the park. If you buy tickets onsite, be mindful that they are only taking credit cards right now.
There is a lot to see along the Wild Walk and I felt very safe as we wandered through the park. They set up ropes and benches to make the entire park into a one way walking trail. This was great because you didn’t miss anything during your visit. They had clearly marked spaces on the ground to encourage groups to keep a safe distance. Being outdoors the entire time gave another sense of comfort as we meandered along.
A face covering is required as you experience the Wild Walk. Restrooms are available (at the beginning and end of the trail and near the middle). The drinking fountains were turned off during our visit, but you could fill a reusable water bottle. I recommend bringing a water bottle with you just to be on the safe side.
As parents take on the job of being at-home teachers this year, why not add a field trip to the mix? Northwest Trek is a safe and fun educational experience that the entire family can enjoy together.
What You’ll Need
- Face coverings required for anyone 5 and over.
- Remember your water bottle to refill (no drinking fountains.)
- Bring your own stroller/wheelchair/scooter if you need it (no rentals.)
- Bring credit/debit cards for in-park purchases (no cash.)
Getting There
- Northwest Trek is located at 11610 Trek Drive East, Eatonville, WA 98328
- You can find directions here.
