The Magic of Native Wildlife

Visitors can watch animals roam through hundreds of acres at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

By Rick Stedman

This summer marks the 50th anniversary
of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, the
popular Eatonville-area wildlife attraction
that draws visitors the world over.
Northwest Trek, also known as NWT,
oversees 725 acres, including a 435-acre
free-roaming area home to bison, elk,
mountain goats and more. Visitors can
choose to see the native wildlife from
electric trams, walking paths, the kids’ trek
or their cars.

“Our trams take guests up close and
face-to-face with the animals,” says
Mick Szydlowski, NWT’s marketing,
communications and corporate relations
manager. “Home to more than 40 species
and 100-plus animals native to the
Pacific Northwest, NWT is dedicated to
conservation, education and high-quality
care for its animals.”
The nature park’s 50th anniversary was
in July. At the time, retired employee Chip
Heinz reflected on his 32 years of service
at NWT in a press release and said, “The
magic of visiting Northwest Trek is that
guests experience nature at its wildest and
leave with memories that last a lifetime.”
To top off the park’s celebration, a pai
of rescued cougar cubs were officially
introduced to the public. Cougar cubs
Sullivan and Sienna, both 7-months-old at
the time, can now be seen by visitors their
forested habitat along the park’s Cat Loop,
near the bobcat and lynx habitats.

Northwest Trek’s Inception
Northwest Trek began after a generous
land donation in 1971 by Dr. David “Doc”
and Connie Hellyer. In the mid-1930s, the
couple began amassing pristine land in
Eatonville, eventually totaling 537 acres.
The Hellyers thought the best use for
the land would be if it were a place where
native wildlife could roam freely. With help
from a $2.5 million voter-approved bond
in the ’70s, the land was developed into a
wildlife park.
Northwest Trek opened on July 17, 1975.
Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting,
then-Gov. Dan Evans sawed through a
stack of logs to open the park. During
that historic moment, David described the
park as “a place where people, especially
children, might experience animals in the
dignity and beauty of a nearly wild state
within a natural setting.”

Northwest Trek History
Thousands of visitors the world over
have experienced Northwest Trek since
its inception. One event that has become
a family favorite is the annual Slug Fest,
which began in 1983. This year’s Slug
Fest, held in June, let visitors celebrate the
gastropods by making their own tentacles
participating in human slug races—by
sliding on their stomachs—and plenty of
educational opportunities.
The original Hellyer family cabin was
repurposed in 1999 and renamed the
Hellyer Natural History Center. Located
in the free-roaming area, it is accessible
exclusively through private events.

New Additions
In 2018, Northwest Trek debuted the
premier off-road Keeper Adventure Tours
in the free-roaming area. Wild Drive Tours
were added in 2020, allowing guests to
experience the area from the comfort of
their own vehicles.
In 2019, NWT added an expansive
eagle passage habitat for the resident bald
eagles. In 2024, NWT introduced its new
tour station and electric tram fleet. The
new trams are quieter, more eco-friendly
and efficient, allowing a higher–quality
immersive experience.
Between the wild drives, keeper
tours, elk bugling, photo tours and the
opportunity to spend the night in an
A-frame cabin near Horseshoe Lake in the
center of the free-roaming area, Northwest
Trek Nature Park has many ways to see
local wildlife in their native habitat.

Parks Tacoma
Northwest Trek operates under
the Parks Tacoma umbrella, which
also includes more than 2,900
acres and:
▶Two zoos
▶An old-growth forest inside 760-acre Point Defiance Park
▶Sports complexes
▶Pools and spray-grounds
▶Community centers
▶A marina on Puget Sound
▶A nature center
▶An accredited living history museum
▶87 miles of trails
▶Nine community gardens
▶A golf course
▶A Victorian-style conservatory inside an arboretum
▶Hundreds of program offerings in sports, arts and more.