COMPASS
WEST U.S.
Northwest Trek,
worth the trek
INGRID BARRENTINE
Located roughly an hour south of Seattle and an hour west of
Mount Rainier National Park, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a
725-acre attraction that showcases the area’s animals and natural
beauty. According to Group Sales Coordinator Joy Tevis, travelers
are immersed in nature everywhere they go at Northwest Trek.
“Imagine riding through forests and meadows of unparalleled beauty, and viewing herds of American bison, Roosevelt
elk, bighorn sheep, woodland caribou, deer and moose from
the comfort of your seat aboard a tram,” says Tevis. “Or walking along paved pathways to get up-close views of predators
like bears, coyotes, wolves, foxes, bobcats and Canada lynx.”
The tram tour is a naturalist-narrated, 50-minute ride that
takes guests deep into the park’s free-roaming area where
many of the animals reside. “It’s not unusual to have a bison
right outside your window when a tram needs to stop briefly
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January 2017
as the herd crosses the road or to look out and see a moose
close enough to watch its steamy breath,” she adds.
The park also has a number of nature trails that lead to
large predator exhibits, wetland pools and other animal habitats. At the black bear area, visitors can see the creatures
climbing trees, playing in the water and foraging. Playful river
otters are the stars of the show at the wetland pools.