Northwest Trek – Trams, Wild Drive Tours & Wild Walk Experience

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Northwest Trek – Trams, Wild Drive Tours & Wild Walk

Northwest Trek, one of our favorite places to visit here in Pierce County, has been expanding over the last few years. We will share more below about each of these options, but you now have multiple ways you can plan to explore the park. You can choose to do one or the other, or all options for visiting Northwest Trek right now.

Here is what to know about pricing before you plan a trip. There are a couple of experiences listed below that cost extra, but we have noted those when that is the case.

General Prices: 

Adult tickets – $27
Seniors –
Youth tickets – $18
Kids 0-2 – Free

NW Trek Discounts: 

Those who have EBT, WIC, or foster/kinship care can get $6 Daytime Tickets.

Military Discounts

Adult tickets – $24
Seniors – $22
Youth tickets – $16

Northwest Trek has two main ways to explore with your park tickets, and two premium experiences. The Walking Paths and Tram Tours are included in the park tickets. The Wild Drive (you drive in your own car) and the Premium Jeep Adventure with a Tour Guide both have an upcharge. Here are more details about all four ways to enjoy Northwest Trek.

Animal Walking Paths Experience:

Northwest Trek is full of walking paths, places you can see animals, and fun kids’ parks. Here are the highlights:

• Enjoy many walking paths throughout the park. Animals you might see:
  • Find opportunities to see grizzlies and black bears, as well as foxes, and wolverines in their forested habitats.
  • Lynx and bobcats in the cat loop.
  • You may also find otters, skunks, beavers, and badgers in their underground or underwater habitats at the Forest & Wetlands.
  • Amphibians and reptiles in the Cheney Discovery Center.
• The Kids’ Trek playground is a fun one (check out our review), with many unique nature-themed adventures to be had!

Electric Tram Tours

This is generally the most popular offering and is included with admission. They explain it as ” Discovery Tram Tours as you discover herds of bison, mountain goats, Roosevelt elk, and other native Northwest animals as they roam freely through their 435-acre home. Our new electric trams offer up-close, eye-level views of our majestic animals and panoramic views of beautiful meadows, forests, and lakes. They’re also more eco-efficient, with a smaller carbon footprint that helps protect wildlife and keeps our air clean.” Tours take around 40 minutes.

Wild Drive Tours:

They have started Wild Drive Premier Tours – this is where you are allowed to drive in your own car through the free-roaming area of Northwest Trek, instead of riding the Tram. You can use your own car to drive through & see the moose, bison, mountain goats, bighorn sheep & more! Definitely an up-close & personal look at the animals in a way that has never happened before, while being able to safely follow the governor’s health & safety protocols right now.

This may be available for a limited time, & it’s such a unique opportunity, but reservations are required so that you have special timed ticket times to arrive & drive through this area.  They will also have an app to download so you can listen to information on the tour from the lead car, telling you about the animals you will see & information typically.

This information is on Northwest Trek’s Facebook Page: Tours are guided with a staff lead car who narrates the tour and a trailing car. They said to allow about an hour total & around 45 minutes in the free roaming area with the small tour group.  There is no restroom access during the tour, and very limited restroom access before or after the tour, is what their site says under FAQ.

We heard from reader Terese, who visited in May & here’s what she had to say:

It was pricey, but we figured it was a great way to continue to support the zoo that we love so much. We just got back from the experience and loved it! You feel a ton closer to the animals in your car!

You line up in the parking lot and they give you an app to download so you can listen the the tour like the tram. There is a lead car telling you about the park and doing the look here thing. They have it really organized and have made sure everything is done carefully.

Cost per vehicle (not person): $60 for members / $115 for non-members – price is per car.
Ages: this is available for all ages, but it should be one family or household per vehicle, with a maximum of 8 people per vehicle

*Remember that reservations are required for this drive-thru tour! This may be quite popular, so you will want to call quickly to reserve a day/time.

Keeper Adventure Jeep Tour – A Premier Experience

• Ride in our keeper Jeep for an off-road adventure in our 435-acre Free-Roaming Area.
• Get up close to Roosevelt elk, caribou, deer, and bison. Spot fluffy mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and a majestic moose.
• Meet a real keeper, learn about what they d,o and hear all the stories.

Cost per person: $60 for members / $115 for non-members
Ages: must be 5 or older, and kids 5-15 must be accompanied by an adult.