What a wonderful experience! I had friends from Australia visiting and wanted to give them the experience of seeing some of the amazing animals here in the PNW. We went on one of the guided tours in the Free Roam area and were able to observe many of the local residents. Our guide was amazing, incredibly knowledgeable and with a great sense of humor. It is obvious that the caretakers take pride in what they do and they do it well. The park itself is clean and well maintained. The enclosures are also clean and well maintained, and measures had been put in place for the animals to cool themselves (we visited on a hot summer day.) The paths around the park are paved and fairly easy to navigate, although there are some inclined areas that individuals with mobility aids may need assistance navigating. Should you visit during the summer, or on a weekend, be prepared for there to be a lot of children. If you'd like a quieter visit, I recommend going during the school year on a weekday. (Bonus picture of frog chilling on the water fountain.)

Northwest Trek is truly a gem in the Pacific Northwest and an experience that feels both adventurous and educational from start to finish. The highlight of our visit was hands down the tram tour. It was not only relaxing and comfortable but also incredibly informative. The guide was knowledgeable and engaging, pointing out different animals along the way while sharing fun facts and deeper insights into their behaviors, habitats, and conservation efforts. Watching bison, moose, elk, and other wildlife roaming freely in such a large natural setting felt like stepping into their world, and it was fascinating to see them so close in a way that felt authentic and respectful. The entire park itself is beautifully maintained—clean, safe, and thoughtfully laid out. Walking through the different areas, it was clear how much care goes into keeping the grounds well-manicured and welcoming. Each habitat was designed with the animals in mind, and the variety is impressive: from native predators like cougars, wolves, and bears to smaller but equally interesting creatures like beavers, otters, and owls. Every corner offered something new to discover. Another pleasant surprise was the pricing. For the quality of the experience—especially considering the tram tour is included—the admission felt very fair. It’s rare to find a park that balances affordability with such a high standard of care, education, and presentation. Northwest Trek is the kind of place you can enjoy whether you’re coming as a family, couple, or even solo. It’s both entertaining and enlightening, and I left with a deeper appreciation for Pacific Northwest wildlife. Absolutely worth the trip and highly recommended.

This is a great place to get out in nature. For kids to see real natural settings, where and how animals live, is wonderful. We have a family pass and plan to go often. For kids, they have a great real natural play area for all they're extras energy. You can spend a few hours with your own lunch or eat from they're Cafe, it's convenient and pretty good. Even hard ice-cream, if the kids eat a good lunch. Good Times

Such a wonderful place to see animals. It was raining so some were not out, which i dont blame them. Rode the tram learned alot about the place and how it started. Such a beautiful place. Very clean and the animals looked healthy. The Eagles were magnificent 👌. The owls, bears, and wolf just amazing.

This is a true Pacific Northwest treasure! It's a great showcase of Northwest and native North American wildlife. The walk-through portion of the park is family friendly and engaging (especially the Bear walk portion). The Wild Drive is a great experience, too! When the free roaming animals are out, it is a great way to see such majestic creatures up close. The park staff is knowledgeable and courteous. Allow a few hours if you are planning to see both the walking path portion of the park and to do the Wild Drive (highly recommended). A fun day for everyone!

Incredible. Beautiful. One of a kind experience. Kid friendly. Great and knowledgeable staff. Family will love this and there are tons of animals to see. I loved the shuttle bus ride which was additional to the entrance fee, but it was well worth it. The reserve is smaller, but very beautiful

Went on a 2-hour Photo Tour and was not disappointed!! Saw Swans; Roosevelt Elk; Black-tail Deer; Mountain Goats; Bison; and MOOSE!! They have caribou as well but we did not see them… There are 4 people max in the Photo Tour and it was fun to stop and take pics of the aforementioned!! Afterwards, you can go through the rest of the park that had a Cougar; a Bobcat; and a Lynx; Eagles; Black and Grizzly Bears; Badgers; Wolverines; Grey Wolves; Otters and Beavers…. A fun place to enjoy wildlife that has been rehabilitated but are not able to return to the forest… The park is really nice and clean; there’s a gift shop with lots of stuff (and t-shirts) for kids and adults alike… Nice place to take the family!! A little limited in the cafe, this November, but offer more during the Summer.

A beautiful lake located along the route to Mount Rainier, near the town of Elbe. Its water comes from rivers fed by the melting snow of the mountain, making it exceptionally cold and refreshing. The lake is connected to Alder Dam, which supplies drinking water to the city of Tacoma. It’s a stunning spot for boating, kayaking, canoeing, and jet skiing.

Stopped here en route to Mt. Rainier from Seattle (to use the bathroom), and it was such a beautiful and scenic break! So tranquil by the water! Really glad we stopped here!

It’s a beautiful park with a great view of the lake. I wish there’s a trail to walk / bike around the lake, but there’s no. If you happen to have some extra time during your trip to Mt Rainier, then you can stop by here to enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. The view of the dam is also pretty interesting.

Great park on a great lake. We spend all day there and always have a great time

Had an amazing time exploring here. But the lake was very low

Impressive due to silence outside camping season, unfortunatelly the waterlevel was far below average showing a climate impacted scene.

Had a great time at Alder Lake! The campgrounds are clean and well kept, although very close together and offer little to no privacy. However the lake was large enough to paddle or boat far enough away and granted lots of space to sprawl out. Beautiful views, short distance to purchase firewood and ice, and kind staff. Would happily visit again!

My husband and I went during the week. I misunderstood the summer hours. Luckily they had finished the school tours and gave us the tour on our own. The place is amazing. Hands on for kids, but we enjoyed the hands on for grinding coffee, cinnamon, carding wool, etc. It was a fun experience. Knowlegable staff. Highly reccommend checking it out. Bring lunch to eat at the location. Also, be prepared to use an outhouse.

BOOK BOTH TOURS, DON'T HESITATE! Took my 11-year-old nephew last weekend and we participated in both tours. Had such a good time! Staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about sharing history. It's just awesome to stand inside original/preserved homesteaders' homes, and trading post, and not only see, but interact/be hands-on with authentic items of the past. The Native American Seasons tour is also so special. Learned a lot during the outing, and appreciate how they make learning fun, engaging, and effortless for all ages.

This place has been here for decades. I came as a 7 year old girl and I loved it. I was privileged enough to bring my 8 and 5 year old sons today. They had a great time in the black Smith shop and in the hands on cabin. They also said their favorite things were 1. The big pig that "acts like a dog 2. The hay slide 3. The baby goats and 4. Using the food grinders. 😋 The lady and her son who run the museum are helpful, kind and knowledgeable. We wanted to offer thanks, from our family for the tour we were given. We hope you continue to teach people about this interesting history.

I am a real sucker for anything to do with pioneers - my kids and I love the Little House series, I love reading books and watching documentaries. I’ve toured places in CO, TX, and Ohio and this place was by far the best! So interactive with a wide variety of stations and information. The people were great at their positions: Gage (I hope I’m spelling that right) was awesome and so was his mother (Kim, I believe). My first time catching a chicken and my husband’s first time milking a cow and using a forge. To see my kids doing things I have memories of doing on school field trips was really rewarding.

We bring our students here every year, and every year they seem to find a new way to impress us. The staff are well informed, kind, and patient even with our toughest kiddos. This year we had a good up with our ticket day (our fault) and they were flexible and got us in the following day no problem. Once on site, we had a medical emergency, and the staff were supportive and helpful, and then ended up giving the EMTs a tour as well. Despite the hiccup in our day, everybody had a great time. We will be back!

Really amazing place, interactive real life reproductions of pioneer life and Native American life. Sweet and knowledgable guides too. My kids loved petting the animals, grinding grains, jumping in the straw pile, black smithing, making arrow heads and more. This place is truly a treasure! :)

Wow, such a different museum and experience. They have different farm animals that the kids could interact with. Students are invited to milk the cows or ride the carriage. Very interactive. Restrooms are an experience itself 😱. There is no sewer system, so you figure. Food: only snacks