Things To Do in Ashford, Washington
The community of Ashford is home to Mt. Rainier National Park and the main Nisqually entrance to Paradise, open year-round. While many visit the region to explore the National Park, there are plenty of things to do in Ashford, WA beyond the park’s boundaries.
Enjoy a variety of dining options, including family-friendly outdoor grills, cafés, and historical restaurant sites. The 80-acre Ashford Park features a children’s playground, paved walking trails, public restrooms, and seasonal events. You can also find regional artists showcasing their work in local galleries and outdoor venues. Experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest from a train or on horseback, creating unforgettable memories with your family.
Discover all the exciting things to do in Ashford and plan your adventure today!
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
What is Northwest Trek? “Best wildlife park for kids and adults!” It’s a wildlife park. It’s a forest. It’s an adventure. Take the tram to see free-roam animals; walk the trails to find forest animals; play on our ziplines and playground. Explore nature at Northwest Trek.
Mt Rainier Railroad &
Logging Museum
Passengers enjoy steam train rides through the forest and across the glacier-fed Upper Nisqually River to Mineral, Washington, and the Logging Museum. Museum exhibits offer a chance to explore a comprehensive collection of steam locomotives and discover stories behind the railroad logging camps’ pioneers in the early to mid-1900s.
EZ Times Guided Trail Rides
Enjoy the beautiful mountain trails of the Nisqually Valley on horseback. EZ Times Outfitters offers guided horseback riding tours of 1 to 3 hours through the Elbe Hills or along the Nisqually River.
Ashford Creek Gallery
Visit this intimate gallery located on historic Mountain Highway just outside of Ashford, on the way to the Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. Gallery proprietor Rick Johnson loves to share his passion for the arts, local and regional history, stories, and the occasional tall tale.
Recycled Spirits of Iron Sculpture Park
EX-NIHILO (X-Ne-High-Low) is Latin for “something made out of nothing.” Explore the sculpture park of artist Dan Klennert located on WA-706. Here, articles of scrap that once toiled in fields or churned in engines are rescued from the trash and reborn with dignity and new meaning as remarkable sculptures.
Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic Monument
Consider a day trip to the Johnson Ridge Observatory, which offers numerous viewpoints and miles of trails for exploration by car and foot. During the summer, Forest Service Interpreters lead various activities, from short walks to amphitheater presentations.
Pioneer Farm Museum &
OHOP Indian Village
Journey back to the 1880s and experience homesteading in Washington State. Pioneer Farm is a “hands-on” homestead built in 1887 with many activities for adults and children. Take a farm tour, dress up like pioneers, and see how the pioneers lived. Pioneer Farm is located just north of Eatonville, Washington, off Hwy 161.
