La Grande, Washington

Alder Dam is a concrete thick arch dam on the Nisqually River in the U.S. state of Washington. The construction began in 1942 and was completed in 1945. At this time Alder Dam was among the tallest dams in the United States, although this title has since been surpassed. The impounded water behind the dam forms Alder Lake, stretching about 7 miles (11 km) upstream with a capacity of 241,950 acre-feet (0.29844 km3). With 28 miles (45 km) of shoreline, the lake is a popular recreation spot close to Mount Rainier National Park. Water from Alder Lake is sent into two generators at the base of the dam, each of which produces 25 megawatts for a total nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts. Two miles downstream is LaGrande Dam, site of the first dam in the area, dating from 1912, and rebuilt in 1945 along with Alder's construction. Most of the energy produced at the dam is sent to the city of Tacoma, about 25 miles (40 km) north. Both Alder and LaGrande dams are owned and operated by Tacoma Power. The name of the lake and the dam recalls the former small town of Alder, which was flooded in 1945 by the impounded water of the lake and disappeared. The current community of Alder is located north of the reservoir.

KTDD (104.9 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Eatonville, Washington, and serving the southern Puget Sound region including Tacoma. KTDD is owned by 247 Media and carries a Contemporary Worship radio format. The station holds periodic fundraisers to support the on-air ministry. KTDD has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 17,000 watts. The transmitter is off Alder Cutoff Road East in Eatonville.

The Mashel River is a river in Pierce County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a tributary of the Nisqually River, which it enters about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) southwest of Eatonville, at Nisqually river mile 39.6.

Alder is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pierce County, Washington, United States. As of the 2020 census, Alder had a population of 212.

Alder Lake is a 7 mi (11 km) long reservoir on the Nisqually River about ten miles south of Eatonville, Washington, It was created by the construction of Alder Dam by Tacoma Power in September 1944. At the very eastern end of the lake is the town of Elbe, Washington. The name of the lake recalls the former small town of Alder, which was flooded in 1945 by the impounded water of the lake and disappeared. The extinct town, in turn, was named for alder trees near the original site. The current community of Alder is located north of the lake. In 2021, Intel gave its 12th generation Intel Core processor the codename Alder Lake after the body of water.

Nisqually State Park is a 1,300-acre (530 ha) state park near Eatonville, Washington. The park resides on lands historically associated with several indigenous groups, most notably the Nisqually Indian Tribe. As of 2026, the park is one of two in Washington state to be jointly managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and an indigenous community. The park was first proposed in 1987, with land purchases to create the park initially undertaken in 1991. Due to a lack of funding, the park's plan stagnated until an official master plan was adopted in 2008. Limited funding further postponed development until 2013 when additional acreage was purchased. A first phase construction effort of a trailhead facility and an official hiking path began in 2014. Nisqually State Park opened in January 2016. The park was expanded during a second phase in the early 2020s which included the construction of several buildings, including a Coast Salish meeting hall, additional trails, and an interpretive plaza. The ongoing second phase, which included the cleanup of a town landfill, is planned to include a large campground and more than 13 miles (21 km) of trails into the forested canopy and to the confluence of the Mashel and Nisqually rivers. A roundabout was built at the park's entrance off State Route 507 and included Native American sculptures; the artworks were vandalized in December 2025. Nisqually State Park is situated on land considered to be ancestral and historic to the Nisqually people and was the birth place of Nisqually leader, Chief Leschi. The area is the known location of the Mashel Massacre, one of the last engagements of the Puget Sound War.

Reliance is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, Washington. It is located off Route 7, on the shore of Alder Lake.

Eatonville is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. It is 32 mi (51 km) south of Tacoma. The population was 2,845 at the 2020 census. The town motto is "Better Together."

Ohop Lake is a long and narrow lake near Eatonville, Washington, in Pierce County. It covers 218.2 acres and is situated in the Ohop Valley. It can be accessed through the state public boat launch located on the southern end. The lake is generally warm and slightly murky, making it popular for water sports. Ohop Lake is also popular for fishing.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a 723-acre (293 ha) wildlife park located near the town of Eatonville, Washington, United States. The park is home to black and grizzly bears, grey wolves, bald eagles, cougars, wolverines, bobcats and more. Its primary feature is a tram tour which takes visitors through a 435-acre (176 ha) free-roam area. The park also allows guests to drive their own vehicles past bison, mountain goats, Roosevelt elk, deer, caribou, swans and more on a Wild Drive tour. Guests can also take a premier Keeper Adventure Tour and go off-road in a Jeep with a keeper and up close to wildlife. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The park and its companion zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, are both owned and operated by Metro Parks Tacoma.

Elbe () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 39 at the 2020 census.

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (reporting mark MRSR) formerly the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum (MRRR), is a steam-powered heritage railroad operating in the U.S. state of Washington between Elbe and Mineral. The railroad travels on trackage that passes through thick forest just south of Mount Rainier. The depot, gift shop and ticket office are located in Elbe. The train travels to the Logging Museum exhibits located in Mineral. The MRRR runs its collection of vintage rail equipment over 7 miles (11 kilometers) of track, part of Tacoma Rail's Mountain Division.