Washington Park Arboretum
Washington Park Arboretum
4.5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Use a canoe, or your feet, to explore the 230 acres and 4,000 species of trees, vines, shrubs and plants at this arboretum.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: Broadway / Capitol Hill
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- YanJing JiangShanghai, China25 contributionsA uncomplete but touched visitI visited Washington Park Arboretum first time. Though I go to the wrong side of the Arboretum and not found the right garden I wanted to see, but I found the friendly local person to help me find out the direction. I was touched. There were also many plants I didn’t know. Hope I will see it again in some days in the future.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 8 March 2024
- JourneystanWinnipeg, Canada1,151 contributionsJapanese Garden is the primary attractionWe chose to visit the state park instead of the Olympic Sculpture Park because the state park has a nice Japanese Garden and offers many walking trails for us on a nice Sunday afternoon. The Japanese Garden is the flagship feature and main attraction overall. Even though it requires admission fee it is still worth a visit. After the Japanese Garden we enjoyed walking on some of the trails. We took the public transit from our hotel to the park as the transportation network in Seattle is very convenient.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 May 2024
- LisaHudson, Colorado5 contributionsBest thing to do in Seattle!This was the best thing to see in Seattle! Forget the over-hyped, expensive stuff. Bring water and lunch, spend the whole day seeing all the gorgeous gardens. We walked 6 hours and still didn’t see it all. Truly beautiful! Free, and we had a romantic picnic lunch with lovely views.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
728 reviews
Excellent
468
Very good
209
Average
39
Poor
6
Terrible
7
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a.nishi
Seattle, WA77 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
This park is also close to downtown Seattle and operated by the University of Washington and the City of Seattle. Each area has its own theme and a Japanese garden. Admission to the Japanese garden is charged except in the off-season. There are other slightly larger parks in the United States that make Japanese gardens, but I think this one is of fairly high quality.
There are also artworks hanging from the trees, and a leisurely walk will soothe you. It takes about an hour and a half.
There are also artworks hanging from the trees, and a leisurely walk will soothe you. It takes about an hour and a half.
Automatically translated
Written 31 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheLeongOhana
United States7,575 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We tried to find parking along the route to the Donald G Graham Visitor Center but there were just too many cars. Also given there was only one lane in each direction when someone did find a spot it took awhile to complete the whole parking exercise.
I highly recommend visiting on the weekday or go earlier in the morning if it’s a weekend. Sunday lunchtime was just ridiculous so we left as soon as we could turnaround.
I highly recommend visiting on the weekday or go earlier in the morning if it’s a weekend. Sunday lunchtime was just ridiculous so we left as soon as we could turnaround.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FiftyFifty5050
Montgomery, UK910 contributions
Apr 2023
A lovely green space - or a pink and white blossom profusion when we were there - in the city, a great way to walk around and feel spacious and relaxed.
We visited on a mid week morning in April, everywhere was very quiet and we managed to park just down from the visitor centre, where we picked up a map and visited the toilets.
Even if you are not horticulturally minded, as we aren't, one can't fail to appreciate the beauty of this place and the wide variety of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Paths were even and easy to walk, an electric buggy or wheelchair could manage.
Plus one of those good tourist attractions, since it is free to enter.
We visited on a mid week morning in April, everywhere was very quiet and we managed to park just down from the visitor centre, where we picked up a map and visited the toilets.
Even if you are not horticulturally minded, as we aren't, one can't fail to appreciate the beauty of this place and the wide variety of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Paths were even and easy to walk, an electric buggy or wheelchair could manage.
Plus one of those good tourist attractions, since it is free to enter.
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronan C
7 contributions
Feb 2020
I found the arboretum to be impeccably maintained. The variety of trees from around the world was interesting, although some more signage giving info about individual species would be a nice addition. If you have good weather and a few hours to spend in nature, this is the best place to spend it without leaving the city.
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Journeystan
Winnipeg, Canada1,151 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We chose to visit the state park instead of the Olympic Sculpture Park because the state park has a nice Japanese Garden and offers many walking trails for us on a nice Sunday afternoon. The Japanese Garden is the flagship feature and main attraction overall. Even though it requires admission fee it is still worth a visit. After the Japanese Garden we enjoyed walking on some of the trails. We took the public transit from our hotel to the park as the transportation network in Seattle is very convenient.
Written 20 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mikeyvb
Seattle, WA15 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
This is a rather large Park with many types of trees. Spring starts early in Seattle some of the trees are beginning to flower at the end of February. Mid March too late April is an incredibly colorful flowering time.
Written 26 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinaNtravel
San Jose, CA2,121 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We were short on time and so only walked part of the loop trail. It was beautiful and peaceful. We tried to go to the Japanese garden, but the last person admitted was at 6:15 and we came at 6:30. It closes at 7:00. There are a lot of beautiful pictures on the website, but we didn’t see those views. Maybe it was the wrong time of year or maybe we just didn’t make it to that part of the park. But all in all, if you need a break from the city this is a nice place for a walk. Also there are few playgrounds close by if you have young kids.
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iloveromance
Lynnwood, WA451 contributions
Sept 2021
My husband would have been 60 today so I spent the day at the Arboretum remembering him. The Arboretum had been on my list for years and I'm glad I finally went. It's a beautiful place and I'm sure that I only saw a small part of it. I plan on coming back often b/c I'm hoping that more fall colors will emerge soon.
My only real "complaint" is that when I arrived this morning at 930, the visitor's center wasn't open. Despite the map that was posted on a pole in front of the center, I had no idea how to find the trails. There were no directional signs that I could see and I spent the first few minutes of my visit walking around in circles trying to find my way.
Someone finally pointed me toward the entrance gate, but even then I wasn't sure where the one mile loop was. I ended up walking on one of the smaller trails, but felt really disoriented. Eventually I figured out where the one mile trail was (I think) but I was on a time limit, and again I saw no signs to direct me.
I passed the same people at least three times which told me that the trail wasn't very long at all. However, the whole experience was rather confusing and when time became a major issue (I had to catch a scheduled ride), I worried that I wouldn't make it back in time. Seems that I become very turned around while on the "big" trail and ended up having to walk much rather than I intended. I finally found a very small sign that told me that I had .28 miles left before I got back to the visitor's center.
I hate to complain b/c this place is beautiful, even though I was here past the bloom "season". It was the perfect place to spend a few hours and I hope that future visits won't be as confusing and that I will be able to get help finding my way since there wasn't anyone around today.
My only real "complaint" is that when I arrived this morning at 930, the visitor's center wasn't open. Despite the map that was posted on a pole in front of the center, I had no idea how to find the trails. There were no directional signs that I could see and I spent the first few minutes of my visit walking around in circles trying to find my way.
Someone finally pointed me toward the entrance gate, but even then I wasn't sure where the one mile loop was. I ended up walking on one of the smaller trails, but felt really disoriented. Eventually I figured out where the one mile trail was (I think) but I was on a time limit, and again I saw no signs to direct me.
I passed the same people at least three times which told me that the trail wasn't very long at all. However, the whole experience was rather confusing and when time became a major issue (I had to catch a scheduled ride), I worried that I wouldn't make it back in time. Seems that I become very turned around while on the "big" trail and ended up having to walk much rather than I intended. I finally found a very small sign that told me that I had .28 miles left before I got back to the visitor's center.
I hate to complain b/c this place is beautiful, even though I was here past the bloom "season". It was the perfect place to spend a few hours and I hope that future visits won't be as confusing and that I will be able to get help finding my way since there wasn't anyone around today.
Written 24 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris H
Gladstone, MO344 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
The Arboretum was a wonderful surprise. We went on a Sunday morning. Plants were flowering and it was buzzing with locals. People were biking, running and just wandering. It was a relaxing time with nature without a long drive from downtown Seattle.
Written 19 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Galliwampus
Juneau, AK68 contributions
May 2021
Make this stroll as short or long as you want it. Start with the Japanese Gardens (one way loop during COVID) and enjoy the koi ponds. Then, if you want more, hook up to the Arboretum trails, which you can walk until you are done.
Written 16 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Have fall colors started? Which area is better within the park to watch the colors?
Written 15 October 2022
Tina Lieske M
Woodinville, Washington
How is the parking situation, especially on a weekend?
Written 2 June 2019
During the spring, summer, and fall it can get very busy. If you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon or early evening you should be able to find parking. There are several parking lots located in different spots around the arboretum. Weekends this time of year are the busiest.
Written 2 June 2019
Leash only on trails, not allowed in certain areas like the Japanese Garden
Written 12 October 2018
yes i take my dog walking there on a leash and with poop bags... its very relaxing and beautiful in the fall.
Written 16 November 2018
Is it a good place to take younger children 5-10 years old? I am thinking of riding bikes. Is it hilly or flat?
Written 20 August 2018
Yes, it's a little small and narrow for biking. Mostly walking. It's nice out north toward the water.
Written 4 July 2019
There's a very limited amount of parking inside the park. The largest lot is at the Japanese Tea Garden. There's another one over by the info center. The last "big" one is just north of the info center but may be closed off due to construction in the area (6/2016). A couple of small (5-20 vehicles) lots are just off the main road, one near the overpass and another closer to the tea garden. Otherwise you can find parking near the south entrance on E. Madison or in the residential areas just to the west. Arriving early makes finding a spot easier.
Written 2 June 2016
How much time would it take to walk around the park?
Written 19 April 2016
In agreement with the other postings about the length of time. As a photographer I would likely take at least 2 hours stopping to take pictures. If you are planning on seeing the Japanese Garden, then add more time in. I actually have gone to the Japanese Garden separately from the arboretum. If you get the opportunity to do the tea ceremony, I highly recommend it. It is very much a part of my culture and it reminds us to slow down.
Written 19 April 2016
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