Washington Park

Washington Park is a 410-acre urban park on hillside terrain west of downtown Portland containing gardens, museums, and recreational facilities spread across different elevations. The layout includes multiple themed areas and pathways that guide visitors through the varied landscape.

Portland acquired the original forested land for this park in 1871 and gradually transformed the wilderness into designed gardens and recreational spaces. By the early 1900s, the wild terrain had been developed into the structured parkland that exists today.

The International Rose Test Garden holds thousands of rose varieties from around the world and draws people who come to see how different types bloom in one place. The garden shows what roses are being developed and tested for gardens elsewhere.

The park is accessible by MAX light rail, buses, and a free shuttle, with paid parking available. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the terrain is hilly with considerable distances between different areas.

The World Forestry Center Discovery Museum features a petrified tree stump from ancient times and explains how wood can turn to stone over millions of years. This unusual display draws visitors curious about forest history and geological transformation.