Washington Park Arboretum

Washington Park Arboretum is a 230-acre botanical garden in Seattle along Lake Washington featuring collections of oaks, maples, camellias, and numerous other plant species. The grounds offer maintained pathways and distinct garden areas that can be explored year-round.

The land was originally used as a logging site by Puget Mill Company and later converted into a public park in 1920. The arboretum itself was established in 1934 and has grown into a major botanical collection since then.

The Graham Visitors Center serves as a community learning space where guided tours and environmental education programs happen regularly. The University of Washington actively uses the grounds for research and teaching purposes.

The arboretum is open daily from sunrise to sunset with no entrance fee, and restroom facilities are located throughout the grounds. Comfortable walking shoes are helpful since the grounds cover a large area and can involve significant walking distances.

The grounds contain abandoned elevated road structures known as ghost ramps, remnants of an unfinished expressway project that was planned through the park. These concrete structures now stand as unexpected industrial features within the natural landscape.

Location: Seattle

Inception: 1934

Part of: University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Phone: +12065438800

Email: uwbg@uw.edu

Website: https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/washington-park-arboretum

GPS coordinates: 47.63700,-122.29600

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:45