We wanted to visit this place really bad and I take full responsibility for not researching it better but once we got there we found out it costs $25 per person to go in, the pictures I saw of the grounds seem to indicate it's probably worth every penny but we ended up turning around and driving to a nearby park with amazing views for free. Maybe I'm naive, I'm definitely on a budget but I think nature should be free or at least more affordable for all to enjoy, the very nice employee let us know that they do have some days when entry is free or pay what you can but it's some special day like the 3rd Thursday of the month but only if there's a full moon and raining. read more

Beautiful walk in the Reserve. We took about hr and half to complete the walking tour. Lots of photos opportunities. We were able to see some deer, be outdoors with nature and it felt really peaceful. read more

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It was interesting learning about the history of the Bloedel reserve and I loved the serene lake nearby. The reserve itself isn't very large but nice to check out. I liked that they had informational handouts in the building. Restrooms are also available. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous property with a huge garden and house to walk around. Went here our first time in Bainbridge and it was absolutely worth it. The groundskeeper let us in early before our ticket to park and wait and was so kind. The volunteers around were also so helpful in educating us about the property. Just overall so lovely and stunning! read more

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Beautiful reserve with a nice loop trail for walking. It traverses various ecosystems---open meadows, pine forests, marshes and manicured gardens. Love the Bloedel Residence with a gorgeous natural pond in front of it. We even saw a wild otter! The Japanese Tea pavilion is our favorite, with a calming and serene Japanese garden next to it. The moss garden is spectacular. All the staff we encountered are are friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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Bloedel Reserve is such a beautiful and lovely place to visit and is not far from the Bainbridge ferry terminal. My family really enjoyed visiting here. The trail was a very nice and beautiful walk. It takes you through many different environments including lakes and marshes and farm buildings and a huge home as well. There is also a very cool visitors center at the front gate. The flowers are beautiful as is the nature and the grass. The trail is about 2 miles long and takes about two hours and is very well maintained. We even saw a little rabbit and a mother goose and her ducklings! The staff were all very friendly towards us and the volunteers were happy to answer questions. The bathroom facilities are crowded and there can be a line. Weekends are very busy and often sell out quickly. Overall, it was a wonderful time and we plan on visiting again. I highly recommend the Bloedel reserve on your visit to Bainbridge Island! A must see! read more

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When visiting Bainbridge island, I recommend skipping the touristy downtown area and spending a few hours at the Bloedel Reserve. Hike through the forest garden and you'll see wildflowers, forest, paths, trails, bridges, ponds, creeks, and more. You can also visit the historical house where some of the original decor and furniture are still in place. The entire reserve is keep in pristine condition, and the paths are gentle enough for seniors and toddlers. It is well worth the price of admission. read more

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This was a little bit of a hidden gem for us. We didn't do a ton of research before getting to the island. We had a bit of time to kill before we had to catch the next ferry. We stumbled upon this spot and it was great. We are both lovers of nature and enjoyed all of the views that Bloedel had to offer. I will say I wish I had better walking shoes. The terrain was simple to walk on, but it was a good 2 miles. After having walked a ton in Seattle and having tired feet walking these trails would have been much easier with proper shoes. The reserve was quiet, calm and serene and definitely breathtaking ! So much to see and to look at and admiring the beauty was perfect for a quick stop. We didn't get to see the entire reserve, but I would say we got about 75% through. Definitely recommend and was a good change of scenery after being in downtown Seattle. read more

Bloedel Reserve - Bench I sat on admiring the view before reaching the residence! - Parks Near Me - Bainbridge Island, Washington

The Bloedel Reserve is among the best and most beautiful arboretums in the United States. The moss garden is said to be the best in North America. As Prentice Bloedel was color blind, his gardens are about greens and textures. They are not as much about flowers and color, but there is a lovely pollinator garden and there are many rhododendrons in the forested areas. And everywhere you look there are lovely surprises. My last visit I saw a number of little cyclamens and many lovely hydrangeas. The trails to the south of the center road/driveway (now for pedestrians) are more on the wild side and offer a good number of eco systems from northwest fir forest to bogs with bird marshes, meadows, and a fern ravine in the mix. North of the road is more a mixture of wild and planned with beautiful ponds, a lovely waterfall, a birch garden, a maple garden, a Japanese garden, a moss garden, a reflecting pool, and a camellia garden. And if architecture is your passion, in the middle of it all there is a lovely home in a French classical style. It was designed in the 1920's by J. Lister Homes and built by the Collins family of Seattle. It was expanded in the 1950's after the property was purchased by Prentice and Virginia Bloedel. Next to the Japanese garden is the former Bloedel guest house designed in Japanese style with elements of Native American longhouse. I enjoy sitting there and listening for the shishi-odoshi. If you go and want to see it all, I suggesting planning two to three hours. The most comprehensive trail is about 2 miles in length and you'll want to stop along the way to sit and enjoy. And at the end is a small but lovely gift shop. Enjoy! read more

This a beautiful area to spend the day, their annual passes are very fairly priced. Even when they're busier, the reserve does not really feel too crowded. read more

Beautiful grounds and trees, with well-maintained winding trails throughout. It was a bitter cold the day we visited, so we were probably only there for a little over an hour. The place was certainly enjoyable, still yet $22 a ticket felt a little pricey during winter. Cost aside, we had fun wandering and bird watching, even caught glimpse of some adorable deer and 2 bald eagles. The entry process was a bit strange. You're required to await an employee at the closed gate who approaches from the building. They come to your car and essentially check you in (after purchasing timed tickets online). In our case she didn't seem to have the info on her clipboard that we were visitors and not members, so she ended up going back and forth again to grab us a map. Sure seems like there'd be a much simpler way to process entry. Regardless, it was a lovely place. I can imagine each season offers something new. read more

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Bloedel Reserve offers a very nice and relaxing walk in nature. You forget that a large metropolitan, Seattle, is a short distance away across the bay. read more

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Stunning! Bloedel Reserve is for anyone who loves green space and gardens. The reserve has much to offer with its massive open space of 150 acres to wander and walk through. Bloedel Reserve requires timed tickets in order to visit. You don't need to get them so far in advance as they had plenty of slots to pick from when I purchased tickets a few days before. Tickets are a little over $20 for non-members. When you arrive to the reserve, there is an employee who checks you in at the gate to make sure your name is on the list for the timed entry. Once you start your visit from the gift store and bathrooms, there is a trail with a map that will take you all around. However, even with a map, you can easily get lost as there is no signage throughout the space of where you're going. Especially because the reserve is so large, it may take you on pathways that you may not have planned to have gone on. But that's just the additional fun part of your time here! Eventually, you will go in a loop, ending your visit back at the gift shop and parking lot. Bloedel reminded me of an English garden, with ponds throughout the space and an estate that was the residence of the Bloedel Family. You can visit the first floor of the house where you can learn more about the family's history and garden, and a staff member is there to answer questions. I liked all of the different trails throughout the reserve and the Japanese garden area was beautiful. It will take you about a couple hours to see the whole space, taking your time to see the greenery. I'm glad I finally visited this gem on Bainbridge Island. read more

Bloedel Reserve - Residence - Parks Near Me - Bainbridge Island, Washington

Beautiful gardens. Great place to walk around and enjoy the outdoors. Have been there during the Holidays and toured the house, high school choir entertained. Nice gift shop. read more

Highly recommended! I took 4 young seniors and they had a great time and enjoyed a beautiful leisure walk around the reserve. It's only about a 2 mile trail around the entire property but there's plenty to take in so plan to spend around 2 hours. The park is kept in pristine condition and not crowded as tickets are required for entry. $23 for adults, $15 for seniors - online tickets only. It was a pretty perfect day - we started off by ferrying into BB Island (with the car), stopped at Rockaway Beach to take in the beautiful views of the water, drove around to see the Halls Hill Labyrinth, Bloedel Reserve, dinner downtown and then ferry again back to Seattle. read more

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We toured the first week of April 2022 with a Viator small tour group We walked the entire trail and then toured the mansion as well It was a great relaxing hike through the grounds and the history of the family was interesting too read more

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I'm not necessarily a huge hiking outdoorsy person, by native PNW standards. Love a beach and a nice day in the sun but I would rather see some art than go to a park. Context to say, if you visit Bainbridge Island this is a MUST DO. Easy walk. Relatively flat 2 miles of just stunning sensory experience for the spring and summer. The most memorable parts were the wild flower grassland--the whole place smelled like honey, I wish they sold it! + the Japanese house and mansion. Would return. Great way to spend 3 hours or so on a day trip then go have dinner or get on the water. Very memorable vs just going shopping or something. Worth your time. read more

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It was a very peaceful way to spend the day out of Seattle, in a situation I could nothing to do but hike my way out of. I went years ago and was totally energized and at peace. Hiking anywhere around the Sound is always rewarding but this was a great opportunity to see some history and a more manicured side. I went during the summer some years ago and was thrilled. There are other hiking trails throughout the Sound for those looking for a hike. A good place to take the family when they're visiting, for sure :) read more

Spectacular looking garden!. Words alone cannot describe the beauty of this place and I only wish I was able to visit this place during the fall when the leaves started turning colors! The garden grounds are immaculately taken care of and it was a very peaceful stroll walking the loop to see everything the garden has to offer. I can definitely see why people would want to get married at this garden. I am so glad I decided last minute to purchase tickets and come here to witness the beautiful garden first hand! read more

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One of the most perfect gardens that we've ever been to. The path looping throughout is stunning and calming at every turn. And there are so many different areas that are all tied together seamlessly. You don't even notice you are transitioning to a new area until a stunning scene is upon you. We love it here and come often. read more

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I really think this place is overrated, unfortunately. Reading that it was a top 10 botanical garden in the United States, I had high hopes. It is not on par with Butchart Gardens in Victoria or Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami. It's a nice walk through the forest, but that's the extent of it. Some nice views, but at $25 admission, I expected more. read more

I like being outside. While we were visiting Bainbridge Island for the day, we thought to reserve some tickets and come here to visit. It's a very nice reserve, very clean, nicely landscaped. I think the loop is like 2 miles long or so. We really enjoyed the scenery, wasn't crowded on the trail hence why they space out your reserved arrival times. Birds, trees, flowers, plants, water features, gardens, views, reflecting pools and much more to see. Bloedel Reserve needs for you to reserve your tickets online and select a time when you plan to visit. I think it was like $20 per adult. If you show up early like we did, they just tell you to go park and hang out in your car until it's near your reserved time. It's not a public park so don't bring your BBQ grills with you, no boom-boxes, no food, no picnicking or setting up your hammocks. Great place to visit when in the area, glad we came by! Here's some photos....... read more

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It has been 14 years since my last visit. Had taken a day trip this past Saturday as a belated birthday celebration with a friend. Bought tickets $20 a piece ahead of time with covid restrictions you need to select a particular time slot. It's about a 15 minute drive from the downtown Bainbridge Island. Some restrictions were lifted masks were not required walking outside, but in restrooms and inside common areas like the gift shop. The residence area is still closed due to restrictions. Just as beautiful as I remember on my first visit. Areas were well marked with arrows and as one way or two way for you to be carefully well distanced. Weather was perfect for us not too not, there are lots of benches along the trail for people who need to rest a bit. Beautiful grounds, well cared for our entry time was 3:15 believe the last entry is at 3:45. It takes about 1 1/2 to 2 depending how fast you want to walk through. It was a nice time not too crowded. Hopefully it doesn't take me another 14 years to go again it was nice yo go in spring lots of flowers in bloom. read more

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Damn, is this mansion something else. The house itself is stunning, and so are the other 150 acres of the Bloedel family's land. There's a freaking Japanese cottage + garden, multiple ponds, a reflection pool, a meadow, a forest, etc on their property. You could easily spend hours exploring the place. With this comes many cute picnic spots, but no food/drinks allowed (excluding water), hence -1 star. I mean, I get it, that's what keeps the reserve squeaky clean. Will come here again in the fall, when the greenery turns into fall foliage :) read more

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Visited Bloedel Reserve for the first time in the summer of 2020. To maintain social distancing and protect patrons during the COVID pandemic, they have been selling timed entrance tickets with limited capacity. While wandering the trails, we kept our masks on when passing others and most people did the same. I was very thankful for this when someone sneezed not far away. The reserve grounds are beautiful and is really nice for photographers. So much green! We were fortunate to go on a sunny day with clear skies. It made the foliage that much more vibrant. The photos I took on this day have made it into my permanent collection of video call backgrounds. :-) There is plenty of parking onsite that is included in the price of admission. Restrooms are available and centrally located. A map was available and we were easily able to walk the full grounds within about an hour or so. There are so many pretty and serene spaces that you may want to plan some time to relax in a few of them along the way. read more

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Not worth the money and the staff is rude. Very overpriced. The bathroom situation is HORRIBLE for women who wish to maintain their dignity. Since this place refuses to designate male and female bathrooms, and have designated them as "genderless," the line is super long and it's impossible to use them if there are a lot of people around. Both bathrooms have multiple stalls but only one person can use it at a time if you don't want a man/woman or group of kids walking in on you. I walked in on a man peeing because he didn't lock the door. WAS AWFUL. Better to just find a tree and pee outside. read more

tl;dr - beautiful scenery, wear comfortable walking shoes, reservation required during COVID This place is really beautiful. I visited with my wife during a short getaway to Bainbridge Island. The variety of different sceneries and well maintained trails makes this very accessible and interesting for everyone. The trail is approximately 2 miles and is estimated to take 1 to 2 hours on average. We ended spending almost 3 hours exploring every area and sitting to take in the tranquil scenes. The trails were either paved or bark/gravel and was extremely well maintained. It was really easy to walk through but I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes. My favorite spots in the reserve are the water view behind the Residence, the Japanese guest house, and the Moss Garden. During COVID, you need to purchase a timed ticket which gives you a time slot of when to enter the reserve. Most of the paths are one way and indoor spaces are currently closed. read more

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An absolutely magical experience. Walking around this property is like a dream and something I have to do when I'm in Seattle/Bainbridge Island. read more

What a fun space on a nice day. Even grown-ups can enjoy this beautiful spot on Bainbridge Is. read more

Bloedel Reserve - Court yard - Parks Near Me - Bainbridge Island, Washington

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Wow!! How had I not heard of this beautiful 'Top 10 gardens in America' ?!? Yes, anyone In horticulture has heard of the spectacular Butchart gardens, just to the north in Vancouver. A neighbor from So-Cal, let me in on it, one that even my Gardening co-worker's who have lived here all their lives hadn't mentioned it. Well, they all know now! Lol, cause I wouldn't stop talking about my visit to these beautiful, very simplistic well designed and planned gardens, not that there's anything wrong with the big 'Disney splash' gardens, but it's nice just to be in simple gardens with amazing views, mansion, and history. Love seeing a place that the family had a vision and made it happen and continues to grow and thrive. So many gardens to see! Be sure when you make your reservations, that you give yourself a minimum of 3 hours to enjoy the gardens and views, just sitting on one of the benches on the north side, listening to the waves on the shore, and seeing a couple of harbor seals swimming by, could take way longer than you think, so relaxing. Difficult to pick a favorite part of the garden... the moss garden? Reflection pond? Japanese garden.. just to name a few. Well maintained and just beautiful. Looking forward to returning in later spring, this time the blossoms were just teasing, just beginning to open. It was cool to see the early blooming yellow swamp lanterns, some in full bloom, some just emerging out of the soil. Only one downside was that the pollinator meadow and bird marsh was closed, hopefully they'll start posting on their website, if certain areas are closed, so you can plan accordingly. Definitely wanting to add those gardens in next time. Another must see, when on Bainbridge Island. The next few months should be spectacular with the rhododendrons and camellias blooming. Just make sure to make a reservation, no walk ins, one way they keep the experience enjoyable, not overcrowded. So? What are you waiting for? Get online and book your walk in amazingly beautiful landscape. SYOY! read more

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I just paid to go on a well manicured, mostly flat hike. The the two stars is for the fact that there were 1. no mosquitoes despite the several swampy ponds and 2. the beautiful Japanese Garden that was designed by Kubota. That part made it sort of worth the $50 for 3 people. But then again, you can go to the actual Kubota Garden for a better, much cheaper experience. It was very overly exclusive with the prepaid ticket requirement - no walk-in's allowed! No playing, no pets, just gawking at trees that you can look at for free at any arboretum. What was weird was the overall feeling that you're basically paying to walk around some old, rich timber baron's estate. The only thing keeping it afloat are the curious public who were suckered into paying for tickets because they googled "what to do at Bainbridge Island" and this was in the list. Safe to say, I'll probably never go back again. read more

What better way to spend Spring Equinox than a trip to the gorgeous Bloedel Reserve? We were happily surprised to see so much in bloom, so early into Spring. It's a place of beauty, even when the trees are still getting their leaves. It's a must see if you're in the area. You'll definitely leave with a sense of calm serenity. The cost for two adults and one teen (student) was $54 and absolutely worth it. We can't wait for our next walkabout. read more

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Beautiful. Quaint. Relaxing. I know there are reviews saying visiting Bloedel Reserve is a waste of money and time, but I think those folks maybe just don't know how to appreciate nature and all she has to offer. The fall colors were out, and it was an amazing experience walking around and soaking everything in. We didn't even do the whole entire route/trail, but we thoroughly enjoyed what we saw. You have to purchase timed tickets in advance, but we decided last minute to visit and couldn't get service to purchase them on our phones. The staff was so friendly, and they let us park and then use the wifi in the main guest area to purchase our tickets. It was $20 per adult. I would definitely go again! read more

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Gorgeous gardens! Paths were easy and likely could be navigated in most places in a wheelchair. Looking forward to returning in other seasons. Photos say it best. read more

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This place is amazing! We met the owner/caretaker who is so friendly and dedicated! It is beautiful beyond words! We loved the Japanese Garden and ponds-lovely! The trees and plants are gorgeous! It is so meticulously cared for and designed. It's peaceful and relaxing. read more

I have been here twice and have enjoyed both visits very much. I appreciate the reservation requirement; as a result, it has never felt overly crowded. The grounds are just beautiful and offer a variety of plant areas. On my recent visit, the mansion was open and it was so nice to view that end of the property and learn more about the founders. The Japanese Garden is just stunning. While expensive, the gift shop has some lovely offerings and should not be missed. I wish there were more plant markers for non-experts like myself but overall, a wonderful place to visit. Every time of the year offers something different. I look forward to returning in Spring. read more

Bloedel Reserve - Parks Near Me - Bainbridge Island, Washington

Came across this in a blog and decided to visit it. It was serene and beautiful 3 mile walk and observed coyote. The reserve is peaceful and very scenic having pretty much flavor of everything: small waterfall, Japanese garden, walkway for physically-able, reflection lake, forests, etc. Its everything of nature but in smaller scale so good place to walk around. The Mansion also gives a brief history of Bloedel family slowly build this place. I was there during Christmas so the winter and Xmas decoration was also amazing. read more

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This was a such a gem to find on our Seattle trip. You will need to get to Bainbridge Island but very worth it. The staff was friendly and informative. Stunning views at every turn read more

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Bloedel Reserve is one of my favorite spots in the Puget Sound. The gardens set amidst some old growth trees is just amazing. Also with timed entries the place is never crowded and with one way trails, it's a great escape during the COVID period. The Japanese garden is rated as one of the best in the US and it does not disappoint. The moss garden is very unique - never knew moss could be displayed in such a way. Sadly, the house is closed during COVID, but walking around the building, one can still get a feel for the home as well as peek inside. Going back to the timed entries, do make a reservation as space is limited. Combined with a ferry ride, this is one of my favorite day trips from Seattle Definitely worth a visit! read more

Bloedel Reserve - Beautiful transition to fall. - Parks Near Me - Bainbridge Island, Washington

I was able to return to see the evolution of the gardens. It's like returning to the wooded trails of childhood, familiar, but different. The rhododendron garden is expanded, and there is a new vista platform by the lake. They have put a lot of work into accessibility - the few stairs are marked on the map. The trails are bark, so that is a limit that goes with rustic nature. Individuals in wheel chairs can see some of the gardens by the paved service roads including the one from the entry, by the lake, to the manor. Ask the staff about accessibility specifics. The moss garden has more trees. They have more garden benches with quiet views on the trails. They have a new to me parking lot. One of the most striking things to me was noticing the huge variety of ground covers for shade they have cultivated in the primordial woodland soils. I was pleased in a way to see one of my own weeds, a native buttercup, thriving. They have allowed a native shrub, I believe snowberry, to grow to 4-5 feet. I spent more time this visit peering into the Japanese guest house. It is a period masterpiece of midcentury modern, with its smart fireplace arrayed by couches in period fabric that fold into beds. The space includes Nakashima originals, of course. The Japanese garden is a jewel, with mature pines and maples pruned to perfection, and well placed boulders. The garden has an amazing network of streams and ponds. Some shady spots had a water bug community making ripples balanced on their water feet. I'm looking forward on future visits studying how their water courses work. In COVID, they have made many trails one way. People were masked when they passed closely. The manor house, with its historic library is closed. By the stairs down into the rhododendron garden, they had a spot to ask questions. The staffer had a huge binder for reference and a vase of fresh flowers to make their day beautiful. There are just a few restroom opportunities, the wheelchair accessible porto by the manor was clean and large, accompanied by a filled soap and water hand washing station with paper towels. The gardens have a reasonable yearly membership, it encourages visiting often. They have member hours, usually the first and last of the day, which have a lesser crowd, especially fair season weekends. The staff is stellar as usual. I'm amazed the core gardening staff is so compact for tending to the wild perfection of one of the great botanical gardens in America. read more