Cancel

Open app

Search

John A Finch Arboretum

4.5 (23 reviews)

John A Finch Arboretum Photos

Recommended Reviews - John A Finch Arboretum

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

John B.

In the era of lock downs and isolation, finding a park that is usually not jam-packed with people is delightful. This is one of those places where you can relax and rejuvenate as the cars whizz by on the freeway. Actually that is the reason for only four stars. You do have to put up with traffic noise. The diverse plants displayed here are a testament to the dedicated groundskeepers and master gardeners who thoughtfully tend this magical oasis of greenery. Visit, enjoy, refresh and go on with your life.

Gayl B.

What a great park! There are several beds of lilacs including several of the Spokane lilac! The only reason why this park received a four star rating is that it sadly runs along I-90 and the noise from the cars is very disturbing to anyone trying to enjoy the serenity of what should be a peaceful park. I visited on Memorial Day 2020 (yes, during the Coronavirus crisis), and there were only a few people in the park with me, so social distancing was easy. The main building, however, was locked, but there was an outhouse (just in case). Thankfully I didn't need to use it! The road up to Rhododendron Alley was closed off, and since my own Rhodies had already dropped their blooms, I didn't venture up there. It might be worth seeing in early May, though. If you like lilacs, definitely come here in the later part of May to take in all the different lilacs. I believe that the Spokane Lilac Society was instrumental in getting so many different ones planted here.

Natalie D.

John A Finch Arboretum is a lovely park with lots of trees and a creek that runs through it.  It's a good place to head for if you want to take a break from the day-to-day hustle and bustle. There are a number of different trails here where you can enjoy either walking or running; some of the trails are actually used periodically for cross-country running meets. You'll find a lot of different types fauna and flora here; many of the latter are actually labeled with descriptions, so this is a good place to come if you're interested in getting ideas for your home landscaping projects :-)

Craig B.

The Finch Arboretum is a beautifully maintained tree-centric arboretum. Arboretums, according to google, are gardens that are exclusively or largely composed of trees. I had to look it up to confirm that arboretums should not also contain exotic bushes or flowers. The Finch Arboretum had trees, and a lot of them of different shapes and sizes. One main problem I had was that it was hard to determine which tree was which. We walked around with a map of the tree names and I would point them out to my wife but I was never more than 60% sure that I was pointing at the correct grouping of trees. If I really wanted to be sure, I had to link up my google map location with the location on the paper map. Checking google maps every 5 minutes does not heighten the joy you get from walking through an arboretum so I stopped doing that and reverted to being 60% sure I was looking at a specific type of maple, pine, or cherry. I believe there were some small metal name tags on the tree limbs, but I would've had to walk through the tall grass to investigate. We passed on that. Another downside of the Finch Arboretum is that it is located next to a busy road. It's hard to fully appreciate the unique tree varieties immaculately positioned when a truck is racing down I-90. My wife really enjoyed the arboretum and it certainly is a place to check out for tree lovers but I wouldn't return if I was planning on sitting down to read a book. One side effect, and benefit of this is that if you go on a weekday evening, you will have the place to yourself.

Crab apple!

Beautiful place. Really well kept. Wonderful trees, most are labeled. Beautiful crab apples in bloom. Lots of green space. It's a city park, so yes you hear the freeway. No dogs allowed, which bothers some people. But we saw Turkeys, marmots, birds, etc .

Wasil K.

Breathtakingly beautiful during the fall .. If you are looking out for the best of the fall, anywhere .. this is the place to be. With all the possible colors of spectrum at one place the park has become nothing but a photographer's dream. A lot of pre wedding, post wedding, family get together shoots and all keep on happening .. especially when the background becomes so very pretty with the fall. A stream runs through the park making it even more beautiful. The touch and see nature trail is a lovely way with signs and all .. so that everyone could enjoy. The only drawback that it is just next to the highway .. the noises from which might be distracting for a few peeps. All in all .. a great place for those lazy weekend where you want to hang out with friends or family and a picnic basket .. or spend a quiet walk, hand in hand, with your significant other .. or want a great DP for social media .. or may be even taking a nap all alone.

One of the mini little rivers running through the Arboretum!

See all

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ivy Q.
0
46
178

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of John B.
469
817
1311

6 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0
Photo of Gayl B.
471
916
1518

6 years ago

Helpful 14
Thanks 0
Love this 13
Oh no 0
Photo of Natalie D.
72
31
122

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ted S.
0
11
4

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Just discovered this place! Perfect for a few hours of walking around and exploring. Nice plate for a date night stroll too:)

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Josi H.
1576
779
3349

7 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

17 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Great hidden jewel. After a little bit, you don't notice the traffic noise.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

I'm completely biased as I live near the park. It's a wonderful place in all seasons.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Lon R.
0
64
2

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - John A Finch Arboretum

Review Highlights - John A Finch Arboretum

This is one of those places where you can relax and rejuvenate as the cars whizz by on the freeway.

Mentioned in 4 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

People searched for Parks 601 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Manito Park and Botanical Gardens - The last signs of life

Manito Park and Botanical Gardens

4.8(198 reviews)
2.5 mi

Absolutely stunning - must do if you are in the area. I could not believe this was a free park with…read moreso much to see and explore. Lucky residents and visitors! They have lots of areas to explore including a massive rose garden, manicured and sculpted gardens, green house, and Japanese gardens. Plan to spend at least 2 hours here to take it all in. Parking - plenty of free parking in lots surrounding the gardens.

This is a gorgeous park and botanical garden bustling with people and butterflies and life!…read moreWe stopped here to have some lunch under the covered picnic area and were surrounded by green grass and the sound of children playing at the nearby playground. There was a cool breeze through the canopies on a very warm day and garbage cans to dispose of our leftovers. When we stumbled upon the gorgeous flower gardens, I could not believe it. There were multiple gardeners working outside of the conservatory and although it was closed, I can't imagine that there was anything more beautiful inside than what we saw outside. We were able to sit over at the benches and rally enjoy the fountain and manicured flowers. There was a large, veryrude family that did come through who wanted to scream at their kids and then try to take photographs in front of the flowers like a happy family. Then allow their smaller children to stomp through the flowers and scream loudly while they stared at their phones. And there were of course at least two young ladies posing for "the gram" that picked flowers and made obnoxious gestures in ridiculously skimpy clothes... I guess those types of things can't be helped these days and they are no reflection on the garden itself, just be prepared for your peace to be interrupted. We also made a quick stop at the Rose garden which I did not find to be quite as beautiful but smelled lovely... There were just too many bugs and it was there were just too many bugs and it was far too warm to spend much time there. If I lived closer to this park, I would come everyday to listen to the sound of the fountain and appreciate the beauty of the topiaries and flowers and I would recommend a stop here for anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature.

Photos
Manito Park and Botanical Gardens - 5/22/26

5/22/26

Manito Park and Botanical Gardens
Manito Park and Botanical Gardens - 5/22/26

See all

5/22/26

Mission Park - Mission Park toys

Mission Park

5.0(2 reviews)
3.7 mi

My sister had her Pride wedding here and it was beyond amazing! The gazebo was big enough to hold…read morethe entire crew. I didn't get a chance to see the rest of the park due to the fact that I was her Maid of Honor and it was drizzling outside. I loved the fact that the gazebo was so large. The wedding was fantastic and the reception immediately after went off without a hitch. On my next visit I hope to see more of the park!

Mission Park is a 13 acre park very conveniently located walking distance from Gonzaga University…read moreand the heart of the Logan neighborhood. If you find yourself on campus and looking for a more kid friendly area (aka slides and splash pads) I would recommend a walk on down to the park! It has a large bank of tennis courts (with evening play available due to the lights!). It also has a pool! Many times when I've been here there is some kind of swimming competition occurring in the pool. Last time I stopped by they had some new fitness play equipment for adults. I have an interest in unique playground equipment so I thought this was pretty cool considering the retirement facility located right on the edge of the park. You can grab picnic supplies at the nearby Safeway or takeout from the nearby Thai restaurant and enjoy the beautiful summer weather in Spokane. I frequently see people picnicking here. One really important part of Mission Park that I must mention is the memorial to Otto Zehm. He was a mentally-ill man killed by the Spokane police in 2006. The simple memorial was placed in 2012 as part of a settlement with the city of Spokane. As a community it is important to remember the legacy of Otto Zehm and I think a visit to this memorial is an important visit for any local or tourist.

Photos
Mission Park
Mission Park
Mission Park - Mission Park

See all

Mission Park

John A Finch Arboretum - parks - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...