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    Portland, OR

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    Washington Park

    4.7 (198 reviews)
    Open • 5:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Washington Park Photos

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    Nithisha R.

    Washington park is a place in itself. It's beautiful, serene, and a must visit in Portland. For me, it's always been my cherry blossom season ritual. My favorite part has always been the bridge walk. It's an amazing feeling walking on an engineering marvel. There are a lot of paid and street parking available near the park. A must visit in Portland.

    Flower
    Carlo G.

    I loved this park! It was so convenient that there was a street car that can take you all the way from Downtown Portland into the park. Getting off at the park, my friend and I didn't know where to begin as the park was huge. Thankfully, there were staff there that were able to guide us and they even gave us a map and pointed us to the direction of the hikes. The hiking was great! It was amazing to see that different tree formations, nature, and overlooks. I loved seeing the tall redwood trees. The park also seemed well maintained and it was easy to navigate through it. I also like how there were markers scattered throughout the park, so you won't get lost. The park was huge and there's something for everyone! From the Japanese Gardens to the Pittock Mansion, I love how everything's connected. A must for sure for anyone visiting Portland.

    Elsa C.

    Washington Park in Portland is where the zoo, rose garden Japanese tea garden, Hoyt arborvitae, public tennis courts, public archery are all located. The great thing about Washington park is that they have a FREE trolley that will take you around the whole park. They seem to have lots of public parking spaces. They have a few snack bars and a couple of food trucks. They also have several public restrooms.

    Rhododendron in bloom
    Kim G.

    Located on the edge of the city, when you are at Washington Park you feel miles away! Other than the stunning city views from the International Rose Garden area, when you wander the other areas you are immersed in nature. As you walk the multitude of trails that meander through the forest you are surrounded in lush green and encounter incredible vistas along the way. With 400 hundred acres containing dozens of attractions and 100 miles of trails, you can visit over and over again. The entire park, including the trails and pathways, are well maintained, well marked and you can hike all year round. Some of the trails do get slippery in the rainy weather so be observant. There are trails for all levels, and lots of inclines so you definitely get your hear rate up! But Washington Park is more than just hiking trails. It's the home of the incredibly beautiful Japanese Garden where you can get lost in the peace, zen and tranquility. Evwryone snaps a pic of that iconic tree with the intricate twists and turns of it's branches, illuminated in shades of green in the springtime and ablaze in color in the fall, In the spring the huge rhododendron bushes and trees of every color line the pathways. Some of the blooms are twice the size of my head! In mid to late June the International Rose Garden is a flower lovers paradise with roses of every type, color and scent. It is truly an incredible sight to take in, so vibrant and fragrant. I often pack a picnic and head there in the evening to walk around, take photographers in the last hour of sunlight and then enjoy a meal. The amphitheater attracts picnickers and people who just want to sit and read or relax. And when there are concerts, it gets full. Definitely put attending a concert here on your bucket list! You can hike to the Hoyt Aboretum featuring over 2300 s pieces of trees and fauna. There is parking righ in front of the Aboretum, too. You can hike to or drive up to Pittock Mansion for more beautiful vistas and to take in the history. There are several memorials you can visit throughout the Park - the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial, and the Sacajawea Memorial - all free. There are tennis courts that are lit up at night, an area behind the courts towards the rose garden with lots of picnic tables in the shade and a restroom. A playground for the kids is located by the zoo. It's filled with swings and slides and a sand pit with picnic tables and a restroom nearby. There is even an archery range! And of course, the Oregon Zoo which deserves it own review. There are parking areas throughout but you can also take the Max train which is super easy. This is how I arrive when attending concerts at the Zoo. Public transportation that goes between many of the attractions making it super easy to get around. While the park is free to enter, some of the parking requires payment; you can download the app which is handy if you want to extend your time. Some areas, like the gravel lot near the archery range, is free. So read the signs! Same goes for attractions. The Japanese Garden has a fee and you need to reserve and buy tickets online. The Zoo also has a fee. Best to visit the website (explorewashingtonpark.org/explore/attractions) for specifics. Washington Park is great for families, groups, couples, singles and it's dog friendly! Go!

    Katie R.

    Beautiful park with a multitude of intertwining trails making it the perfect spot for hikers of all levels. It's a very easy spot to get a range of hikes in, from short 20-30 minute hike to a 2+ hour hike, you can make as little or as much as you want from the adventure. We arrived with the intention of doing one trail but after seeing the map, and just how many there were, we decided to switch between a few of them as they intersected. Though the trails were marked very well, we missed one of our intersections and ended up on a different trail. The signage was very helpful and often times, when something was very close, gave distance in feet instead of miles. We took our new trail to the redwood deck and felt like making it longer so continued up to Pittock mansion. The trails were forested but had a nice range of scenery. We came across a bunch of different trees - a lot of which were labeled, some flowing water, some bridges, overall a really pretty spot to disconnect in the center of the city. Even though the trails were labeled, I only noticed one map the entirety of the hike. We took a picture of it so we'd be able to follow along through the park as it is such a large space. We were here post storm so there were a lot of trees down that were blocking the path and we had to climb over, this seemed to be more the case as we got closer to Pittock.

    Robert S.

    Portland's Washington Park contains a number of tourist attractions, including the famed International Rose Test Garden, a zoo, and museums. I will review some of the individual attractions separately. A one-time wild land first purchased by the city in 1871, it is located to the west of the city center. We could had spent the entire day exploring the park's attractions, and another strolling through the unusual gardens. The well-known International Rose Test Garden is where new varieties of roses are grown. In the city's mild climate, roses continue to flower into autumn, though the annual Rose Festival is in May and June. The Portland Japanese Garden is another all-day escape in Washington Park. It's one of the largest outside Japan and is landscaped on the grounds of an old zoo. Other popular things to do in the park include visiting the zoo, the Portland Children's Museum, and Hoyt Arboretum. Just a beautiful lush space for relaxing !

    Rose Garden
    Joe S.

    If you're looking for a hike without going hiking, this might be the place to do it. We walked over from Salt and Straw (not the OG location across town) then up a steep hill to the park. It didn't seem far until we forgot we weren't in Florida anymore and there was a huge hill to climb. Luckily, we were just walking up the bare ski slopes behind the Overlook Hotel (aka Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood), so this wasn't terrible. This has the International Rose Test Garden, which we walked through, a pretty cool view of Mt. Hood, some tennis courts, and lots of other cool things to do. We only saw a small portion as it was later in the day and other things were closing. Not wanting to venture back too late, we caught an Uber back to the hotel in Downtown. We went on a whim and didn't realize all of the cool things here, like the Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum, Japanese Garden, and other cool things in the park. It's also close to Pittock Mansion and Witch's Castle which we almost went to for a hike. This side of town was pretty cool and I wish we would have gone earlier in the day.

    Rose garden
    Alice K.

    Washington Park has a fantastic rose garden. It is located by the Portland Japanese Garden.

    Lewis and Clark memorial column
    Jessica S.

    Even though the weather was working against us - it was November, so we knew not to expect sunshine and warmth - we did enjoy our wanderings through this area. We took advantage of the light rail to get from our hotel to an area close-ish to the park. The added walk was a bonus for us, and gave us a chance to explore neighborhoods we wouldn't normally have seen. The walk into the park was a bit more intense than we'd expected - our path took us up a steep set of stairs and further up a winding residential street before dropping us off close to one of the park's entrances - but again, we relished that extra bit of exercise and being outdoors. Once we got to the Lewis and Clark memorial we realized: we had no idea what to do next! The park was mostly deserted, it was drizzling and cold, and there was construction happening on the other side. We did a quick review of Google Maps and headed down the slope to the Sacajawea Statue (pausing so that I could swing my old bones on the swing set, naturally). From Sacajawea, we made our way to the Chiming Fountain. Finding that to be turned off and disused, we once more consulted the map and headed towards the Oregon Holocaust Memorial up the hill. This memorial, y'all. It's not at all what we set out to visit, but I'm so glad we found it. Powerful and moving, as a memorial should be, it's also a statement of humanity and the toll hatred can take on the world. We spent a good amount of time reading the panels (some of the etchings have been smoothed away by time and weather, but most of the words are still legible) before going back the way we came and hanging a right to head up towards the rose garden. The open-air amphitheater was a nice little surprise for us. Though it was muddy and a bit treacherous, we scampered down into the bowl and took some pictures before taking in the garden. We hadn't expected many flowers - winter, you know - but were pleased to see a few pops of color mixed in with the bushes and educational signs. Our last stop was supposed to be the Japanese Garden, but by the time we hiked our way up there, we realized we were famished, frozen and tired, so we tapped. It was a nice way to spend several hours and get some exercise and fresh air in.

    Mount St. Helens from a path in the arboretum.
    Jim W.

    To be clear, this review is for the park as a whole, while the constituent parts that we also visited within the park (the Hoyt Arboretum and the International Rose Test Garden) are reviewed separately. This is a sprawling park built into the hills on the northwest edge of Portland. It is easily accessed from downtown or via I-5. In addition to the attractions noted above, the park also has a Japanese Garden (which had a long line and an entrance fee of around $15 per person) as well as the Portland area zoo. We did not tour either of those places. They had a number of tennis courts near the gardens as well. The park also features at least one (probably more than one) children's playground and some memorials for some groups (veterans, etc.). The biggest issue we had with this spot was parking. We had read that it gets crowded on weekends, so we visited on a Monday afternoon. It seemed pretty crowded then too, honestly! We tried to park at the Rose Garden, but the nearest spot we could find was over 1/4 mile down the hill. You also pay to park here (either via an app or entering your license plate at a kiosk). So once we did park, we didn't want to move the car to see another area as we were not sure if we'd find another space and we'd have to pay again. The solution was to take the park shuttle bus, which runs every 20 or so minutes, I think (there are at least 2 buses making the loop). This was a great way to get from the Rose Garden to the Arboretum. Had we not already been tired after hiking there (plus prior hikes that day), it would probably have been an easy downhill 1+ mile walk back to our car. We instead rode the bus back. At least two areas of the park offer good views of mountains in the distance. If I returned here, I'd probably try to arrive in the morning in hopes of finding a better parking space.

    A map of the area in Braille ! So awesome!
    Denise S.

    Our niece and nephews loved this little play area at Washington Park! It's just down the way from the Rose Garden, tennis courts, and Japanese Garden so it's easy to find. The kiddos had some extra energy to work put before we went into the calm zen space of the Japanese Garden. They ran, and climbed, and swung, and ran some more. True to a park in PDX this play area had many, many bridges. There isn't an entry just for the play area - so let's hype up the whole area! The Zoo rocks! The Arboretum is stellar! The Rose Garden doesn't have much to see in Winter... But Spring - Fall is great! And the Japanese Garden is absolutely beautiful. Make sure to hop onto the free shuttle and work your way all around the Park! Sadly the water fountains are all turned off so pack extra bottles of water!

    Children's Playground
    Martina C.

    Cute little park and playground for kids! It's small for such a large area but pretty well kept and lovely for a stop after or prior to a Rose Garden walk!

    Washington Park Rose Garden

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Washington Park

    How can I plan an event here?

    Contact the park

    Is the playground open for children?

    This was from their website. COVID19 Update: Children's Playground is open with new social… 

    Does it cost money?

    the last time I was there it didn't!''

    Are the trails big enough to walk with a stroller?

    Mostly, yes. Just be aware, considerate of others coming, going.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Washington Park

    “The kiddos had some extra energy to work put before we went into the calm zen space of the Japanese Garden.”

    Mentioned in 67 reviews

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    Oregon Zoo - Beautiful paths...

    Oregon Zoo

    3.8(1k reviews)
    0.2 mi•Southwest Portland

    Went to Oregon Zoo and yeah... casually one of the oldest zoos in the country (opened in 1888... no…read morebig deal) just out here being stunning. It's sooo green, like full forest energy, and somehow none of the enclosures give that weird sad vibe... the animals actually look well taken care of. The red panda?? I was fully prepared to leave with a new personality trait after that... soooo cute it was almost too much. Also fun fact: they've been running a turtle conservation program for years where they "head start" baby northwestern pond turtles... basically raise them in a protected setup until they're big enough to not get eaten, then release them back into the wild. Over 1,500 turtles have been sent back out there, which is wild considering the species was almost gone at one point. Overall ... beautiful zoo, snacks everywhere, accidental education happened, had a great time.

    My friend and I stumbled upon the Oregon Zoo during one of their Adults Only 21+ nights, which…read morehappen on Wednesdays after the zoo normally closes. One thing to keep in mind: they absolutely check IDs, so make sure you have yours with you because they will not let you in without it. The zoo itself is cute and pretty easy to cover in a little over an hour, especially during the adults-only event. There are plenty of great photo opportunities and spots to practice photography throughout the zoo, and it was nice being able to walk around without it feeling too crowded. There were also several food stands open, although my friend and I weren't really interested in what was being offered. My only real critique was that quite a few of the animals weren't out by the time we arrived. But honestly, I can't be too mad about that since we were visiting after their normal operating hours. The animals are obviously on a routine too, and I'm sure some of them were ready to call it a night! Overall, I had a great time and would definitely visit again, especially during regular business hours so I can see more of the animals. Still, for my first visit, it was pretty nice experiencing the zoo kid-free... and I'm not talking about baby goats!

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    Oregon Zoo - Waterfalls...

    Waterfalls...

    Oregon Zoo - King of the hill!

    King of the hill!

    Oregon Zoo

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    Portland Japanese Garden - 3/14/2025 - I came in to see an amazing koto performance by Mitsuki Dazai.

    Portland Japanese Garden

    4.3(1.5k reviews)
    0.8 mi•Southwest Portland

    I already knew the Portland Japanese Garden was a must-see, and it definitely didn't disappoint!…read moreThis place is beautiful, peaceful, and full of gorgeous scenery. When you first enter, you make your way up a pretty steep hill surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery. Along the way, you cross a glass bridge and climb some stairs that take you past the Umami Café, Japanese Arts Learning Center, gift shop, and a few other buildings before you enter the actual garden. The garden opened to the public in 1967 and covers 12.5 acres, so there's plenty to explore. Be prepared for some winding paths, a few super narrow walkways, and some steep inclines and descents. Some of my favorite spots were the Sand and Stone Garden, Zigzag Bridge, koi pond, Moon Bridge, and Natural Garden. Everywhere you turn, there's something beautiful to see. I highly recommend you put the Japanese Garden on your 'must see' list. It's well worth the visit!

    Hubs & I love visiting Japanese Gardens whenever we get the chance. Portland Japanese Garden is…read morequite unique in that it can take advantage of its location within Washington Park and all its trees add to its beauty. I also love looking at bonsai trees, and the collection here did not disappoint. Loved the sand garden. The entire layout was a bit smaller than I imagined from the guide. There are a few steeper / hilly climbs, so I would recommend wearing good walking shoes. I wouldn't say this is the most handicap/wheelchair friendly, though they do have a shuttle that can take you up from the ticketing area to the main garden entrance...but inside the garden there are some spots that have a lot of stairs and some paths & walkways are quite narrow. They have their own designated parking lot that seems to fill up fast. We found parking near the Rose Garden and walked over. It's incredible to think that this garden is just a mile or so away from the city! They also have a tea house and a cute gift shop. A couple of restrooms available located throughout the garden.

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    Portland Japanese Garden - "kintsugi" Japanese restoration

    "kintsugi" Japanese restoration

    Portland Japanese Garden - "kintsugi" Japanese restoration

    "kintsugi" Japanese restoration

    Portland Japanese Garden - Thursday, August 20, 2026; Admission Center

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    Thursday, August 20, 2026; Admission Center

    The Grotto

    The Grotto

    4.6(460 reviews)
    7.4 mi•Northeast Portland, Madison - South

    Serene and beautiful area to pray, meditate and leave your worries…read more Parking & entrance is free to grotto. If you want to experience the garden and statues that is located on the cliff above, there is a $12 fee for entrance. Very helpful and cheerful young man inside the visitors center where you can learn more about the grotto and purchase candles to leave at the grotto alter. #BayArea (lol he was very knowledgeable about the bay )

    I really wish I had more time here. This was one of the very last places to visited before I had to…read morefly home. I got here late about 30mins before closing so I only walked around for a little. It's so Beautiful, peaceful, & calm here. The Grotto is a 62-acres sanctuary founded in 1924. There are so many beautifully carved statues. All the statues are made from marble, granite, bronze, wood, polyester resin and fiberglass. On their webpage, The Grotto's Vision is To forever be a place where the human spirit can seek peace and consolation. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother embraces and supports people of all cultures and all faiths who seek a place of prayer and meditation; The Grotto values the dignity of everyone. I'll definitely come back here the next time I'm in town so I can spend a bit more time exploring. There's a decent sized parking lot. It was empty as I got here close to closing but I'm sure it gets very busy here.

    Photos
    The Grotto - Rhiona @ The Grotto Chapel 2023

    Rhiona @ The Grotto Chapel 2023

    The Grotto - Christmas Festival of Lights 2024

    Christmas Festival of Lights 2024

    The Grotto

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    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry - 6/7/2024 - I was able to see the wonderful T Rex exhibit when it was blissfully pretty empty. What a neat exhibit with some real fossils too

    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

    3.8(673 reviews)
    2.3 mi•Central Eastside, Hosford-Abernethy

    OMSI is a museum that is full of natural sciences, physics, and innovation. Though very large with…read morea theater and planetarium, I'd heed the warnings from other Yelp reviews: this museum is for kids!! Not adults!! I truly didn't look at Yelp before buying tickets to the museum and a showing of the planetarium. My fiancé and I finished walking the museum in 30 minutes because it was full of children from camp. We weren't going to play or interact with the museums when children were there and it was sciences we already knew. I was saddened thinking it was a museum for adults. In addition, we absolutely bought the wrong tickets for the planetarium. We ended up at a KPOP Delon Hunters Laser Show. We didn't know what to expect. Whoever made the show did an exceptional job, but we wanted to see something that completely encompasses the entire planetarium. Ultimately, perfect for children. Not adults. The 4 stars is that it is still a great museum.... For children.

    I think for the value of the Family Membership, OMSI gets 5 stars. Hot tip, purchase the year-long…read moremembership during Black Friday when it's 20% off and stretch your dollar even further! My kids can spend the whole morning or afternoon here. There's something for everyone, from toddlers to high schoolers, adults and beyond. I always learn something new here too. Bonus, mention that you're a member in the gift shop and get 10% off your purchase.

    Photos
    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry - Physics Lab

    Physics Lab

    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry - 6/7/2024 - I was able to see the wonderful T Rex exhibit when it was blissfully pretty empty. What a neat exhibit with some real fossils too

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    6/7/2024 - I was able to see the wonderful T Rex exhibit when it was blissfully pretty empty. What a neat exhibit with some real fossils too

    The Belmont Goats - Enjoying a sunny afternoon

    The Belmont Goats

    4.8(27 reviews)
    6.6 mi•St. Johns, North Portland

    I sincerely hope the City of Roses will always have some iteration of our beloved Belmont Goats…read more This Portland institution is one of the most wholesome, wonderfully wacky, and community-minded attractions to bless our city. If you've never heard of the Belmont Goats, read on! Their story began years ago on a vacant lot on SE Belmont where the goats were originally brought in to clear brush. (Goats are really great at that - 50 goats can clear roughly one acre in 3-5 days) But what started as a practical land management solution, quickly bloomed into something much bigger. The public fell in love with these friendly goats! Over the years the goats have faced their fair share of struggles, but the public has banded together to ensure they always have a safe and reliable home. Because of this community support, the goats have done a fair bit of travel within the city. They left Belmont for several locations in Lents, then moved north to University Park, then made their way to a permanent home in St Johns at Pier Park. I just want to say "thank you" to all the volunteers who have contributed their time, donated money, and advocated for these sweet creatures over the years. The community that has been built around the Belmont Goats says a lot for Portlanders, and our shared appreciation for making our city a friendly and loving place. For the most up-to-date info on the goats, head to TheBelmontGoats.org where you'll find directions, hours, volunteer info, donation opportunities, etc. Pier Park is a fairly large complex, so be sure to use the exact address on North Iris Way. There is parking to the north of the goats, along the side of the street, as well as the community garden parking lot across the way.

    I randomly found this gem while looking for things to do in Portland. I found parking on the street…read moreright outside of the street that The Belmont Goats were on as per the website to not park on that specific street. It's free, but donations accepted to help out with the goats. The people running the place were friendly and informative. I was able to pet and brush the goats. The goats were cute, and I enjoyed getting to spend some time with them. :)

    Photos
    The Belmont Goats - Goat enclosure

    Goat enclosure

    The Belmont Goats - Do not feed the goats

    Do not feed the goats

    The Belmont Goats

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    International Rose Test Garden - 8/7/25. Oh Rose City, you have my heart.

    International Rose Test Garden

    4.7(926 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Southwest Portland

    As the oldest continuously operated rose test garden in the US, this stunning landmark perfectly…read morecaptures why Portland rightfully earned the title "City of Roses." It's a quintessential PNW experience that showcases an incredible blend of local history, horticulture, and scenic beauty. Admission to the garden is completely free, spanning over 4 acres and featuring more than 600 distinct rose varieties. Beyond the beautifully manicured rows of blooming roses, exploring the active testing grounds offers a glimpse into experimental roses being evaluated before potentially hitting commercial markets. It's a beautiful setting whether you're visiting for a photoshoot, a romantic date, or simply taking in a foundational aspect of Portland culture. Logistics Tip: Visiting on a weekday afternoon still draws massive crowds, making vehicle parking near the top lots difficult to secure. Plan to circle down towards the lower lots for open spots and pay via the Parking Kitty app.

    International Rose Test Garden Portland's Rose-Colored Calling Card…read more This place goes from A to Z and apparently they're working on the whole alphabet of roses! More than 10,000 rose bushes and over 610 varieties fill the International Rose Test Garden, including some seriously beautiful colors and varieties you probably didn't even know existed. And yes, you'll even find roses that are so dark they look almost black. It's absolutely gorgeous. I happened to visit when Portland was putting on its best hot-and-muggy summer impression, and the garden was packed with tourists. But honestly, once you're surrounded by all those roses, the heat and crowds become part of the experience. The garden has been around since 1917 and was originally created as a safe haven for European roses during World War I. Today, it's the oldest continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States, and new varieties are still tested here before they hit the market. The location is hard to beat, too. You're right in Washington Park, with the Portland Japanese Garden practically next door, the Oregon Zoo nearby, and plenty of trails and other attractions throughout the park. You can easily make a whole afternoon out of it without driving all over Portland. Best of all, the Rose Garden is free. If you're in Portland during the summer, stop and smell the roses literally. This is one of those places that reminds you why they call Portland the Rose City.

    Photos
    International Rose Test Garden - Purple roses

    Purple roses

    International Rose Test Garden
    International Rose Test Garden

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    Washington Park - parks - Updated October 2026

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