Let me tell you about a tale of how I got lost getting to the arboretum. After exploring Downtown Portland, I took the bus from downtown to Hoyt. I got off at the intended stop for the park and as I was walking up this steep street an elderly guy drives near me in an Audi. This guy is asking me where I'm trying to go. I tell him to Hoyt. Little did I know since Google didn't tell me, but the road to Hoyt was closed off due to a landslide. So I hitched a ride from this elderly guy. He was kind and could be trusted. He dropped me off at the park's entrance free of charge and didn't harm me in the process. Once inside the FREE attraction. I walked around viewing all the flora and fauna; admiring everything that I was seeing. As I'm walking around observing the arboretum map, a local stops me and gives me a recommendation on seeing the Pittock Mansion. She mentioned that I could see the skyline of the city. She said it'll only take me 15 minutes. I say, okay I like that and want to see. I finish looking at all the luscious greenery and passing through the Redwood section was very surreal. I kept thinking, how did they get all these tall trees here. I was route to the mansion. I passed through a high bridge that went over a street. That was challenging since I'm semi afraid of heights. The paths were very steep and whew got me to out of breath, but I eventually made it. The whole arboretum is huge. I managed to complete the park before walking to the mansion. Very beautiful garden collection. I can't wait to go back! read more

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I come here frequently to take tranquil walks among the majestic plants and trees. There are amazing trails that are well maintained...lots of birds and small animals like squirrels, etc. on the trails. I like that it's close to downtown, the zoo, forestry center, the max train station, and many other attractions. read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Sign - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Hoyt Arboretum is such a nice, serene area and is located right in the middle of Portland! My friends and I met up at the visitors center for a short hike. There were bathrooms here, a water station and small gift shop. Lots of signs everywhere so you knew where you were going. There was also a decent amount of parking for it being the middle of the afternoon on a Friday. We hiked around for an hour in the forest, which was beautiful, lush and green! We ended up at the top where Pittock Mansion was and tickets were available to take tours of it. There was also an incredible view of Portland and on a clear day you can see Mt. Hood. I wish I'd had more time here, highly recommend other people to come explore this place when in Portland! read more

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Hoyt arboretum is located in Washington park. The best part is its free entry and you just need to pay minimal amount for parking. Like the tagline of Hoyt arboretum its a world of trees for all seasons. You get redwoods, firs, conifers, broadleaf trees, seasonal trees which are all labelled with their history. If you want to just walk, stroll or hike, all the ways are paved and beautiful. You don't have to travel hours for a forest escape. One of the beautiful places to escape the city rush in the midst of city. read more

Washington Park. Beautiful Hoyt Arboretum. Beautiful place, Hoyt and Washington Park. Walked Overlook Trail plus.... Enjoyed the rose garden. The free Shuttle was GREAT! read more

The Hoyt Arboretum is my backyard. A five minute walk and I'm at the visitor center. Behind it is the Magnolia Trail. In front of it is the Wildwood trail that goes all the way up through Forest Park. There are trees from all over the world. Gorgeous, old, unique, magnificent trees. From the arboretum, you can get to the Oregon Zoo and the Forestry Center. You can also follow trails to the Pittock Mansion with the most amazing lookout over downtown Portland and easy access to the Japanese garden, as well as the International Rose Garden. All these wonderful attractions are inside Washington Park and can be reached by the MAX Train. Washington Park has a free shuttle that takes you on a beautiful tour of the homes and stops at all the important spots. I highly recommend doing it all! read more

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Amazing collection of trees in Washington Park, where we checked out the bamboo garden, monkey puzzle trees, fairy forest, ginkgo, and more, though we couldn't do it all, just didn't have enough time for 12 miles of exploring the thousands of tree species and varieties making up this seemingly neverending wondrous jungle. But that gives more incentive to return. The parking lot at the visitor center as well as a bit of parking available on the road made it easy to pay a visit on a Sunday afternoon. We didn't encounter a lot of people during our hike, which made our adventure more special, simply surrounded by nature, and of course lots of shade for comfort on a sunny day in August. read more

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On a recent trip to the Hoyt, I ended up on the Redwood Trail, which turned out to be an easy stroll just down the hill from the Arboretum visitor center. The shady path winds over several hills but is well-marked and in less than a mile ends at a lovely little wooden deck suspended amongst a grove of majestic redwoods. Appropriately enough, it's called the Redwood Observation Deck, and I found it a very cool spot to just sit and chill for awhile.., or to try and contort my neck upward to try and see the tops of these wood giants soaring hundreds of feet into the sky. You can continue from here on any number of other trails, all of which are clearly marked. A lot of these get pretty muddy after it rains, so at least wear shoes, people; I can't believe the number of flip-flops I saw. But hey, it's your E.R. visit... Parking can be tight, especially on weekends, but the park is usually a great way to get into nature easily and escape the urban noise of Portland. read more

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Located in the Washington Park. There's a pay-to-park parking lot at the Visitor Center, and it costs $2 an hour or $8 a day. Once you park, you cannot move and repark without repaying. There is a free shuttle to take visitors at the other stops in the park. There are also many trails for walking and seeing the different types of massive trees. read more

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This place is AMAZING! If you are visiting Portland, you can't miss the Arboretum! Miles of trails and easy to moderate hiking right outside the city! The staff and volunteers were very helpful and helped us pick a few paths so we could see everything we wanted in the limited time we had here. The redwoods here aren't as tall as what you'll find in California, but they are still a site to see! The fall colors were still gorgeous in early to mid November this year, and don't miss the volcano viewing area just up the hill from the visitor's center, on a clear day you can see three from here. The light rail also stops at the zoo, which is on the other side of the arboretum, making it easy and cheap to get here from just about anywhere in or around the city! read more

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The Redwood Observation Deck (Hoyt Arboretum) in Portland, Oregon, is unpopular short hike that you wouldn't know about. The journey to the deck is enchanting. The trail winds through lush greens and towering redwoods. Their immense trunks and lofty canopies are unmatched by anything I've ever seen before. The air is cool and crisp with the heavy scent of pine and earth. As you approach the observation deck, the trail opens up to a panoramic view. Definitely take this short hike if you have 30 minutes. read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Hoyt Arboretum is located inside of Washington Park. The Hoyt Arboretum is perfect to enjoy a nice quiet walk. They have several trails that are marked. We walked the 2 miles trail which had this cool tree house/overlook where all you could see was beautiful forest and trees. The trails are marked and some are narrow so be kind to each other when walking. Several of the trees are marked telling you what type of tree they are . Nice. Some of the plants are also marked. read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Have I mentioned I love trees? Well, I do! I hugged my first tree in the Muir Woods just outside of San Francisco, and I've been hugging trees ever since! This "Living Tree Museum" is spectacular and a light rail ride away from the inner city of Portland. Oh, and it's FREE! Yep, all this beauty- trees, trails, memorial garden and more to explore and enjoy. Don't miss this place if you head to Portland. Gorgeous! read more

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After having visited Portland a number of times, I was excited to discover a new outdoor hiking/nature spot. Visited Hoyt Arboretum in November where there was a mix of trees with beautiful colored leaves as well as trees with no leaves (depending on which tree it was). Hoyt Arboretum is located in Washington Park with a huge space to walk and explore. There is als plenty of parking nearby with multiple lots that are metered. The grounds are also well maintained and we didn't see trash anywhere. Walking trails also include dirt, grass, and gravel. As mentioned, the space is hge. We walked for about an hour and a half and it never seemed busy as we had plenty of time to ourselves. The vibrancy of the leaves was honestly incredible and not something I have at home, with every shade of red, orange, yellow, and green. Be on the lookout for the giant (maple?) tree located in the maple portion of the grounds! read more

Awesome place and a must go to! We were staying in downtown Portland near the Hawthorne Bridge and we decided to get to the Hoyt we'd hitch a ride. So glad we made that decision. It's really not a far walk but it's all uphill and to get to a place that makes you feel like you completly left the city that hike would of been just too much. We started our hike by popping into the visitor center then we were off right across the way to the Redwood observation deck. The hike around this area and subsequent hike back to our hotel were just simply amazing and well worth the downhill jaunt to do it all. Just look at the photos. Place is hands down worth visiting! read more

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I love hiking, walking and nature, so the Hoyt Arboretum is a perfect to relax and get my steps in. Admission is free. The arboretum has twelve miles of trails. The Wildwood Trail which leads north to Forest Park and the Marquam Trail which leads south to Marquam Nature Park meet in the arboretum; both trails are segments of the Portland area's 40-Mile Loop trail network. The visitor's center is located at the center of the park and contains a small nature center and research library where visitors can find information about the park and its trees; the visitor's center is also the starting point for periodic volunteer-guided tours. The research library has over 800 books ranging from technical floras to beginner gardening books, and is accessible to the public. read more

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Friendly and informative staff at the visitors center- we let him know what we were up for and how much time we had, and were given the perfect recommendations. The redwood trail was so cool, and we circled up to see the magnolias, which were just past peak bloom. Still a great trip, and nice, well-maintained trails! read more

A free, beautifully maintained park. Does it get any better than that? Plenty of parking options and very kid AND senior friendly with the abundance of trail options - I think over 12 miles of options. Redwoods, sequoias, and more; truly a gorgeous place for a walk or hike with friends and family. The Fall is an absolutely magical time to visit the arboretum, highly recommend. read more

Such a great day to explore Hoyt Arboretum! We had Roger as our tour guide and there was so much information to share with us, he did great! We learned a lot and so worth it! So much here with 189 acres. It's split into different sections, uniquely planned and placed for best growth. We did an hour tour and it was wonderful. My favorite was the Magnolia Section as they were in bloom- so pretty and you could smell them walking up. Parking is very limited in the two lots, and then parking on the street. Make sure to check for no/parking signs! It cost money if you are able to park in the lot. They also have a cute little welcome center that has a few gifts to buy and other cool things to look at. Also a little pavilion picnic area on the other side of the road. I definitely want to come back and explore the other part of the park! All the staff are super nice, and a lot of them are volunteers. This is up by the zoo area so it gets busy! read more

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There are many different trails to choose from and today I wanted to see my favorite trees so I went to the Redwood Trail and I saw lots of different types of cedars and furs and for trees but the highlight of the entire trail was the grove of redwoods and giant sequoia trees. It was a secret area with a lovely viewing deck where I could sit and be still. I walked back to my condo via the wild wood trail up to Pittock mansion where I could see an incredible view of Mount Hood today and then I walked down the Wildwood Trail to the Cumberland Trail and back home. read more

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If you're into trees. This place has them all. Like any city park there are paved and dirt roads. If you're into roaming, there are lots to go. If you're looking for something specific be wary of which maps you're using. I did it best and had a cute girlfriend to get us lost and unlost. read more

Always a great place for a short walk, a medium length hike or just a picnic. Every season offers a new atmosphere be it the cherry blossom time, fall foliage, sunny summers or lush green wet winter time. So there is no bad time to visit. Most trees are labeled which is great. There are lots of intersecting trails of various lengths and difficulties. Some trails are paved and accessible. Others are more rugged and can get wet in winter months. There are trail markers everywhere and lots of connecting trails. There are usually paid parking spots easily available right near the visitor center. Also, free street parking right outside that which can be more difficult to find. read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Helpful park maps throughout - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Oh, my kingdom for a tea room! Or a coffee cart. Spent an absolutely gorgeous November morning here at the arboretum attending a Pacific North West Conifer Walk hosted by Casey Clapp, an arborist and dendrologist who co-hosts a light-hearted podcast called "Completely Arbortrary." It was an easy walkabout on the trails being shown identifying characteristics of various cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces. Even encountered a wedding party on their way to exchange vows under the canopy of the woods. The paths are easy to navigate and the ground is soft and damp, so wear appropriate footwear. It can get cold in the shade, and warm in the sun, so... layers! Saw families with young children walking with dogs (must be on leash) and couples hiking, some people in our group of 20 were regular volunteers at the arboretum. We really enjoyed this two hour experience. I believe it is listed under "classes" on their website. Learned some new things, and enjoyed listening to someone who is passionate about his work while also humorous and engaging with the whole group. Great presenter! After two hours walkabout we stopped in at the Visitors Center which is basically a little gift shop of tree related shirts and trinkets. There is a cold cabinet of bottled drinks to purchase and candy bars. I think it would be a lucrative side-hustle for the arboretum -- who makes an appeal for donations prior to the walk -- if they got a coffee cart up an running and put a few tables and chairs out for people to sit after their hikes/walks. Overall, a lovely visit. I would go again. read more

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Wow! Not sure how I hadn't visited Hoyt Arboretum in all the many years I've lived in Portland, but I'm glad I finally did. Located up in Washington Park, these beautiful grounds are a great place to go for a walk and enjoy nature. Really beautiful as the leaves change in autumn! I love how each section has a theme - firs, hemlocks, ginkgoes, etc - so you can see different type of trees and how they interact with understory plants in their natural environment. The grounds are well-maintained and the paths are well-marked. Some paths are paved, some gravel, some grass, and there are decent slopes to go up and down. It did not feel too busy when I went, but even then parking was crazy - the lot was full and everyone was parking on the streets. So come ready to hunt for a spot before you get to relax in the park. read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Art sculpture - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Note that the arboretum is located within the larger Washington Park (as is the Portland Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden, and a few other things). So when we visited, we had parked at the rose garden and toured that first. Rather than drive (and pay for another new parking spot), we opted to take the shuttle bus within the park to the Hoyt Arboretum instead. It runs at less-than-30-minute intervals and was convenient. It appeared that they had sufficient parking at the arboretum, but I did not use it myself. There is a small visitors' center where you can pick up maps as a starting point. They have several different trails of varying lengths and can advise you hike durations. You can also choose to hike over a mile (downhill) to the rose garden if you like. We opted for an intermediate length hike that they said would take around an hour at a slow pace. It was slightly hilly in parts, but overall not that bad. We passed through redwood groves which were quite nice. We would have walked back to the rose garden, but had been walking all day and everyone agreed to take the bus back. If I returned here, I might try the longer (2-hour) hike for a change. There was no cost to enter, which was nice (other than parking fees). This is a nice place to spend part of a sunny day. read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Redwood grove. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate the community, Hoyt Arboretum encompasses 190 ridge-top acres and 12 miles of hiking trails. Home to 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents, Hoyt Arboretum is a place of beauty and serenity no matter the season - but fall is colorful. It was a splendid fall day with blue sky peaking as white clouds sifting slowing above the fall colors high lighting colorful leaves on the trees and covering the ground. An easy walk on brisk 52 degree day with smart phone in hand to snap photos. Leaves, leaves, leaves - here is my poetry of leaves when leaves turn color on Portlandia trees vibrant clusters of leaves paint the city parks, streets, neighboring hillsides and Willamette River trails come late September through October into November shades of yellow, red and brown astound us in nature's autumn artistry when leaves fall flirting with autumn winds leaves swept away never seen again while other leaves one by one flit and float to the ground at rest, where leaves belong --so why not leave leaves be! do not rake leaves, sweep leaves or blow leaves around let leaves be, leaves mulch away anyway! some leaves clutter, so beautifully, the streets and sidewalks when the razzmatazz of leaves dazzles us we rather love strolling or rolling on fat tires through leaves fascinated in the splendor of just leaves when leaves fill-up our passion buckets without a doubt buckets of Portlandia's cultural blessing --Rain--Rain--Rain--spills on us saturates the leaves on occasion plug-up city drains rain soaked leaves are yet another yarn to turn when rain soaked leaves on sidewalks are trampled and soggy street leaves smashed by cars soggy smashed leaves slosh around and turn to slush --I like to call it leaf smush! look out for, do not step in leaf smusssssssh! when all the leaves fall from the trees it is time to leave leaves behind time to hitch up to a flying cloud and float away like a leaf --somewhere as colorful as leaves, and warm, and sunny! read more

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Accessible, dog and family friendly. Free trolley makes frequent stops to the zoo, rose garden, archery area and memorial park. It was so handy after rolling my ankle on a trail. Parking is tough! Get lucky and pick up your garbage and pick up after your dog!! read more

Beautiful day with fantastically grown trees and vegetation. A nice hike to take it all in while you breathe in some freshly made oxygen to rejuvenate the body. Can't really ask for more. But if you do need to ask, the guides here are super friendly and can give you a plethora of new info to impress your friends and family. read more

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This is a wonderful place to walk! So lush & green. I wanted to see the Monkey Puzzle trees, saw one gorgeous one in Bellingham & fell in love with them. On the way to see them we saw such awesome giant Douglas Fir trees, really so stunning. I look forward to coming back here the next time we visit Portland. read more

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We started off by getting dropped off by our Lyft at the visitors center. There was a helpful person working who gave us a map and told us how to hike from the arboretum to the rose garden. It really wasn't a hike and much more of a nice, leisure walk. I was able to do it in converse shoes and jeans. The best part of this place is that it is so close to downtown Portland but you feel like you are transported away to a magical forest with tall, gorgeous trees. The second best part is that it was totally free and a great activity to do between all the food and drinking while on vacation. read more

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Truly a worthwhile arboretum. Extensive paths, notable topography changes, and majestic trees. Great for fall foliage enjoyment. Many trees labeled. Detailed trail markers help you navigate around. You could spend the entire day in this extensive park. read more

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The arboretum has so much to teach us if we take the time to look around. If you're not really in the mood to read and learn, just go for a hike and enjoy the outdoors. There are many different trails with themes to help you decide what you'd like to see. It's really cool to learn more about the trees native to Portland and those imported from else where. I especially love the redwoods, even if they're much smaller than the costal giants farther south. I highly recommend the preschool program if you have a little one. My daughter and I have learned so much from attending a few times. read more

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A living museum ! Although I have visited the Hoyt Arboretum multiple times over the years , but never really got down to writing this review . Free to enter just like the Rose Garden but a parking fee of $2 per hour or $8 for the entire day for parking in the designated spots .I have often seen people park on the side of the roads which I am not sure is right or not considering safety is a big issue these days and break-ins are very common . The park has an extensive collection of trees, with friendly volunteers and countless paths and trails to explore. It is also dog-friendly . The visitor center is equipped with restrooms, a small gift shop, and printed maps. The trails are well-marked with names, directional arrows, and mileages, providing plenty to explore for a few hours or even a whole day. The mountain viewpoint, offers a stunning vista. Finally, don't miss the Bamboo garden, which is a must-see attraction within the park. read more

The arboretum is wonderful. Brought my guests here during their weekend visit to town and we hiked along a couple of the trails to see the Redwood Deck, which was a beautiful spot. The trails are well maintained and there were many volunteers out greetings folks and even giving stickers to our kids. I'll definitely come back. read more

Absolutely lovely way to enjoy Portland in all its glory, esp the Redwood area. It's a short nature walk for people with little kiddos who can't do long strenuous hikes. There is so much different vegetation to see. It was personally a breathtaking mini hike despite the cold, rain, and leftover snow. Def recommend Hoyt Arboretum. read more

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10.29.2021 Very well kept grounds with so many beautiful trees, a lovely variety of colors and amazing views!! My family and I ventured up there to take our annual family photos and it was such a blast. My kids love playing with leaves so the timing was perfect even after our crazy wind storm in PDX. Admission is free but you do have to pay for parking. read more

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It was pouring rain and such an amazing experience. The women at the arboretum visitor center was so nice and loved that we had hiked to the center. She went through the different hike options. We loved the viewpoint and magnolia trails. With the rain and our son with us we had to think about the short legs and muddy trails. We will be coming back for sure, since from the view point on a clear day you can see my st Helen's. . Wonderful visit and absolutely beautiful!!! read more

Hoyt Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Washington Park is filled with so many amazing gems, and Hoyt Arboretum is no exception. Defined as the "museum of living trees", the Hoyt Arboretum features over 2,300 species of trees varying from 6 different continents. It has over 12 miles of hiking trails and also features many beautiful flowers and the Oregon Vietnam Veteran's Living Memorial Grove. You could literally spend hours here exploring. I've never been here during the summer or fall, but it's always green in the winter and spring. There are several different entrances into the Arboretum. I entered through the section where the Vietnam Memorial is located. The Wildwood Trail is located right next to the memorial, and it will take you throughout the park and connect you to the other gardens. If coming during the spring, the trails can be quite muddy. Currently, they are renovating the Wildwood trail and some parts of the trail are still closed. The majority of the paths are paved, but some parts are not. It's truly a scenic trail. The trees range in size but many of them are strikingly tall. I was surprised at the variety of flowers and plants that I found here. Most of the plants and trees aren't labeled, but can you imagine trying to create labels for over 2,300 plant species? It would be nice to read about each one, but in reality, it would take too much time to read and produce them. I can totally understand why they aren't labeled. In any event, the stroll through the forest is still wonderful. I didn't have much time to actually hike throughout the entire Arboretum, but even the short amount of time that I spent exposed me to so much. There are easy to read trail maps located near the start of each trail. The park is huge though, and it's easy to get lost if you don't know where you're going. Everything starts to look similar as you go deeper into the park, so just make sure that you can retrace your steps. Parking is easy and is paid parking only (unless you come after hours). Public transit also passes through the park as well. If you're planning a visit to Washington Park, I would definitely make some time to stop at Hoyt Arboretum. It's fun, it's beautiful, and it's FREE, so no excuses! read more

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WOOHOO for urban hikes! :) For anyone who's visiting Portland for the day or so, highly recommend stopping by here for a quick hike. At the last minute, my friend and I decided to stop by here for a quick trek in the woods and overall, it was a pretty relaxing experience. From the city, catching an Uber to here wasn't too pricey. For those who decide to uber, your drop off point will be at the visitor center. Visitor Center = Super Useful Place! :) If you're looking to get a map or suggestions on how to tackle this huge park, take some time and talk to the friendly and helpful staff here. In addition, there are free organized tours if you like hiking around with a guide. Trails: In an hour, my friend and I managed to do a mini hike to see the a couple parts of the park and overall, it was awesome. Park itself was very well maintained, not too much trash, and overall, there wasn't a huge crowd on a sunny Saturday. Highly recommend everyone to see the beautiful magnolia section of the park. When we visited (April 2019), the magnolias are definitely in full bloom and is worth the visit. Shoes: Regular shoes should be fine since the trails are fairly smooth and not too rocky. If it's raining or something, would recommend shoes with traction since the dirt/mud can get slippery. Oiiiii, definitely coming back here again soon! read more

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Amazing! Huge arboretum near downtown Portland. Easily accessible via public transportation. So many trails through here! There are many other attractions hear here like the rose garden and the Japanese garden so make sure you allocate enough time if you want to do all the things here! read more

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