Explore the Washington Park Arboretum with a guide January through November. Free Weekend Walks public tours highlight the Arboretum’s plant collections, seasonal beauty and history. Meet at the Graham Visitors Center January through November.See schedule No preregistration necessary.
Family walks with fun activities for kids
We now offer programs specially designed with kids and families in mind. Tours typically include hands-on activities, games, and exploration for families with kids ages 6-12. Fun themes include mushrooms, migratory birds, towering evergreen trees and the mysterious Park in the Dark night-time walks. Preregistration is required.
Register for school fieldtrips
All of our school fieldtrips are designed in accordance with Washington State Learning Standards and led by our experienced team of Garden Guides. We aim to foster meaningful learning experiences for a wide range of students by providing inquiry-based, hands-on programs that focus on a variety of topics. Click one of the program areas below to see a list of our current offerings.
The Washington Park Arboretum Education Department coordinates 60-90 minute tours of the Arboretum, led by trained guides, for groups of 5 or more. Choose a favorite collection or topic such as seasonal interest in the Arboretum, the ecology of Foster Island or native plants and ethnobotany.
To reserve a guided tour, please call the WPA Education Department at 206-543-8801 or send an email. Three weeks advance notice required. Fee: $6.00 per person ($30.00 minimum group fee).
Please choose from the following topics for a guided Arboretum tour.
Seasonal Tours
• Winter Seasonal: Visit the Joseph A. Witt Winter Garden to enjoy the fragrances of Honeysuckle and Witch Hazel, admire Paperbark Maples and watch for hummingbirds as you stroll through this amazing winter room in the forest. Other collections: Hollies, Camellias.
• Spring Seasonal: Take a walk along historical Azalea Way lined with flowering Cherries, Azaleas and Dogwoods. Loderi Valley features large-leaved Rhododendron trees sheltered by Magnolias. Other collections: Rhododendron Hybrid Garden , Magnolias, Crabapples.
• Summer Seasonal: Enjoy summer interest in the Arboretum. Explore the five eco-geographic regions of the new Pacific Connections Garden. See stunning Hydrangeas, Magnolias and Sorrel trees. Enjoy the fragrance of the Linden trees and warmth of the sun filtering through tall native trees.
• Fall Seasonal: Celebrate fall with a stroll through the beautiful Woodland Garden to view one of the largest collections of Japanese Maples in North America. Enjoy the vivid fall colors of Sour Gum, Buckeye, Witch Hazel and more. Autumn delights also include: Oak Collection, Walnut Family, Franklinia, and renowned Mountain Ash collection.
Year-Round Tours
• Foster Island Ecology: Visit the plants and wildlife that live at the Arboretum's shores. Take a walk to Foster and Marsh Islands where great blue herons, turtles and beavers reside. Along with a multitude of birds that call this area their home and learn about the unique plants that comprise this wetland habitat.
• Native Plants and Ethnobotany: Visit the Arboretum's Native Knoll and upland forest to learn native plant ID and Puget Coast Salish uses of native plants.
For a custom tour designed especially for your group, please contact WPA Education at 206-543-8801 or by email.The Garden Lovers' Guide describes even more public gardens in the area to visit.
Summer Kayak Tours
2013 Summer Kayak Tours at the Washington Park Arboretum
photo by Ethan Welty
Thanks to the generosity of the Agua Verde Paddle Club, we are pleased to offer guided kayak tours of our Foster Island Wetlands. Tours are approximately 90 minutes in length. No experience necessary. Double kayaks, safety equipment and a brief training session will be provided. Youth & children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. Call 206-543-8801 or email uwbgeduc@u.washington.edu. Complete information.
$30 per person (all proceeds go to support our School Fieldtrip Scholarship fund)
Download the audio tours to tour on your own
Enjoy tours at your own pace of the Pacific Connections Garden at Washington Park Arboretum and the demonstration gardens at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Hear from experts including garden designers and curation staff as they share stories about the significance of each garden to humans and the natural world.
Use the links below to download files and listen anytime on your personal MP3 player or smartphone at home or in the gardens.
To use the audio files on your personal MP3 player, right click on a file name and save to your computer. To listen here on the website, simply click the file names. You may need to download an audio player from the list below in order for the files to work. Realplayer Windows Media PlayerQuicktime Player
Enjoy tours at your own pace of the Pacific Connections Garden at Washington Park Arboretum and the demonstration gardens at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Hear from experts including garden designers and curation staff as they share stories about the significance of each garden to humans and the natural world. 
