The 412-Acre Oregon Park That Takes Weeks To Explore
From waterfall hikes to secluded beaches, Oregon is an explorer’s paradise. While we love to hop in the car and drive to a quiet spot in the wilderness, you don’t always have to go far from the hustle and bustle of the city to find incredible outdoor spaces. Here’s a park right in Oregon’s largest city that is so large that it will take you weeks to explore all of it!


With 15 miles of hiking trails, an arboretum, rose garden, Japanese garden, children's museum, zoo, forestry center, and countless public spaces, you'll never get bored here.
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Take a stroll along 12 miles of tree-lined trails, and feast your eyes on 2,000 species of trees and plants. Make sure to check out the visitor center to learn more about the plants and animals who live here. It's free to visit! The grounds are open every day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitor Center hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.



The International Rose Test Garden is free to visit, and is open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stop by for a free tour every day at 1 p.m., from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

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Hours vary, depending on the season. There is an admission fee to enter the Japanese gardens.

There are more than 2,000 animals at the zoo, and if you haven't been recently, you've got to visit. The zoo has been undergoing a $125 million renovation since 2008, adding new enclosures, habitats, and upgrades to transform more than 40 percent of the property. The zoo is open every day of the year, except Christmas Day.

It's hard to pass up the 1.5 million twinkling lights at the zoo from November 21st through January 5th. Click here to read our recent feature article about Zoo Lights.

Kids will love this shady playground with slides, swings, and a huge sandbox. It's also ADA-accessible, so every child can play.

Bring your bow — the archery range is free! It's a beautiful place to practice, and it's open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
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The museum is full of hands-on fun, from the Treehouse Adventure to the Maker Studio. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is just $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for kids.
Visit the Explore Washington Park website to get more details about parking, traveling through the park, and other details.
What’s your favorite attraction at Washington Park? We’d love to see your comments!
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4033 Southwest Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221