Washington Park Arboretum Loop

Washington Park Arboretum Loop is an urban garden walk in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, at 2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle, WA 98112. The arboretum is managed with the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and is reached by Metro buses serving Madison St and Montlake, or by car with free street and lot parking, so no permit is required. A combination of Azalea Way, the Arboretum Loop Trail and the Waterfront Trail boardwalk totals about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) and takes roughly one and a half to two hours. Elevation change is minimal, and the paths are well marked, so the walk is easy and suited to first-time walkers, families and casual visitors. Surfaces include wide gravel and grass paths on Azalea Way, packed dirt on the loop, and wooden boardwalk over the wetlands of Union Bay on the Waterfront Trail. Shade comes from mature collections of maples, oaks, magnolias and conifers, while the boardwalk and some lawns are open to sun and wind. Key landmarks include Azalea Way lined with flowering cherries and azaleas, the Japanese Garden nearby which has its own admission, the Foster Island area, and wetland views toward Lake Washington with frequent birdlife such as herons, turtles and ducks. Restrooms are available at the Graham Visitors Center, and drinking water is generally available there in season, but there are no huts or backcountry shelters. Visitors can turn around at any point since the paths branch and rejoin. April brings peak blossoms and autumn brings strong color. Dogs on leash are allowed on most paths, and weekends in spring are busy. Paths are ordinary urban surfaces, so strollers and many wheelchairs manage the main routes.