A place like no other near Yakima in Washington
The Yakima Area Arboretum spans 46 acres of cultivated gardens, tree collections, and natural areas along the banks of the Yakima River in the heart of central Washington. Established in 1967, the arboretum showcases more than 1,000 species of native and exotic woody plants, making it one of the region’s most significant botanical collections and a treasured green space for the Yakima Valley community. The grounds serve as an urban refuge where visitors can explore themed gardens, wander shaded walking paths, and discover the botanical diversity that thrives in the valley’s sunny, semi-arid climate.
The land that now hosts the arboretum was originally wetlands along the Yakima River before being converted to chicken and vegetable farms in the early 20th century. The Yakima Metro District eventually acquired the property with a vision of creating a public green space, and in 1967 the arboretum was formally established with initial planting and development work that transformed the former agricultural land into a living museum of trees. Today the grounds feature an impressive array of themed gardens including a Japanese Garden, a Butterfly Garden, a Rose Garden, an Iris Garden, a Perennial Garden, and a Xeriscape Garden that demonstrates water-wise landscaping techniques suitable for the region.
The Jewett Interpretive Center serves as the arboretum’s hub, housing a visitor center, the Tree House Gift Shop, and educational displays that introduce guests to the site’s plant collections and ecological significance. The center hosts workshops, lectures, and community events throughout the year, and its herbarium preserves pressed plant specimens that document the botanical diversity of the Yakima Valley. The arboretum’s mission emphasizes environmental education and conservation, with programs designed to connect people of all ages with the natural world, from school field trips to adult gardening classes.
Visitors can explore the grounds through a self-guided tour that begins at the Jewett Interpretive Center, where maps are available from the Tree House Gift Shop. Each season transforms the landscape with new displays, from the blooming fruit trees of April to the golden foliage of autumn, ensuring there is always something fresh to discover. For those seeking a more active experience, the arboretum offers two orienteering courses that challenge visitors to navigate using compass bearings, with a half-mile beginner route and a longer one-mile course for those with more experience.
The Japanese Garden ranks among the arboretum’s most photographed features, with its carefully composed landscape of ornamental trees, stone elements, and a tranquil koi pond framed by arched bridges. Cherry blossoms and Japanese maples shift through their annual cycles of color and form, drawing visitors back throughout the seasons. The Butterfly Garden showcases nectar-rich flowering plants and host species that attract native butterflies, with continuous blooms from spring through fall that create a dynamic habitat for swallowtails, monarchs, and painted ladies among the flowers.
The Rose Garden bursts into color during the summer months with a curated collection of classic varieties that thrive in the Yakima Valley’s sunny climate. Fragrant hybrid teas, floribundas, and climbing roses fill the beds with blooms ranging from deep crimson to soft peach and pure white. The Xeriscape and dryland gardens showcase drought-tolerant species that flourish with minimal irrigation, offering practical inspiration for water-wise landscaping in central Washington’s arid climate through attractive arrangements of succulents, ornamental grasses, and native perennials.
The arboretum’s pathway network includes two mostly wheelchair-accessible five-foot-wide trails of compact gravel winding through the garden displays and natural areas. The grounds are predominantly flat and covered with turf grass, making them navigable for visitors of all mobility levels, and a golf cart is available by reservation at the Jewett Interpretive Center for seniors and individuals with physical disabilities. The Yakima Greenway passes directly through the arboretum grounds along the river corridor, connecting the gardens to a regional trail network that extends more than 20 miles through the Yakima Valley.
Birdwatching is especially rewarding in the arboretum’s riparian zone along the Yakima River, where cottonwoods and willows create habitat for songbirds, woodpeckers, and seasonal migrants. The combination of cultivated gardens, mature trees, and natural riverbank vegetation attracts a diverse avian community that rewards patient observation from the quiet pathways. The arboretum welcomes leashed dogs, making it a popular destination for pet owners seeking a scenic walking location with open lawns and shaded paths providing ample space for exercise and relaxation.
Spring transforms the arboretum into a canvas of blossoms as cherry trees, crabapples, and ornamental fruit trees burst into flower, with the iris garden reaching its peak during April and May. Summer brings the rose garden into full glory and peak butterfly activity, while the mature tree canopies offer welcome shade along the walking paths and the visitor center provides air-conditioned respite. Fall paints the grounds in rich tones of gold, orange, and red as deciduous trees transition toward winter dormancy, and specimen maples, oaks, and ash trees display their autumn colors against the evergreen backdrop. Winter reveals the arboretum in its quietest form, with the structure of bare branches defining the landscape and occasional snowfall transforming familiar scenes into serene tableaus.
The Jewett Interpretive Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm, while the arboretum grounds remain accessible seven days a week from dawn until dusk. Admission is free with donations welcome, and the arboretum is located at the intersection of Interstate 82 and Nob Hill Boulevard just minutes from downtown Yakima, making it an easy stop for travelers exploring the Yakima Valley. Private and group tours can be scheduled in advance, and the arboretum’s combination of botanical beauty, educational programming, and accessible outdoor recreation has made it one of central Washington’s most beloved community institutions.