Washington Park Arboretum
Arboretum · Washington
The 230-acre arboretum on Lake Washington runs vivid from mid-October into November, with Japanese maples along Azalea Way, the Pacific Connections gardens, and canoe-level color from the Foster Island waterside trail.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 18–October 22
Color builds from October 5 · mostly bare by November 9
Sampled at Washington Park Arboretum’s own coordinates and elevation (22 m) rather than a regional average.
34 weather points cover Washington, and the model shifts their answer 2 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com, king5.com and 1 other source. This year's weather has the peak running 5 days later than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Washington Park Arboretum
The color window runs about 24 days, holding until around October 29. Against Washington overall, that is 4 days later.
This one is within Seattle itself, which makes it an easy half day.
Washington Park Arboretum on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Washington, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Washington Park Arboretum peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 18–October 22 (best estimate October 20). Color starts around October 5 and is mostly bare by November 9.
- How do I get to Washington Park Arboretum?
- The closest city is Seattle, about 3 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Washington's fall lineup.
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