Rhododendron Garden

The rhododendron garden at Point Defiance is an excellent place to take a short walk and take in the sights and scents of the woods before maybe heading down to Owen beach which is a short walk down the hill from the garden. If you’re waiting for the rose & dahlia garden, which is also at Point Defiance, to come in to bloom, try stopping hear to see the rhodos. There are several different types and species of rhododendrons that are here and most are marked. I wouldn’t say there are as many as there are at the Weyerhauser garden in Federal Way though.
The trail can be muddy and uneven in points but it’s easily accessible by almost all and could be even decent for kids. There is hardly any parking on the side of the road though so you may need to park elsewhere and just find your way back to the garden to take your walk. There is also a little pavilion within the gardens for if you are having a get-​together or picnic and I’m not sure if it’s available for rent or you just bring your stuff and get down to business. There are several different trails within the garden which are marked and you can find a map or several maps within the whole Point Defiance park to guide you where you want to be. It’s an excellent and free way to spend an after noon or a way to get a short walk in prior to getting involved in any of the other activities Point Defiance has to offer.