Plan Your Visit

Hoyt Arboretum is free, open every day, and easy to fit into a morning or a whole day. Start at the Visitor Center at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd for a free map, then pick one of three marked loops of 30 minutes to 2 hours. Come in April for magnolias, in summer for shade under the conifers, and in October and November for the maples. Take MAX and the free shuttle to skip paid parking.

When to Go

Hoyt Arboretum Friends says there is something to see every month, and its three nationally accredited collections take turns in the spotlight:

• Spring: magnolia buds in March and full bloom in April, sometimes into May, along the Magnolia Trail.
• Summer: the conifer collection, for shade and the smell of the redwoods, spruces, pines and firs. The free shuttle runs until 7 p.m. from April to September.
• Fall: maple color from October, usually at its best in November. See fall colors.
• Winter: the arboretum stays open every day, and the Winter Garden is marked on the city map. The Visitor Center keeps its 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. hours.

How Much Time to Allow

• 30 minutes: the 0.5-mile Fir Trail loop from Stevens Pavilion.
• 1 hour: the 0.9-mile Spruce, Wildwood and Redwood loop to the Redwood Deck.
• 2 hours: the 1.25-mile south-side loop with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
• Half a day or more: the Wildwood Trail to Pittock Mansion, or the arboretum plus the World Forestry Center.

Getting There

• MAX Red or Blue Line to Washington Park station, then walk ½ mile on the Overlook Trail or take the free shuttle.
• Car: park beside the Visitor Center, $2.52 an hour from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. See parking.
• Summer express shuttle: in summer 2026 Portland Parks & Recreation ran a free Forest & Washington Park Express Shuttle from neighborhoods in East, North and Northeast Portland.

What's There

• Visitor Center (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.): free maps, snacks, cold drinks, gifts. See Visitor Center.
• Restrooms and water in the Visitor Center courtyard, about 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Picnic spots: Stevens Pavilion with 10 tables (reservation dates are limited during the Bristlecone Pine Trail project; call Portland Parks & Recreation at 503-823-2525) and an accessible picnic area off the Bristlecone Pine Trail, which is closed from October 27, 2026.
• Food: Hoyt Arboretum Friends lists snacks and cold drinks at the Visitor Center. Bring a picnic for a longer day.

With Kids

Hoyt Arboretum Friends runs preschool "Tree Time" walks, Family Forest Days, free family programs and Discovery Packs. The short Fir Trail loop and the paved Visitor Center Loop suit small legs.

Accessibility

Two paved trails start at the Visitor Center, where the wheelchair-accessible shuttle stops; the courtyard has an accessible restroom. See paved and accessible trails.

Learn Something

Free public tours run Sundays at 11 a.m. from April to October; Hike with Hoyt walks run June to October. See tours.

Before You Go

• Check the Hoyt Arboretum Friends Recent Updates page for trail and road closures. The Bristlecone Pine Trail is closed from October 27, 2026. See Bristlecone Pine Trail.
• Lock valuables away; car prowls happen in Washington Park.
• Read the rules: dogs on leash, bikes on roads only, no drones.