How long is the trail?
Approximately 1 mile.
How difficult is it?
Highlights: paved pathways (and some unpaved, if you choose); beautiful flowers and abundant birds along the way; pathway loops around ponds; there is an entrance fee; dogs must stay on-leash; limited parking availability
About the garden: The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, spanning 9.5 acres near Reed College in Southeast Portland, is a somewhat "hidden gem" among Portland's many tourist gardens. The Rhododendron Garden doesn't have the notoriety of the Japanese Garden in Washington Park, nor that of the Lan Su Chinese Garden downtown, but it is gorgeous and peaceful in its own right, and absolutely worth the visit. Best of all, as far as we're concerned, is that dogs are allowed to roam the pathways of the Rhododendron Garden with you, provided they are kept on a leash. Dogs (other than service animals) are expressly forbidden in both the Japanese Garden and the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
We visited during the first weekend of April, when the Rhododendron Garden was hosting the annual Rhododendron and Daffodil Show and Sale, and therefore offering free admission. Normally, admission is $5/person (but free for children 10 and younger), except on Mondays, when admission is free for all! The Garden is open daily from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, except on Wednesdays, when it is only open from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm (we suggest you check the website for current hours, as these may change).
Getting there: A GPS will take you right to the parking lot on SE 28th Avenue, but be aware that this lot might fill up quickly if there is an event at the garden on the day of your visit. If that happens, there are additional free parking spaces available at Reed College, directly across the street from the garden.
Our experience: It was an overcast and drizzly day when we visited, but many rhododendrons, daffodils, and other flowers were already in bloom, adding vibrancy to pathways otherwise cloaked in damp, mossy greens. We wanted to keep our dogs as clean as possible because we were staying in an Airbnb property, so they donned their matching blue rain jackets and followed our guidance to step around muddy patches on the pathways.
The pathways through the gardens are both paved and unpaved, and many are adjacent to water (there are many little ponds and a large lake). Our pups LOVED walking by the water because there were abundant waterfowl to (try to) chase. At one point, Kiwi climbed onto a log stretching out into the lake to get closer to some geese, and when she turned around to come back to us, she lost her footing and slid into the water. Kiwi CAN swim, but she normally doesn't choose to, and it's been about a year since her last dip in a pond. She therefore had a brief moment of panic before remembering her paddling skills, but she was unharmed, and it was a comical moment for us! If your dogs enjoy swimming, they'll find easy access to the water here, so keep that in mind when you visit.
The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden offers a relaxing and pretty atmosphere to take a stroll with your pup. You'll find peace here, without exerting much physical effort, while your dog can happily focus his (or her) attention on the sights and sounds of numerous birds and squirrels. The paved trails also offer wheelchair accessibility.
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