Woodland Park Rose Garden: Phinney Ridge Guide and Tips

Frequently asked questions

Woodland Park Rose Garden is at 750 N 50th St, Seattle, WA 98103, in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of the North Central district.

Yes. The zoo is less than 0.1 mile away in a straight line, so the two are easy to visit together.

The garden is listed as a park by Seattle Parks and Recreation, which is the best source for current hours and details.

Sunset Place and Woodland Park are about 0.3 mile away, Cascade Place and Rainier Place about 0.4 mile, and Fremont Peak Park about 0.5 mile.

A cluster of green spaces gathers along this stretch of Phinney Ridge, and the Woodland Park Rose Garden sits at the heart of it. You will find this Seattle city park at 750 N 50th St in Phinney Ridge, part of the North Central district, less than a tenth of a mile from Woodland Park Zoo. That makes it an easy stop to add before or after your zoo day.

A garden next door to the zoo

Seattle Parks and Recreation lists Woodland Park Rose Garden as a park in its own right. Its closest neighbor is Woodland Park Zoo, so near that the two practically share a doorstep. If your family is heading to the zoo, fold a garden stroll into the same outing and leave the car right where it is.

Take a moment to get to know the surroundings, too. The garden belongs to the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, a residential area on the ridge north of Fremont, and the neighborhood takes its name from the same man whose land became the big park next door.

Read the full guide

From private estate to Olmsted park

The wider Woodland Park started out as the estate of Guy C. Phinney, a lumber mill owner and real estate developer, and the land passed into public use after his death in 1893. When the city hired the Olmsted Brothers, a Boston design firm, to plan its park system in 1902, Woodland Park was part of that work.

Today the park spreads across about 90.9 acres of Phinney Ridge and Green Lake, split in two by Aurora Avenue N (State Route 99). The western half is mostly zoo, with a baseball field and a children's playground alongside. Cross the arched bridges over the highway to reach the eastern half, often called Lower Woodland Park, which runs right up to Green Lake Park.

Exploring Lower Woodland Park

Head over to the eastern side and you will find a long list of ways to spend an afternoon:

Walking trails and a picnic area
An off-leash dog park
Ballfields and a pitch and putt golf course
Horseshoe pits and a skate park
Lawn bowling

Wildlife to watch for

Keep your eyes open as you wander, because Woodland Park supports a surprising range of animals for a city park. Barred owls, coyotes and rabbits are among its best known residents. Birders regularly spot Anna's hummingbirds, Steller's jays, northern flickers, spotted towhees and bald eagles, along with chickadees, bushtits and goldfinches.

Short walks from the rose garden

Stretch your legs and you can reach several small parks and one city landmark within about half a mile, measured in a straight line:

Woodland Park Zoo, under 0.1 mi
Sunset Place, 0.3 mi
Woodland Park, 0.3 mi
Cascade Place, 0.4 mi
Woodland Park dog park, 0.4 mi
Rainier Place, 0.4 mi
Fitch/Nutt House (landmark), 0.5 mi
Fremont Peak Park, 0.5 mi

Ready for more green space across the city? Browse the full list of Seattle parks and plan your next outing.

Before you go

You will find Woodland Park Rose Garden at 750 N 50th St, Seattle, WA 98103. Before you head out, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for current hours, rules and any seasonal details.