john a. finch arboretum

Great place in Spokane to get some peace and quiet. I like to run around the park a couple of times. Nice for a walk.

It's cool to have such a designed yet natural setting just minutes from downtown. A little tricky to find, but worth the effort. It's sandwiched between freeway & major artery, but those don't spoil the experience. After all, this is an urban area. Beautiful botanical destination, even in winter, when I visited.

I have visited here during most seasons and truly enjoy it. Fall is my favorite by far though. It is a nice walk, with beautiful trees. The trees are well marked for those interested. It is also a great place for photographs and just taking a leisurely walk.

We visited the Arboretum as part of the Spokane City Drive and were glad we did. Lots of trails, lots of trees and smaller plants and some wildlife. Even with the highway close by we found it a tranquil place.

When I moved to Spokane in 1988, this was one of my favorite places in the whole County.Sadly, this is nolonger the case....This property has significant drainage issues. This is particularly apparent in Spring when the ground is saturated with ground water. This causes significant problems for anyone who has difficulty walking. The place should also be totally avoided by anyone in a wheel chair or anyone who needs a walker.The Arboretum has been poorly maintained for at least the past twenty years. The once beautiful collection of plants is in very sad condition. The arboretum is fine during peak periods such as week ends. However, it is starting to attract a "bad element"... So use extreme caution should you go outside of peak times.

After reading the reviews, we were looking forward to a trip to this arboretum. Its specialty is trees and there were no flowers easily visible. We were not able to walk around because one of our party was in a wheelchair and the park was not very accessible.

John A Finch Arboretum is a nice little place with nice paths to walk on. There are even benches placed through the park to rest on or just sit and watch the wildlife.

Happened on this place by accident and was really happy to have found it. Beautiful grounds, friendly people and a well thought out information center.

When I saw this as an attraction for Spokane, I was like, huh? Mind you, my husband who recharges in quiet peaceful places really loves it there. Basically it is a park with no toys, swimming, snacks, or anything. There may be a restroom and a couple of benches if I recall. GREAT spot for pictures Bridal or engagement or senior!

Lovely place to visit, take photos, have professional photos taken, peaceful but freeway close. Absolutely a must see in Spokane.

John A. Finch Arboretum, is located on the western border of Spokane as you head up I-90 to the north of the freeway.I have visited the park several times. Spring time about June and late mid-October in my opinion some of the best time to go. Photo opportunities are everywhere. Old trees, beautiful floral, cool bubbling spring, wild life green walk ways, lights and shadows.If you wish to use this place for photo, remember sun raises in the east and thus the best light is in the morning time as the park rest on the Spokane west side on a hill.

Finch is the place to go for a great wander. In fall, families come out to photograph the leaves and each other. In winter, a nice hike up the hill can burn off any carbs you had for lunch. Summertime is when you take your honey, or your kids, for a nice stroll under the canopies of trees. Bring a picnic and find a quiet spot where you can take a nap afterwards. No dogs are allowed in the park, so you rarely have to watch where you are walking...I live near the park, and often walk over just to see what changes have occurred in the plants.

We have taken our children and grandchildren here for short hikes as a respite from the city. It is esp. beautiful in the fall and if you time your visit, the kids can play in the giant leaf pile the city creates each year.

The Finch Arboretum is a little different from most arboretums I’ve visited in that the landscape is more homogenous, as opposed to being compartmentalized into specific gardens or sub-forests. It is a very nice property, and conducive to some nice strolling amongst the trees. I visited in late October, and the fall colors were gorgeous. I spent about an hour there, but I took dozens of photos. One could make the entire circuit in 30 minutes, but you may want to budget an hour or more if you want to relax and/or take pictures.A few notes:(1) Free admission; excellent.(2) The parking lot is pretty small, and I didn’t check if street parking is allowed. This may be an issue during peak seasons and/or if an event is taking place, not sure.(3) The entire southern edge of the arboretum abuts I-90, so gear up for a little traffic noise if you’re next to the freeway.(4) If you’re visiting on a weekday during the school year, you may encounter commotion from a crowd of children on a school field trip.

This is a long, narrow park along the freeway (silencing walls exist) on a slight slope. Natural areas, grassy fields, a creek, and identifying markers provide something for everyone. Take extra clothing for kids; I've never gone with them and not had one fall in the little creek or small pond. If you want to see which trees do well in our climate, or how they look when full-grown, this is one place to do so. Don't miss the ornamental cherry grove in spring, or the glen at the far end of the park. You'll think fairies exist when you wander the damp trails there.