5 BEST Things at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

See a stunning collection of rhododendrons and azaleas at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is in southeast Portland, a 15-minute drive across the Willamette River from downtown Portland (5801 SE 28th Avenue).

A small admission fee is required, but kids under 10 are free. Check hours & tickets.

Stroll around the beautiful 7-acre Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, with paths encircling a spring fed lake. There are two ornate bridges, three waterfalls, and a tranquil stream leading from the lake.

The garden is particularly stunning in Spring, when it's namesake rhododendrons erupt in an explosion of color.

5 best things at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

1. Admire the arched bridge at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

2. This charming bridge is another favorite with photographers.

3. The lake is fed by 14 different springs!

The land was originally owned by William Ladd, who was a two-time mayor of Portland in the 1850s, and was known as Crystal Springs Farm due to the abundance of natural springs in the area.

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden was later founded by the Rhododendron Society in 1950, when the former farm land was an overgrown blackberry and briar patch. The plants were donated by the Portland Chapter of the Rhododendron Society, who still maintain the garden today.

4. See 2,000 varieties of rhododendrons at the garden, with a dazzling array of colors.

The best time to see the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is in early Spring (April/May), when the rhododendrons are in bloom. For nine months of the year, an army of volunteers, including nearby neighbors and the Rhododendron Society, maintain the garden.