
Looking for a brief respite from city life? Allow us to recommend the Bloedel Reserve: a 150-acre nature reserve located on Bainbridge Island, which is a short ferry ride from Seattle. From the historic house with a view to the sprawling grounds with surprises around every corner, this reserve is one of our favorite spots to take visiting friends and family for a day trip out of the city. There’s nothing quite like it in Seattle, so we think it’s worth the ferry ride and price of admission (plus we have a tip for discounted admission below!).
Here’s everything you need to know before you visit Bloedel Reserve:
About Bloedel Reserve
Starting in 1951, Bloedel Reserve was a private property belonging to Virginia and Prentice Bloedel for decades. With the help of Richard Haag and other notable landscape designers, Prentice Bloedel worked to transform the grounds into the unique garden that you can visit today.
Bloedel was partially color-blind, so Haag drew landscaping designs for him as black-and-white pencil sketches. That may explain why the reserve is so beautiful to visit no matter what season it is.
The reserve officially opened to the public in 1988. Today the reserve welcomes all people to come visit the display of natural Pacific Northwest beauty.
In addition to woodland trails and meadows, the reserve features a Japanese guest house with a traditional zen garden, a hidden reflection pool, a moss garden, a rhododendron glen, and more. You can also tour the main floor of the Bloedel Residence, a stately house that has a stunning view of Puget Sound.
How to get there
To get to the Bloedel Reserve from downtown Seattle, you can drive onto the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry. After a scenic 35-minute ferry ride, it’s then about a 20-minute drive from downtown Bainbridge to the reserve. There is free parking once you arrive.
Don’t have a car? You can still get to the Bloedel Reserve by walking onto the downtown Seattle ferry and then taking the bus once you arrive on Bainbridge. See more info about taking the bus to the reserve here.
When to visit
The Bloedel Reserve is open Tuesdays through Sundays, year-round. They are closed on Mondays and on some holidays. You can see their hours and holiday closures here.
We recommend visiting the Bloedel Reserve in any season. Secret Seattle has gone in June as well as in January, and it was beautiful both times. The forest stays lush and green year-round, with ferns and moss carpeting the ground. In the spring and summer you’ll enjoy wildflower meadows and fragrant gardens. In the winter months it may be cool and rainy but you’re more likely to have the paths to yourself.
Buying tickets
You have to purchase timed tickets in advance. You can wait until you’re on Bainbridge to purchase your preferred time slot via your phone.
On Welcome Wednesdays you can pay what you wish. See the reserve calendar for upcoming Welcome Wednesdays and other events such as mindfulness meditation, story time, and writing programs.
You can also choose to become a member if you think you’ll be visiting the reserve more than once a year. The membership allows free admission year-round in addition to other perks such as summer sunset walks and members-only timed entry slots.
After your visit to the Bloedel Reserve, be sure to stop in downtown Bainbridge on your way back to the Seattle ferry. The charming small town has plenty of gems for shopping and eating. All in all, it’s the perfect day trip from Seattle.