Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park

Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park.

I love discovering new places to see and experience. On March 16th my good friend and I went with her kids to Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview, Washington, just across the river from us. We had all been there before, but this time we went to a part of the park that we hadn't been to, the Japanese Gardens.

The Japanese Garden's Weyerhaeuser Centennial Bridge at Lake Sacajawea Park.

Lake Sacajawea Park is an expansive, well maintained park of 67 acres in the heart of Longview Washington with 3.5 miles of trails that go around the whole lake. There are lovely old growth trees and other plants along with wildlife like ducks, geese, herons, and other water fowl, birds of prey and other birds, frogs, turtles, fish, otters, beavers, weasels, racoons, opossums, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer. You can enjoy biking, walking, and running, jogging, fishing, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boating, birding, wildlife viewing, and taking your kids to play on the playgrounds. There are picnic tables, sitting benches, covered picnic areas, playgrounds, 2 spectacular lake fountains, botanical gardens, an arboretum, restroom facilities, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, bridges, and event spaces. Events held there include Summer Concerts at the Lake, Go 4th Festival, Annual Fishing Derby for kids, and Summer Movies at the Lake. You can enjoy the Frank Willis Arboretum, Japanese Gardens, Rhododendron Gardens, and the Solar System Walk while you are there. The park is designed to be accessible, with paved paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Pets are allowed, but need to be leashed. To get there you have easy street parking all around the perimeter of the park. The park is open from dawn until dusk.

A Japanese Garden Lantern in the Japanese Garden at Lake Sacajawea Park.

The tranquil Japanese Gardens are nestled on an island in the Lake Sacajawea Park. They are gorgeous year-round to view especially in the fall when the leaves of some of the Japanese maples have changed. The Japanese Gardens were meticulously built to mimic the beautiful gardens of Japan. Accessible by the Weyerhaeuser Centennial Bridge, these gardens are a gorgeous haven to Japanese and Asian flora. Within the gardens there are a number of neat structures like pagodas, arbors, statues, and sitting benches. There is also a bubbling brook that I enjoyed listening to while I took in the scenery. It is a lovely, peaceful place to go and get away from it all. I highly recommend visiting if you are ever in the area.

A Pagoda structure in the Japanese Garden at Lake Sacajawea Park.

Location of the Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park.

Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park

Address: 3223 NE Nichols Blvd, Longview, WA 98632

Phone: (360) 442-5421

Hours:

Monday	7 AM–3 PM
Tuesday	7 AM–3 PM
Wednesday	7 AM–3 PM
Thursday	7 AM–3 PM
Friday	7 AM–1 PM
Saturday	7 AM–1 PM
Sunday	7 AM–3 PM