Garden Etiquette & FAQs
We use a timed-entry ticketing system to make sure everyone has a peaceful experience and a place to park. To guarantee your spot (and save a little money), we recommend buying your tickets online ahead of time. If we are not sold out when you arrive, you can purchase tickets on-site but please note, a small surcharge does apply. If we are sold out, tickets will not be available to purchase.
Please use the links below to see available date and time slots, to book your visit, and to find out more:
Bloedel Reserve is situated at the north end of Bainbridge Island, at 7571 NE Dolphin Drive, 98110. Bainbridge Island is reachable by ferry from Colman Dock in downtown Seattle and by car from Kitsap Peninsula by crossing the Agate Pass Bridge, located just south of Poulsbo. Visit our Getting Here page to learn more.
To walk the 2-mile trail loop takes about 2 hours. The 3/4-mile paved accessibility route takes less time. We suggest you arrive no later than one hour before closing time.
Bloedel Reserve is open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday, rain or shine. Every season and every visit invites new discoveries. Hours may vary seasonally.
We welcome amateur photographers and artists in the gardens. You may use your personal cameras and folding tripod stands or monopod stands that can fit inside a standard backpack. Please use caution when using your photo equipment and stay on the trails. We love seeing your photos so tag us on Instagram: @BloedelReserve.
The use of drones is not permitted at the Reserve.
Professional photo shoots are available by permit only. Email events@bloedelreserve.org for details.
Members of the press should call in advance to arrange for admission to Bloedel Reserve or to schedule a press event. Contact the Communications Manager at 206-842-7631, x26 or info@bloedelreserve.org.
Visitor maps are available at the main entry at the Gatehouse. We offer maps translated into six languages: English, Hindi, Japanese, Simple Chinese, Spanish, and Urdu.
Our trails are well-maintained bark or paved roadways, so most of Bloedel Reserve is accessible to persons with limited mobility. Due to some stairs or steep terrain, a few areas may be difficult to navigate. Our Guest Services staff will provide you with a map and suggest routes through the Reserve that are accessible to wheelchairs and require the least amount of walking. Sturdy wheelchairs are available for visitors to borrow at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bloedel Reserve is more than a place of beauty. It’s a living expression of the love story that unfolded during Prentice and Virginia Bloedel’s life on Bainbridge Island. Married to Virginia for more than 65 years, Prentice Bloedel created many of the features of the Reserve as loving gestures on a grand scale especially for his wife.
We welcome engagements that take place while you are walking quietly on the grounds. In other words, there is no need to ask permission if you pop the question while you are here. However, for the sake of all of our guests, we do not allow large props, flash mobs, or other engagement-related productions.
To preserve our natural treasure for future generations, Bloedel Reserve allows minimal wedding bookings per year. To learn more about this opportunity to celebrate your love story at the Reserve, visit our Weddings page.
Children are very welcome at Bloedel Reserve. Most of the Reserve is flat and the trails are well-defined with bark, so most children have no trouble walking the trails. Even many strollers can navigate the trails, although there are some trail sections with inclines that may be trickier. There is also a paved road running down the middle of the main part of the Reserve that is easily navigable by those using strollers or wheelchairs.
We love your furry friends but to protect the wildlife living in the Reserve, they are not allowed on site or in the parking lot. Registered service animals are allowed on the grounds–please alert Gatehouse Staff.
There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms available for guests at the Gatehouse and at the Residence, about halfway through your walk. For your own comfort and safety, please plan ahead.
Visiting Bloedel Reserve is primarily an outdoor experience, so dress appropriately for the season during which you are visiting, bearing in mind temperature and the possibility of rain. Though heavy hiking boots are not necessary, we do recommend that you wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes.
To protect the wildlife who make their homes at the Reserve and reduce trash along the trails, picnicking is not allowed on the grounds.
- No climbing trees, picking flowers or berries, or removing rocks, sticks, flowers or plants.
- No picnicking.
- No smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes.
- No alcoholic beverages, drugs, or illegal substances.
- No weapons of any kind.
- No cremated remains.
- No musical instruments or singing.
- No camping equipment or toys.
- No professional commercial or portrait photography unless you have a permit and have paid the fee. No drones.
- No running or jogging.
- No recreational or wheeled sports equipment: bikes, skateboards, scooters, skates, Segways, frisbees, balls, lawn games, skis, sleds, snowshoes, etc. Please note: Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome.
- No admittance after hours. Please respect open hours and be out by closing time.
If you still have questions, we want to provide the answers. Please click here to contact us.
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