John A. Finch Arboretum

John A. Finch Arboretum (56.65 acres) is a public arboretum located at West 3404 Woodland Boulevard, Spokane, Washington, United States on Sunset Hill. It is open daily without charge. Dogs are not allowed at the arboretum.[1]

The Rhododendron section, Corey Glen

Garden Springs Creek in Autumn

The arboretum was established in 1949 after the last living executor of the John A. Finch estate released $250,000 for the purpose.[2] The landscape follows Garden Springs Creek, and now contains about 2,000 trees and shrubs, including 65 groups of lilacs, as well as a rhododendron grove, conifer and maple collections, and a nature trail. The arboretum lies in a small valley running southwest-to-northeast carved by the creek. I-90 and the Sunset Highway, which use the valley to descend into Spokane from the higher elevation of the Columbia Plateau, respectively form the southern and northern borders of the park.

The arboretum is home to the Touch and See Nature Trail, which is owned by the Girl Scout council in the area. It was refurbished by Darlea Chatburn in 2004 who received her Gold Award after the completion of the project.