Woodward Park park
Woodward Park
Reasons to Visit:
1. Natural Beauty: Woodward Park spans over 300 acres and is home to numerous trees, gardens, and lakes, providing a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
2. Shinzen Japanese Garden: One of the park's main highlights is the Shinzen Japanese Garden, which features traditional Japanese architecture, breathtaking landscapes, koi ponds, and an impressive bonsai collection.
3. Bird Sanctuary: Woodward Park serves as a haven for birdwatchers, as it has been designated as a bird sanctuary. Over 150 species of birds can be observed throughout the year, making it an ideal spot for birding enthusiasts.
4. Trails and Recreation: The park boasts several miles of walking, jogging, and biking trails, offering opportunities for active individuals to engage in outdoor exercise. Additionally, there are picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports fields for recreational purposes.
Points of Interest:
1. Shinzen Japanese Garden: This stunning garden showcases traditional Japanese landscaping techniques and seasonal plant displays.
2. Clark Bonsai Collection: Located within the Shinzen Japanese Garden, the Clark Bonsai Collection features an impressive assortment of bonsai trees, some of which are over a century old.
3. Rotary Storyland and Playland: These amusement parks, located within Woodward Park, provide entertainment for children with thrilling rides, interactive play areas, and charming storybook-themed attractions.
Interesting Facts:
1. Woodward Park was named after the local Fresno newspaper publisher, Ralph Woodward, who donated the land to the city in 1968.
2. The park was designed by William L. Pereira & Associates, the same architectural firm responsible for the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco.
3. Woodward Park is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, rabbits, and a plethora of bird species.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Woodward Park is during spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) when the weather is pleasant, and the flowers and trees are in bloom. Summers can be quite hot, especially in central California, so visiting during cooler months is recommended.
Please note that it is always a good practice to verify the information from multiple independent sources to ensure accuracy and up-to-date details about Woodward Park and any other destinations.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Woodward Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dumma Strand Loop Camp Ground (73-84) | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Millerton Lake State Rec Area | ✓ | ✓ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Woodward Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Woodward Park
What can I do at Woodward Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Woodward Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Woodward Park.