Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest — Attraction in Mount Washington

Update- June 29th 2025 @ 9:34am We just came to the park today and when we pulled up to the front, we were asked if "we would like to donate so they can keep doing all the work that they do here" We live in the area, so it's easier to just hop on our phones and donate online. We have done it for FOREVER. We told the lady "we make online donations" she stopped/froze and stared at my husband and I in silence, staring us right in the face - 100000% judging us. Giving us the 😐 face. As if she was accusing us of lying... or just mad we didn't hand her cash. Literally stared at us for a solid 4 seconds. Just silent. And finally said... "ooook". Made us feel entirely unwelcome. There are online donations for a reason! We never have cash on us. When we do, we just give them cash. So why was she so entirely rude about us doing online donations????? We honestly are sitting here contemplating just leaving because she absolutely ruined our day. I'll post the photos of the woman who was rude to us who was working the front. Hopefully, something will be done about her trying to bully your visitors into giving her cash. If people donated based on how they were treated by your staff..... it wouldn't be good for you guys. Which is a shame. Because they used to be so kind... what happened?

Original review- We go here all the time. They only ask for donations to help the park, they have super friendly staff.. and the park is GORGEOUS. I have been going here since I was little & wont stop going there until the day I die. Absolutely reccomend for families, going on dates, quiet time to yourself, & everything...

Visited 12 July 2025. We decided on a quick weekend trip to see the giants. It was approximately a 45-minute drove from Fort Knox.

I had read previous reviews about a recommended donation fee of $10 for entry. Upon entering, the attendant asked if we would like to make the donation. It was actually $15 per vehicle and he asked how many people were in the vehicle (likely to track the number of visitors to the park).

Since we had one person with a leg injury, we did not do much walking. We were able to drive along the paved road to the Fire Tower Loop. I walked less than half mile to the Fire Tower structure. Because of the initial incline, it can feel challenging if you are not fit. But, it was a quick walk. There is a bench at the base of the tower and a clearing, but otherwise, the tower is surrounded by bushes.

Only one giant is visible from the road. Another giant, the Mama Loumari giant was about 50-75 meters off the road and was an effortless walk, but because of trees and other bushes, you could not see it from the road. We did not search for the third giant.

There was ample parking around each of the sites we passed and we were able to get parking immediately when we stopped.

There we two food trucks on site, I think one was Kona Ice, but I don't remember what the other one was.

We did not use the bathroom facilities, so I can't speak about that. The park itself looks clean and well-kept...donation...

What a great park! I had no idea what to expect when I came and mainly planned to see the giants (not really even knowing what they are.) There is a $10 donation and they'll direct you to the visitor center to start the walk. There are giant yellow footprints to help you get started. The giants themselves are three wooden troll-like figures - HUGE - that pre-covid you could walk up and touch and play with (though not climb on.) On the walk, you'll come across the first, and smallest, one peering at his reflection in the lake, then across the field there is Mama with lots of playthings around her (all roped off now, sadly) then keep going to find big sister playing in a field of rocks (you can still climb on the rocks.)

I continued on around the lake loop and sort of wandered back to the visitor center - you aren't supposed to go back the way you came - the path through the field is one way, so I more or less walked along the road and was able to see most of the rest of the areas of interest.

Afterwards, I drove out to the tree canopy walk - it's an elevated platform overlooking the valley and the forest, and it's a great photo spot during the fall.

The Forest Giants trail/walk and the tree canopy walk are both easy but in the end I did do a lot of walking (mainly to get back to my car) so make sure to bring water...