Boyce Thompson Arboretum

One of the most beautiful places that we’ve ever been to. We were lucky to have been there in May as a lot of the cactus and succulents were blooming. So much to see. Aside from the walkways around the gardens there is an awesome hike that runs up on the hills behind the arboretum. We almost had the entire place to ourselves. We arrived at 2 and stayed until closing time which is 5. You could easily spend a day here though. Bring plenty of water and maybe even some snacks.

This is a wonderful way to spend a day. We were visiting the PHX area and decided to drive out the the Arboretum in mid-April. We were rewarded with friendly staff, well kept trail system and loads of flowering cactus! I think it was roughly 2 miles to do the entire loop. About the half way point, where you come to the pond, becomes a bit challenging due to an uphill section and it was very hot out. (bring water!) That aside, its a very quiet, nice place to walk. There is a nice gift shop and also a nursery to purchase plants. With so many signs saying "Please Stay on the Trail" it's amazing to me how many parents allow their children to run and climb all over. I would rather see them use it as a teaching moment to respect nature.

I finished my trek up to picketpost mountain and was in the area. I was incredibly happy I stopped by. The staff was very helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. My admission guide helped me plot a course and it was stimulation overload from there on out. BTA is pure magic. The grounds are superb, immaculate, and full of beautiful flora. I paid the full admission price of $25 which I felt was very reasonable. I completed a full loop, and honestly was one of the best nature walks I've been on. I recommend arriving early to beat the heat and don't forget to bring water and your camera. You can spend hours here but if you're under time constraints, you can also see a vast majority within an hour or so. The paths are intelligently laid out with a map that is detailed and very spot-on. Don't forget to purchase some plants on your way out! They have quite an array for sale. Proceeds go to the Arboretum. I'm looking forward to my return. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

For sure it's a far drive out here, but it is most definitely worth it! I would rate this at the top 10 arboretum in the country; honestly I would rank this higher than Desert Botanical Garden just because there is so much more diversity in the scenery here including the beautiful small lake and lush vegetation around the flowing creek. There is a fantastic network of trails here of varying difficulty, elevation changes, etc. This place is so enormous I feel that you need a full day to really see and take in everything; it is easy to get lost in some areas! Thw downsides are it can get pretty busy here even on weekdays, and the bathrooms are very far apart.

This attraction was great. There were so many native plants to see. They took the time to identify the different species. The trails were very well maintained. The grounds were clear of litter. The restrooms were clean and stocked. A bonus was that it's dog friendly, and they have water bowls available for their use. They post snake warnings, we stayed on the established trail and never saw or heard any.

Booked a field trip here & we had such a great time! Booking was super easy & it is so beautiful! The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is going independently is a bit pricey. At the end the kids absolutely loved the butterfly info. We stayed for a bit and had to peel them aways to eat because they loved that part so much. There is also tons of places to sit and enjoy the scenery. My kids also loved seeing the small houses. We took a wagon so we couldn’t walk the whole area but still spent 4+ hours there.

Beauty envelopes you in a cocoon of serenity. There are miles of trails of varying levels of difficulty. You can easily spend a full day exploring all the gardens, buildings, ruins, bridges and alcoves the arboretum has to offer. The staff were happy, positive, and friendly and made a huge positive impact on my experience at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. You should take a day and treat yourself to a visit.

Man, it's cold in Superior, AZ. The polar vortex did NOT miss Arizona, and we absolutely felt it Monday morning. My family and I arrived an hour after they opened where there was plenty of parking! Walking toward the ticket booth, there were plenty of cacti for sale and gardening decor. We bought our tickets, got a map (but take a photo - it lasts longer!), and made our way through all of the gardens. All the trails were fairly easy, with no crazy steep hills. We managed to make our way to all of the gardens I believe. The morning dew and the rising sun really added to the beauty that is the desert. My little one stayed warm and cozy in his stroller, and we got to see a family quails running and hiding, listen to the bird, and see a set of rabbits! This is fantastic for kids, as long as you watch them. Our little one was able to run around along the paved trail and exhaust himself for his mid-morning nap. There is a children's garden, next to the greenhouses, and the rose garden which is very cute. We also walked toward the lake which was not too big, but still very pretty and relaxing to look at. We would love to come back again when the native flowers are in full bloom, and when the leaves start to turn color again for autumn. I highly recommend!

A great way to see how the cactus are doing here .. Each visit is a bit different because of new flowers or bee's or a change you have forgot. The Wallace Family donation from a personal inground collection added a whole new huge area to explore. Just Finished last year. That collection was so big they had to bring in equipment and crews and now the area is on its own and designated Wallace. If you join as a annual pass, Your admission is included and a free pass for A guest. Just the entry for three would be a C Note. So, it's special .. And another 20 pct discount on your plants in the garden shop area and the gift shop. By the time you have wandered and shopped it can be a five hour visit. And for us, it's a hundred mile round trip past the Arizona copper mines in Hayden and Wickenburg. You may pass a mining dump truck the size of a small Cottage Home. A day for exploring Arizona on a dime.

Just loved my visit here! Not to be missed and well worth the over an hour drive to Superior from Scottsdale. My friend couldn't walk a lot but their trails are well groomed and benches along to sit and enjoy the views or rest. This was the best of both worlds for us: I who wanted a more scenic trail and my friend who needed an easier trail. The easy walk was about 2 hours with pit stops. Suggest you start the walk of your left side as it will lead to less hills. We bumped into a volunteer who was most helpful. We got lucky and saw the coatimundis. Free parking, gift store, washrooms, and a picnic area. There is also a garden shop out front and can buy plants/Catus.

Man, it's cold in Superior, AZ. The polar vortex did NOT miss Arizona, and we absolutely felt it Monday morning. My family and I arrived an hour after they opened where there was plenty of parking! Walking toward the ticket booth, there were plenty of cacti for sale and gardening decor. We bought our tickets, got a map (but take a photo - it lasts longer!), and made our way through all of the gardens. All the trails were fairly easy, with no crazy steep hills. We managed to make our way to all of the gardens I believe. The morning dew and the rising sun really added to the beauty that is the desert. My little one stayed warm and cozy in his stroller, and we got to see a family quails running and hiding, listen to the bird, and see a set of rabbits! This is fantastic for kids, as long as you watch them. Our little one was able to run around along the paved trail and exhaust himself for his mid-morning nap. There is a children's garden, next to the greenhouses, and the rose garden which is very cute. We also walked toward the lake which was not too big, but still very pretty and relaxing to look at. We would love to come back again when the native flowers are in full bloom, and when the leaves start to turn color again for autumn. I highly recommend!

This has always been on my list of sites to visit and today finally did it. The weather was nice which was good otherwise it would be too hot in middle of May. The grounds are pristine, few, well up-kept. We hiked the loop and it was nice. Not hard. There were rocky areas though. Overall would recommend. It's $50 for two people.

What a beautiful place. So many great options for trails. We took the loop trail to start, however Nita thought we should take one more difficult. The high trail was delicious hard. If you come to Arizona this is a must stop

Beautiful! Large botanical garden, we started on the main trail and decided to advance to the high trail for better views. The main trail has all of the special gardens and exhibits but the high trail has better views. I wore cowboy boots but I recommend trail or hiking boots. It's a couple of miles. We came around 3pm on a Saturday which was perfect, by the end (5pm) the sun was setting and it was gorgeous. They recommend coming in November for the autumn colors which was perfect, we came right after Thanksgiving, and it was gorgeous. $25 per person, parking on site. You take the 60 East past the Ren Fair in Gold Canyon, it's about 10 more minutes East. About 1 hour & 15 minutes from Phoenix.

This is such a beautiful place to visit, you can easily spend a whole day here and not scratch the surface of creation that is everywhere around you. If you are into photography this place is a must! They have a butterfly area, trees, plants, cactuses, birds, "other animals that will show up unannounced that you have to search for " trails, an old homestead, a you suspension bridge and more! This place is a hiker's paradise as well. So much beauty to see here. You can buy season tickets. General admission is $24.95. My friend was a member so I received a five dollar discount. They have a huge parking lot as well. If you are within 50 miles of the Arboretum I highly recommend going.

I was really impressed with the arboretum. They built it in a place with such natural beautiful scenery and there are lots of different trails to walk. I easily spent a couple of hours walking around and could have spent more time. The paths are relatively flat so it is suitable for all ages. The only downside is it is an hour drive from Phoenix.

Absolutely stunning! It is quite the trek out from most of the city, but well worth it as a treat. Prices are indeed on the high end, but as far as I can see, besides some plant and gift shop sales they don't really have a lot of avenues to raise funds. Mind you, if they want to start selling the fruit that grows there, I'd definitely buy it over the candy in the gift shop. The amount of edible plants they had was quite impressive. There are literal rows and rows of pomegranate trees, oranges, and so on. Then there's the rose garden, and all sorts of other gorgeous plants. There is a fair amount of wildlife that like to call this place home, and I can't blame them. I was able to spot various types of birds, squirrels, and coati. It was actually my first time seeing the coati out in the wild, and they are simply adorable. The staff were phenomenal. We ended up buying an annual membership and can't wait to plan our next trip. The lady at membership, Dawn, was so helpful and helped us find the best route to see the most things in our timeframe. The older gentleman at the entry gate was charming and, and it is evident everyone working here loves being here. Plan on being here a minimum of 3 hours, but I think 4 is perfect. Definitely a day trip if you're coming from the city. Views are amazing, and the trail is well kept.

One of my favorite places to go with the kids! This place is great if you're looking for an easy hike or just stroll around. They got all the nice views of the desert, the mountains, all the native Arizona plants and sometimes you'll see some wild birds and animals. Our kids did the one and half mile around the whole thing and we had a great time just exploring and taking pictures.

We originally planned to hike Wave Cave but couldn't find any parking, so my friend and I decided to come here instead--and it did not disappoint! Admission was $24.95 per person, which is a bit on the pricey side, but I thought it was totally worth it. We walked a little over two miles and explored some of the old structures that are still standing. They had Christmas music playing (not my favorite--haha) and food trucks, so there were quite a few people around. Overall, it was a really cool place I didn't even know existed! I'll definitely be back!

"The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see." -- Albert Einstein Boyce Thompson Arboretum has been on my list of places I want to see since I moved to Arizona 23 years ago! I am so happy I was finally able to do so in early spring! We loved it here! Beautiful plants, beautiful views, and just a nice peaceful and calm to visit. We were delighted with songs from a cardinal and a cactus wren, and even though it was only around 70° for our visit, I loved seeing the abundance of shady areas, and even a few lush areas with water features. The grounds are kept up beautifully, and there are many unique gardens, full of variety for your eyes to absorb! They have a great little gift shop too! Even though this was our first visit, I am hoping it is not our last. Our day here was so full of surprises!

This is THE place for stunning fall colors! We happened to be able to check it out in its prime. This is the second time I've visited and brought out of town guests. Everyone really enjoyed the day. There's currently a family of coatimundis as well which we enjoyed watching eating in the trees.

We love coming out here! Takes less than an hour from the Chandler area and you enter into a wonderful nature filled environment. It was a bit crowded, which we expected due to the holidays but we also found many quiet corners to sit and relax, reflect, and enjoy the sounds of nature. The Coatimundi were out and about, eating berries all throughout the Acacia tree on the trail by the metal bridge so staff were monitoring and allowing visitors through the area just a few at a time. The Arboretum is a dog friendly place but because the Coatimundi were on the trail, they asked those with dogs to back-track the trail and staff weren't letting them through under the Acacia bush. Totally understandable although there was some grumbling from a few guests. We always pack a picnic when coming out for the day and we love the huge picnic area they have. There are many picnic benches available and I typically pack a tablecloth to cover the table. We were visited by several red cardinals and one female. The Grotto is one of our favorite places to sit and take in nature. Overall just a great experience and highly recommend a day trip out here.

Nice place to get lost in the shade (!!) year round. Where else can you see 100 year old trees like this in the desert .. ok, the Phx Botanical Garden, but this is closer to E Mesa. Summer hours are limited to mornings. What's nice is you can bring your DOG !! .. unlike some Nat'l Parks. Last fall when we were here they had an expansive colorful garden art exhibition .. wish it was still here. We did see a few coatimundis along the trail. Adorable. We got the family membership and hope to spend many more days in this low-key natural experience.

This is a hidden gem. If you're a fan of the botanical garden, this is a nice little spot to hit up. It's cool to go on a hike and see all types of plants that look integrated into the environment. It's surprisingly green and they have a lot of shaded paths. It's dog friendly if your dog well behaved. I drive by this all the time on my way from Gilbert to New Mexico and never seen a sign about it. It really isn't too far if you're in the East Valley. Being in AZ for close to 20 years, I never knew about this place. We went early Saturday morning and parking wasn't bad at all. I think it was about an hour and a half to do the basic loop, taking our time looking at the different sections and areas. It was $25 for an adult. I would have paid a year membership, if I wasn't moving out of AZ in a few weeks. We would come back here again no questions asked.

This place is located about 45 - 60 minutes east of Phoenix. It is just off Highway 60. We arrive just after they opened at 10 a.m. on a Monday (holiday). Perhaps due to the holiday, it seemed more crowded than I'd have expected, but the crowd was not overwhelming. My wife had purchased some American Horticultural pass before the trip that got us in for free here (on the assumption that we can use it elsewhere later in the year). There were some shaded areas and plenty of sunny ones, so if you visit in the warmer months, bring sufficient water, a hat, and sunscreen. When we first started out, a couple of the volunteers / docents engaged us in two separate incidents for several minutes of interesting conversation / explanations. Our only worry was that if they kept popping up at that pace, we'd never complete the loop. The density of volunteers thinned out quickly, though. They did provide some good background, though. The layout is mostly around a large loop trail that circles behind a rocky hill and then returns along Queen Creek. It took us almost 2 hours to complete the loop, but we could have stayed in some areas longer. They had areas dedicated to regions (such as Australia) and sections given over to particular species or sub-species of plants (cactus, eucalyptus, etc.). The signs were informative. At one point you pass near a house on a clifftop that was built by the guy who founded the arboretum in the 1920s (Boyce Thompson). It is not open to tours, but was interesting to view even from a distance. There was an alternate route on one side across Queen Creek that was billed as the 'high trail' or something similar. We didn't have time to explore it but it looked interesting. They appeared to have some sort of food vending on the weekends, but as we visited on Monday we had to venture a couple of miles further into Superior for lunch afterwards. If you have much interest in plants generally or just want to have a couple of hours relaxing on a nature walk, this is a great venue.

This was a very pretty getaway! Great for bird watching and short hikes. Great gift shop!

What a great place to spend the afternoon. My parents visit from out of state every spring. We have adventured through most of the local attractions and activities around the Phoenix and Tucson Metro areas. However, I had recently started hearing more and more people talk about Boyce Thompson Arboretum. We drove out from Scottsdale and thoroughly enjoyed walking around the arboretum. It takes several hours to walk the trails. We particularly liked the historical cabin and windmill. All of the old growth trees and other plants were also a treat to take in and photograph. My only dislike has nothing to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum itself. It is the fact that there is little to do in the area in addition to exploring the arboretum. One does drive by the Renaissance Festival grounds on the way, but that is a full day activity in itself. BTA is also a participant in the Culture Pass program at the local libraries.

Beautiful walk, gorgeous scenery, unkept very well. Plants are well taken care of and easily marked. A variety of different plants. You can spent anywhere from a quick 20 minutes to hours here. It is an easy drive from Phoenix and well worth the trip. Highly recommend. $25 to get in and worth every penny. Recommend going at fall when the leaves change, you can even leave with a plant from their green house for your home!

Fabulous! The 75 minute drive was well worth it. Water and good walking shoes are a must as you walk through a number of different ecosystems from lush to desert to mountainous to water. Easy to navigate with informative signs all over, we probably walked 3 miles and could've done more. This place is a gem. Great to bring out of towners to.

Just really an awesome place to hang out get some air, do a little hiking. Purchased the membership and it honestly pays for itself after the second visit (assuming you come with second person each time). Also, once you get through Apache Junction is makes for a pretty drive.

6 stars across the board. Easy parking, reasonable prices and a wonderful selection of plants/trees/animals and open walking paths throughout the park. It is worth it for us to get a membership providing a great place for a morning walk. Bring water and good shoes and enjoy a great place to explore.

I have learned so much from going to this arboretum. The Discovery Tours are awesome, Saturday they have kids activities and the hiking trails have some great views. Worth every dollar!

So happy we came here on our visit. The weather was perfect in February. Even though there were a lot of people, the place is so big you don't feel to close to other groups. The Cactus are labeled really well. The eucalyptus forest is the busses one in North America and it was really neat to see all the different varieties. They have a cut floral competition showcase while we were there. There are also a couple tortoise who live there in one section as well. You could easily spend hours here. They have a little cafe area. The floral flavored coffee was average. We bought a "picnic", which was crackers, cheese and a Costco hummus.

A warm and breezy day at the Arboretum. As you walk to the entry area, cacti and succulents are for sale. You're given a map of the facility if you are new to the area or haven't been there in awhile. We found the map somewhat hard to read. There are many pathways and forks in the road to follow yet not marked clearly. The walking trails are dusty. I advise good walking or hiking shoes. There are a few shady spots to rest. I saw two water stops and restrooms so take advantage of those. I also suggest wearing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, carry water and hydrate often. The Arboretum is separated into different area and those are marked. Many of the cacti were either about to bloom, blooming or just completed their blooms. The gift store is small. It has many souvenirs to take home. A nice visit. Private parking lot and WiFi in areas.

Loved every foot of this place! Worth the $25 ticket price. Come prepared to spend several hours wandering all the trails and looking at all the labeled flora. We even saw some fauna! A troupe of coati, which I had never heard of, crossed the main trail. So exciting!!!

We were surprised by the size and the fauna and flora from around the world. They have a building with cacti from the East and West deserts. There is a beautiful home on the Sade of a rock face, beautiful! We came upon ring tail cats eating berries from underneath a tree. Park held visitors back and answered questions, they allowed us to pass when the cats were done eating.

If you have not been here, what on earth are you waiting for?!? This is your sign! This place is Arizona's largest and oldest desert botanical. From beautiful cacti to roses to a greenhouse and a suspension bridge, this is a must see and do. The arboretum is pet friendly so you can bring your fue baby, water stations and fountains can also be found along the trail. You can easily spend an hour or more just exploring. This is definitely worth more than one visit as the staff informed us experiencing the colors and beauty in the spring versus the fall is worth it so I will be back come fall. Side note, the first Tuesday of every month, they offer free admission during a certain season. If you do take advantage of this, be sure to register online in advance before it's sold out. We landed the last free Tuesday of the season in May. Be sure to check the website.

I have loved all of my visits to the Arboretum, but have not been impressed with their customer service. I bought tickets for my mother and myself and then received a call from my mother that she suddenly fell sick and couldn't go. I have called and emailed to see if the $50 worth of tickets could simply be applied to another day and have heard nothing. It wouldn't cost them anything to change my ticket date or at least give me a coupon for partial the amount. This inflexibility and lack of communication is less than impressive and makes me question whether I will return.

Off the beaten path but a great stop for several Hours of amazing views and wonderful walking trails. This place is a hidden gem about an hour out of Phoenix - I can't recommend this enough....

My daughter and I recently spent a day exploring the many gardens & trails at arboretum. It was a gray and overcast day in December but the AZ desert did not disappoint. We took the free 1-hour guided tour and we learned so much from the guide, I recommend this on your first visit. My favorite discovery was the Clevenger House built on the side of the mountain with an herb garden out front and dwarf pomegranates trees used to create a fence around the yard. The stream with water flowing was steps away. There are plenty of benches to sit and catch your breath or just enjoy the birds & butterflies. The trails are mostly dirt so wear comfy shoes. You would have to visit this place several times to see it all, buy the annual pass and come back often. There are picnic areas where you can enjoy a packed lunch. Currently no restaurant on site. Definitely bring water and a snack. Plenty of free parking.

What a beautiful and amazing day to share with my friend Kathleen. There was so much to see, to learn, and experience the spectacular landscapes of Gods creation in nature. It's hard to imagine the diversity of the landscapes and climate of Arizona. Next year they will be celebrating their bicentennial. They have a white gum tree known as a eucalyptus there, it was planted in 1925. It could be the biggest eucalyptus tree in North America, and even the biggest eucalyptus tree in the world. It was a gentle giant, a must see. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Lovely place. We pleasantly surprised of park settings and plants variety. Plan to come back soon.

Fantastic getaway from the city to enjoy desert delights. This is great for everyone to visit.

It was quite busy at the arboretum today despite the rain. There were many cacti for sale at the front. The mini cacti were adorable but expensive. They also had a variety of trees for sale out front as well. There was some art available for sale at the front as well just past the gift shop. I was able to walk the main trail in under an hour. When not stopping and skipping the hike over the swinging bridge, it takes 30-40 minutes when there are not a lot of slow walkers or stops. There was at least one person with their dog. Many people came with their kids for photos with Santa. I didn't see too much else due to the rain. Besides the Boyce Thompson house that can be seen from the trail, there was also a house that had one wall attached to the mountain side. The Clevenger house. Don't be scared, those aren't ghosts in the window. Due to the rain there were a lot of people taking shelter inside.

What a great place to connect with nature just a little over an hour from Phoenix. This is my second time visiting and I'm as wowed as I was the first time. It is such a beautiful place with so many different plants, birds, and scenery changes. One of the trails takes you from a lower desert area up to an upper dessert landscape and down into more of a forestry area with a creek running next to it. There are portions of the trail that are more accessible than others but there is something for everyone which I love. Adults admissions are $24.95 and children 5-12 years old are $10. I did not see any type of student or senior discounts. Give yourself at least 3 hours but ideally more so you can explore all the different gardens and have enough time to appreciate them and stop along the way. They have a really cute gift shop with all sorts of souvenirs including plants. There are water stations and shaded areas throughout the arboretum. I recommend bringing water or another hydrating drink, a snack, comfy and lightweight clothes, and a hat. I've been here during the summer and the spring and I will say during the summer it gets pretty hot so I recommend getting there first thing in the morning. There was a coffee cart when I went so I got a cup of coffee and a snack before starting our walk. The gift shop has some drinks but otherwise there is not much else to drink or eat. Must go for locals and anyone visiting from out of town!

STUNNING! There's not much more I can add and the place certainly speaks for itself, but we enjoyed looking at the variety of plants and exploring the surprising amount of land to hike. The last time we came here was in the fall when everything was dead (and apparently we only saw a quarter of the offerings), so coming in the spring is definitely the way to go, and thankfully it wasn't bursting-at-the-seams busy. My only wishes (other than it being closer to the Valley), would be to have a full-fledged restaurant towards the entrance, and to repurpose the Picket Post House as a hotel so people could REALLY immerse themselves in the experience...but I can dream :-D

I love this place so much. After driving 45 minutes from Mesa, I'm out in the beautiful, unspoiled desert near Superior. There are some medium-sized mountains around too. The Arboretum has trails that take you up to beautiful vistas through cactus gardens, weaving between gorgeous trees and over a suspension bridge. My favorite area is the Australian Walkabout with its huge eucalyptus trees. Everywhere you look there are cool-looking plants, cacti and flowers along with plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. Almost everything is labeled or has signs, so you can learn a lot if you're down for that. There is a small gift shop, and sometimes they have events like their plant sale or tables with handmade items to purchase. If you receive their emails you'll find lots of classes offered for things like photography, bird watching and lizard walks. You can find opportunities for everyone from little kids to seniors. My favorite event of the year is the Arboretum's Fall Festival, typically held on Thanksgiving weekend. We love to see the trees at their peak color, listen to music, grab a donut and some cider and peruse the different vendors. It's not a large event but we love it. If you need a change of scenery, head out to the Arboretum to soak up some quality time with nature!

We had a wonderful time! Most of the pathways are nice and shady. Lots of cactus and flowers blooming now and hummingbirds. Some people packed coolers of food and they have picnic table areas. Nice gift shop and bathrooms. It was a great experience.

Beautiful place with lots of vegetation, tons of trees from all over including lots of cacti of course. Great trail, great November weather. I will buy a baby cactus.

We loved it in Superior! First timer, it is a beautiful nature walk. My family and I had a wonderful time, the trails are mostly dirt paths so wear comfy shoes that you are OK to be dusty! Loved the butterflies and hummingbirds area. There are plenty of benches (some hidden) to rest. We tried to stay on the main path as much as possible. We did hiked up a little but need to make sure mom and dad can make it with us. We found a man made lake in the middle of all this! All true. Free parking and close by too!

Wow! What a glorious afternoon my friends and I spent meandering among the beauty of this place! Everything was just awesome!

We had stopped here for a quick visit about nine years ago so I was glad we could go back when we had more time on this visit. For late April it was not too hot even though it was mid-afternoon. Given the rainy winter the flowering cacti were fantastic. There is so much to see. We walked the entire main trail which if hot would be too much. If you go clockwise you get the shade on the way back. So many cool plants to experience - who knew there were that many varieties of cacti. I understand they have a good guided tour though it appears to be only in the morning at this time of the year (their website could use some updating in this regard). The price is $19/ person so it is not cheap. If you check in with Yelp you get $1 each admission.

An unknown (to me) little piece of nature and peacefulness I needed!! It was an amazing day of strolling and soaking in nature.

It is beautiful! It was a great experience and we were able to bring our pet. The staff was welcoming.

Wow! Wow wow wow! This place is a hidden gem! What a sanctuary away from the craziness of Phoenix. I went here for the first time last week with my mom because I told her I wanted to visit the botanical gardens during my visit. Her response was, "I know somewhere better!" She was so right! About an hour east of the city, the drive in alone could be worth the journey. Tucked away in the Superstition Mountains, this oasis is a well maintained wilderness with hours of trails and exploration. They have clear walking paths and cliff side trails for the hikers. We were impressed by the preservation of the natural landscape and the history of the site. We arrived at around 7am and stayed until 9. They have picnic tables to bring a lunch and enjoy the scenery. A lot of the trails are shaded, so it really wasn't too hot, even in the summer. I would definitely suggest going early in the morning and maybe grabbing something to eat in Superior on the way home!

Beautiful place, amazing views, and easy trails for the entire family. We visited with three toddlers and we enjoyed the trails with one stroller. All kids had a blast. Kids under 5 are free and tickets are affordable for the adults. Lots of picnic tables.

This was much more fun & cooler than I expected. When first hearing "arboretum", it didn't sound too interesting but I figured it was something to do while visiting in the Mesa area. I'm really glad we went. It's basically a hike combined with seeing & learning about many types of plants & trees. The terrain varies along the trails. We mostly followed the Main Trail, which is probably about 2 miles. The views are great.