Boyce Thompson Arboretum offers a wide range of guided tours and walks year-round, from plants and wildlife to history and ecology.
Our tours and walks include:
Arboretum Discovery Tour
October 2025 – April 2026
Every Friday & Saturday | 11 am – 12 pm
Every Saturday | 1 pm – 2 pm
Discover Arizona’s first and oldest botanical garden with this docent-led tour on our Main Trail. Explore our diverse gardens, which are home to plants from many of the world’s deserts. You will learn what makes desert plants unique and the adaptations that allow them to grow in challenging environments. This introduction to Boyce Thompson Arboretum is enjoyable for first-time and return visitors alike.
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOTÂ accepted. Please note: this tour lasts approximately one (1) hour, covers 0.5 miles, and follows paved, unpaved, and uneven pathways.
Tour size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Wallace Garden Tour
October 2025 – April 2026
Every Friday | 1 pm – 2 pm
Explore the Wallace Desert Garden on this docent-led walking tour. You will learn about the legacy of Henry B. Wallace, unique geography, and collection plants that make this part of our garden so special. Of the 1,223 taxa (species, cultivars, hybrids, varieties) in the garden, 861 are new to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and 62 species are rare or endangered. Â
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOTÂ accepted. Please note: this tour lasts approximately one (1) hour, covers 1.25 miles, and follows paved, unpaved, and uneven pathways.
Tour size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Bird Walk
December 2025 – April 2026
First Wednesday & Saturday of the month | 9 am – 10 am
- March 4th & 7th, 2026
- April 1st & 4th, 2026
Boyce Thompson Arboretum has been named an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, serving as a habitat for numerous species of birds. Join our beginner-friendly guided walk to explore this unique landscape with a variety of bird species.
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOTÂ accepted. No binoculars? No problem! Loaner binoculars are available at our admissions window.
Walk size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Edible & Medicinal Plant Tour
November 2025 – April 2026
Third Wednesday & Saturday of the month | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
- March 18th & 21st, 2026
- April 15th & 18th, 2026
Boyce Thompson Arboretum cultivates hundreds of edible and medicinal plants from all over the world. Join us to explore the usefulness of these plants, focusing on what you can find in our Sonoran Desert. This is an informational tour, guests will not harvest or sample plants.
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOTÂ accepted. Please note: this guided tour may include the Sonoran Desert Trail, which has steep sections that are not suitable for visitors who use wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers.
Tour size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Butterfly Walk
October 2025 – May 2026
Select dates and times
- March 28th, 2026: 10:30 am-11:30 am
- April 11th, 2026: 10:00 am-11:00 am
- April 25th, 2026: 10:00 am-11:00 am
- May 9th, 2026: 9:00 am-10:00 am
Learn about commonly found butterfly species and their host plants with a butterfly expert from Central Arizona Butterfly Association.
Walks are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOTÂ accepted.
Walk size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Sunrise Hike
Wednesdays & Saturdays in May | 6:30 am – 7:30 am
Start your summer with our Docents on a family friendly educational hike! On this sunrise hike, learn about our unique collection plants, Sonoran Desert ecology, and how our plants survive in extreme conditions. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, sun protective clothing, and bring plenty of water.
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOTÂ accepted.Â
Tour size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Summer Golf Cart Tour
1st, 3rd, & 5th Fridays & Saturdays, June-August | 7:30 am – 8:30 am
Explore the arboretum this summer with our Docents on a golf cart tour! We invite you to join us for an hour long cart ride to some of our most scenic spots of the arboretum. Our knowledgeable Docents will give you insights into our collections and take you to the best photo ops the gardens have to offer.
Cart tours are limited to 5 guests per tour. Due to limited space pre-registration is highly recommended. Purchase your tickets at our Welcome Center Gift Shop or Online.
Tour size: 5 people
Cost: $20 per person, plus admission
Private Tours
Join us for a private tour with one of Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s experienced docents! Explore our diverse gardens—home to plants from deserts across the globe—on a one-hour guided tour.
Availability
October – April, from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (some date exclusions apply).
Please book at least four weeks in advance.
Tour Details
- Tour duration: Approximately one hour
- Minimum group size: 2 guests
- Maximum group size: 75 guests
- Bus parking available in main lot
- Group rates available for 10+ guests
Pricing
- Monday–Friday: $10 per person + admission
- Saturday & Sunday: $15 per person + admission
- Golf Cart Tour: $20 per person + admission (max 5 guests)
- Minimum fee: $100 + admission (covers first 10 guests on weekdays, first 6 on weekends)
- No deposit required
Available Tours
-
- Arboretum Discovery Tour
- Golf Cart Tour (max 5 guests)
Special Interest Groups
Have a theme or area of focus? Let us know on the request form and we’ll tailor the tour! Our docents love to engage with your interests.
GROUP ADMISSION
Group admission rates are available from October – April, with at least 1 week’s notice.
The group discount is $3 off the regular price of admission
A minimum of 10 paid guests is required to receive the discount.
Admission must be paid in one transaction at the Visitor’s Center.
Planning a Class or Program at the Arboretum?
Please reach out to our Events Department. Kindly note that class and program bookings that are not pre-arranged with the Events Department are not allowed.
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Boyce Thompson Arboretum is traveling to your classroom!
Boyce Thompson Arboretum classroom outreach brings outdoor learning to your school through S.T.E.A.M. units offering inquiry-based, engaging lessons that explore the world of plants as well as the phenomena of the Sonoran Desert. Learn how plants grow in our arid environment, the amazing adaptations of wildlife in the desert, and how to start and maintain a pollinator garden at your school.*
Classroom outreach is one piece of the Arboretum`s initiative to bring quality education to schools within the Copper Corridor. Thank you to our sponsor, @resolutioncopper, for making outreach possible.
Outreach sessions for the 2026-2027 school year are booking now. Learn more and schedule an outreach session at the link in bio.
*Some outreach programs are limited to schools within the Copper Corridor
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #outreach #stemeducation
What are you hoping to pick up at Boyce Thompson Arboretum`s Spring Plant Sale?
Spring Plant Sale begins March 14th and runs through March 29th, 8 am – 5 pm daily. BTA Members receive 20% off during plant sales and get early access to the sale on March 13! Become a member at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #springplantsale #desertplants #springplanting
See beautiful and unique floral and horticultural displays at SPRING FEVER 🌺
Desert Designers & Gold Canyon Garden Club present SPRING FEVER 2026, A National Garden Club Small Standard Flower Show. Members of Desert Designers & Gold Canyon Garden Club come together to expand and exhibit their knowledge and skill of Floral design.
Open to the public – Free with Arboretum’s standard admission
Viewing Hours:
Saturday March 21st, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday March 22nd, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This flower show is held in honor of Kim Gray, Executive Director of Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona’s largest and oldest botanical garden.
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #floraldesign #flowershow
Penstemon parryi is in bloom across the gardens. Native to the Sonoran Desert, this wildflower is adding stunning pops of pink across our desert landscape.
Come see what`s blooming. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarborteum #boycethompsonarboretum #springblooms #nativewildflowers
March is daffodil month! Symbolizing spring, new beginnings, and happiness, these flowers are definitely adding joy to our gardens.
Every season has something new to offer. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarborteum #boycethompsonarboretum #SpringBlooms #DesertBloom #daffodils
Join us tomorrow and Saturday for our monthly bird walks
Whether you are a beginner birder looking for a new hobby or an expert who visits the Arboretum often, Boyce Thompson Arboretum`s bird walks are a great opportunity to connect with the local birding community. Learn the best areas to look for birds at the Arboretum and get tips for watching and identifying from one of our trained docents.
Bird walks are from 9 am - 10 am on March 4th and 7th. Tours are free with Arboretum admission. Registration is first come, first serve (limit 15 per walk). To register for a tour or walk, sign up at the Welcome Center.
🔠No binoculars? No problem! Loaner binoculars are available at our admissions window.
#btarboretum #birding #birdwatching #guidedtours
Take a break from your busy schedule and reconnect with nature through Forest Bathing
Take a deep breath, slow down, and immerse yourself in the healing beauty of Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s century‑old trees. Join us Saturday for a rejuvenating Forest Bathing (Shinrin‑yoku) experience designed to enhance your health, wellness, and happiness.
March 7, 2026
9:00 am - 11:30 am
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Members: $32 | Non-members: $40
Register at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #forestbathing #meditation
March is blooming. Swipe through to see what the gardens have to offer this spring and let us know your favorite desert flowers in the comments.
Plan your visit to catch these seasonal beauties. Link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #DesertBloom #springblooms