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, please sign up at the admission window. 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.
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, please sign up at the admission window. 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
Beginner Bird Walk
December 2025 – April 2026
First Wednesday & Saturday of the month | 9 am – 10 am
- January 3rd & 7th, 2026
- February 4th & 7th, 2026
- 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.
Walks are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, please sign up at admission window. 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
- January 17th & 21st, 2026
- February 18th & 21st, 2026
- 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, please sign up at admission window . 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, please sign up at the admission window
Walk size: 15 people
Cost: Free with admission
Geology Walk
Select dates | 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
- Dates TBA
Uncover the geological mysteries of Boyce Thompson Arboretum with an experienced geologist. Answer questions like: “How was Picketpost Mountain formed?” within the stunning beauty of BTA.
Tours are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a tour or walk, sign up at admission window .
Tour size: 15 people
Cost: Free with 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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Did someone say strawberries 🍓
The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe. Despite its name, the plant is not closely related to the strawberries commonly eaten in the U.S.. The Strawberry Tree belongs to the Ericaceae family, same as cranberries and blueberries. The berries of the plant are edible, often being used in jams, liqueurs, and honey.
Explore edible and medicinal plants from all over the world at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#strawberrytree #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Join us this Saturday for Wet Felting
Craft a one-of-a-kind flower using the wet felting technique – an art form that uses soap, water, and friction to transform wool fibers into shapes or images. Guided by instructor @memorybradleyart, you’ll design a felted flower that’s uniquely yours, whether it be inspired by nature or imagination. No experience necessary!
Date: January 24, 2026
Time: 11 am - 2 pm
Members: $88
Non-members: $110 (Tickets include a take-home kit to continue your art at home!)
Class participants must be 16+ years of age. Register at the link in bio.
#wetfelting #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
A beautiful way to spend the day.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is open MLK Day, 8 am - 5 pm (last admission at 4 pm). Spend some time outdoors this weekend. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#perennialgarden #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
A Bridled Titmouse (Baeolophus wollweberi) spotted at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Not often seen at the Arboretum, the Bridled Titmouse is native through Mexico and parts of Arizona and New Mexico. They prefer woodlands and higher elevation, making their sighting at the Arboretum a treat.
Photo by: @keithkuttler
Explore 200+ species of native birds at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Get tickets at https://btarboretum.org/.
#birding #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
It may be winter, but cacti stay green year around!
Experience the beauty of every season at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
It doesn`t quite feel like winter at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
The warmer temperatures and rain this winter season have tricked some of our spring blooms into showing up early this year. A reminder that plants don`t follow the calendar.
Take a advantage of the beautiful weather and early blooms. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#SpringBlooms #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Explore century old eucalyptus trees at Arizona`s oldest and largest botanical garden.
Get tickets at btarboretum.org.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Chiricahua Leopard Frogs (Lithobates chiricahuensis) spotted at Ayer Lake.
The Chiricahua Leopard Frog gets its name from the spotted pattern on it back. Native to Arizona and New Mexico, these frogs are found in or near permanent and semi-permanent water sources.
Due to habitat loss, the Chiricahua Leopard Frog is endangered. Water sources like Ayer Lake and our Queen Creek Riparian area are important water sources that give this frog and other native species a home.
Plan your next visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#leopardfrog #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona