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.
#1Arb
Tag us on Instagram with
@btarboretum #1Arb
Then & Now: Ayer Lake at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
On top is an image of Ayer Lake from 1926. Ayer Lake was constructed in 1925 as a reservoir for the Arboretum. Today, the lake is a home to native plant and animal species that rely on riparian areas.
Take a walk through history and experience the beauty of the Arboretum for yourself. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
There`s only one month left to experience the beauty of Glass in Flight at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Through January, explore larger than-life glass and steel sculptures of butterflies, dragonflies, ants, bees, and other pollinators. Made by artist Alex Heveri from hand-cut Dalle de Verre glass, the works glow in the sun and blend naturally into the Arboretum’s gardens, highlighting the beauty and importance of pollinators.
The exhibition continues after dark for Glass in Flight at Night. These sculptures are illuminated against the desert night. Visitors have a rare chance to enjoy the Arboretum through golden hour, sunset, and evening, when both the artwork and the landscape take on new dimensions.
@glassinflight is on display during normal operating hours through January 31st. Glass in Flight at Night evening hours are Fridays-Sundays, 5 pm - 8 pm, through January 31st. The exhibit is included with regular admission.
Come see Glass in Flight before it`s gone. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #glassinflight
Happy New Year!
We’re open today, 8 AM–5 PM (last admission 4 PM).
Start 2026 surrounded by nature. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #aloe
Make a trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum part of your 2026 bucket list.
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #coati
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a cherished place for so many, each with their own connection to its beauty and purpose. As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on all we’ve accomplished together. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are thrilled to share that we are 80% of the way to our calendar year-end goal!
We are deeply grateful for the incredible support that makes our work possible. If you haven’t made your year-end, tax-deductible gift yet, there’s still time to help us continue to preserve, inspire, and grow.
You can support the Arboretum at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizonachamber
Start the year off right with a guided meditation walk through Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Forest Bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is the practice of spending time in nature for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness. During this class, participants will be led on a 2-and-a-half hour walk through the century-old trees of the Arboretum with a series of guided “invitations”, closing with a tea ceremony.
Date: January 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Members: $32
Non-members: $40
Register for Forest Bathing at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #forestbathing #guidedmeditation
As 2025 comes to an end, we`re looking back at what a wonderful year it`s been. Take a look at some of our favorite Boyce Thompson Arboretum photos and memories from 2025.
What`s your favorite memory from the Arboretum?
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Calling all dog lovers and outdoor enthusiasts
Bring your furry friend and enjoy a fun-filled day at Tails & Trails, where adventure meets wagging tails. Don`t miss out on these activities:
- Dog adoptions with @pinalcountyanimalcontrol and @barbsdogrescue
- Docent lead dog hikes
- Pet-related vendors
- Food/Beverage Trucks
- Puppy Yoga (Pre-registration Required)
- Dog training workshop (Pre-registration Required)
Date: January 10, 2026
Time: 10 am - 3 pm
Tails & Trails is free with admission! With additional items and activities available for purchase.
Special thanks to our event sponsor @evurgentpet
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #dogs #tailsandtrails