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
Stop by today and tomorrow to see Glass in Flight before it flies away
Walk among butterflies, insects, and hummingbirds that radiate color and light. Take a seat on a vibrant butterfly bench or pose under a towering monarch arch. Learn how these small-but-mighty creatures play a vital role in our ecosystem.
@glassinflight t is an immersive outdoor sculpture exhibit by renowned Tucson-based artist Alex Heveri. Featuring over 17 dazzling sculptures made of hand-cut, hand-faceted Dalle de Verre glass set in powder-coated steel, this exhibit captures the magic of nature’s tiniest pollinators—blown up to monumental scale.
Exhibit Hours: January 30 & 31, 8 am - 8 pm
Exhibit included with general admission.
You don`t want to miss this! Plan your visit to @btarboretum at https://btarboretum.org/.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #glassinflight
Add a bit of whimsy to your day with a trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #whimsy
This plant might be the future of sustainable agriculture in Arizona.
In the 1920s, researchers began studying Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) as a replacement for rubber imported to the U.S.. When WW2 cut off the United States` supply of latex, the plant was again used to replace the more commonly used latex produced by Pará rubber trees. After the war, research into the plants usage was halted until recent years.
Today, successful tires, medical supplies, wet suits, and adhesives are being made with Guayule rubber. The plants` hypoallergenic properties and low water usage make it an appealing alternative to the rubber widely produced now.
Learn about a variety of native plants and their uses at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #desertplants #SustainableAgriculture
The perfect setting for your next adventure 🏜
Plan your visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) blooming in the Canyon Region at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Grown for its sweet orange fruit and as an ornamental tree, the loquat sprout fragrant, white flowers through the fall and winter.
Explore stunning blooms at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #loquat #winterblooms
This is your last week to experience Glass in Flight at Boyce Thompson Arboretum🦋
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.
@glassinflight is on display during normal operating hours through Saturday, 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 flies away. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona #GlassInFlight
I spy🔎Can you spot all of the desert dwellers in these photos?
Many animals in the Arizona desert use camouflage to conceal themselves from predators and ambush prey. Disguising themselves helps them survive the often harsh desert landscape.
See what you can spot in person at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
We`re in for some cooler temps this weekend, but that hasn`t stopped these winter and early spring blooms.
Photos by CJCarter @sandhillsnapshots
Come see what`s blooming at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#aloe #winterblooms #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona