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 – March 2026
Every Friday & Saturday | 11 am – 12 pm
Every Saturday | 1 pm – 2 pm
April 2026
Every Friday & Saturday | 11 am – 12 pm
Every Saturday | 9 am – 10 am
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 NOT 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 – March 2026
Every Friday | 1 pm – 2 pm
April 2026
Every Friday | 9 am – 10 am
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, sign up at the Welcome Center. Reservations are NOT 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
June 2026 – September 2026: First Wednesday of the month | 6:15 am – 7:45 am
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 NOT 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 NOT 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 NOT 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 NOT accepted.
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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Join us this Saturday for an Arbor Day Celebration!
Honor and celebrate the amazing world of trees! Families can enjoy a variety of tree-themed activities, hands-on crafts, and nature fun from 10 am - 12 pm.
Girl Scouts who attend will earn the requirements for the Tree Promise Patch. The patch can be purchased for the council shop.
All activities are free with admission—come grow, learn, and celebrate trees with us!
Get tickets at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #ArborDay
Celebrate Arbor Day with Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
Families can enjoy a variety of tree-themed activities, hands-on crafts, and nature fun on April 25th.
Girl Scouts who attend will earn the requirements for the Tree Promise Patch. The patch can be purchased for the council shop. All activities are free with admission—come grow, learn, and celebrate trees with us.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #arborday
Happy Earth Day!
At Boyce Thompson Arboretum we work to inspire appreciation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems. Spend some time outside today and notice all the desert has to offer.
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #earthday #DesertConservation
Riparian area play an extremely important role to the Arizona ecosystem.
This Arbor Day, help us continue to protect the Queen Creek Riparian Area. Donate to our Greatest Needs Fund at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #riparian #ArborDay #DesertConservation
Join us for the last Yoga in the Garden session of the season.
Relax and restore in this all-levels yoga class held outside in the tranquil setting of the Arboretum. During this class, participants are shown how to mindfully move through gentle postures with breath awareness to promote relaxation, flexibility, and circulatory health.
Member Adult: $15
Non-member Adult: $30
Register at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #yoga #yogainthegarden
Prickly, but beautiful - Cactus flower season is something you don`t want to miss!
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #cactusflower #desertbloom
If you couldn`t make it to Flavor of Arizona today, there`s still Sunday!
Taste, sip, and shop all things Arizona while exploring stunning desert trails. Amazing local vendors from across the state will be in our Picnic Area from 10 am - 3 pm on Sunday, April 19th.
Flavor of Arizona is Free with Admission. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #arizonafoodie #localbusiness
The vibrant flowers of the Schotia brachypetala
Going by the names weeping boer-bean, tree fuchsia, African greenheart and African walnut, this desert legume lights up the trails with it`s red blooms. The tree is native to the sub-tropical regions of southern Africa. Similarly to other legumes, its seed pods have historically been used for food.
Explore over 100 species of legumes at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #desertlegumes #desertplants