Boyce Thompson Arboretum offers a wide range of guided tours and walks year-round, from plants and wildlife to history and ecology.
Due to special events and holidays, regularly scheduled tours are not available on November 7, 26-30, December 22-28 & 31st, February 20, March 26, and April 3-4 & 24.
Our tours and walks include:
Cart Tours
October 2026 – April 2027
Every Thursday | 9:30 – 10:30 am
Explore the arboretum with our Docents on an hour long cart tour! Our knowledgeable Docents will give you insights into our collections and take you to the best photo ops the gardens have to offer. Available for private tour reservations! See more information below on booking a private tour.
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
Bird Walks
October 2026 – April 2027:
Every Wednesday | 8:15 am – 9:30 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
Butterfly Walks
October 2026 – May 2027
Select dates and times
- October 10th, 2026: 8:30 – 9:30 am
- October 24th, 2026: 9:30 – 10:30 am
- November 14th, 2026: 9:30 – 10:30 am
- March 13th, 2027: 9:30 – 10:30 am
- March 27th, 2027: 9:30 – 10:30 am
- April 10th, 2027: 8:30 – 9:30 am
- May 1st, 2027: 8:30 – 9:30 am
- May 8th, 2027: 8:30 – 9:30 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
Arboretum Discovery Tours
October 2026
Every Friday | 9:00 – 10:00 am
November 2026 – March 2027
Every Friday & Saturday | 10:00 – 11:00 am
April 2027
Every Friday & 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 Tours
November 2026 – February 2027
Every Saturday | 9:00 – 10:00 am
March 2027 – April 2027
Every Friday & Saturday | 8:30 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
Edible & Medicinal Plant Tours
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
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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This blooming cactus may look like a saguaro, but it`s actually a cardón!
You may be wondering... if they look so similar, how can you tell the difference? Here`s some things to keep in mind:
🌵Cardóns are MUCH larger than saguaros. They have thicker trunks and can grow taller than 60 ft!
🌵They typically have more branches that form closer to the ground.
🌵They`re mostly found in Mexico whereas saguaros are primarily in Arizona.
Even though their blooms are short lived, the cardón remains a beautiful presence year round.
#Cardón #cactusbloom #cactusflower #cactilovers #plantfacts #btarboretum
🍁🍂 Dreaming of fall colors?
It`s almost that time of year when the Arboretum transforms into a beautiful autumnal display! Typically, fall colors start appearing here around mid-November or early December. It largely depends on weather patterns and temperatures. When it finally happens, pomegranates, canyon hackberries, willows, pecans, and our famous grove of scarlet-orange Chinese pistache will (most likely) be at their peak color, as will the cottonwoods in Queen Creek Canyon. It`s a sight you don`t want to miss!
Follow our stories closely for updates! We`ll make sure you know when the first fall colors start to appear.
#fallcolors #fallnature #fallleaves #btarboretum #naturelovers #getoutdoors
When`s the last time you paused to watch a butterfly? 🦋 In a world that moves so fast, there`s something so calming and magical about noticing the small, beautiful things in your path.
Capture this feeling by joining one of our Butterfly Walks! You`ll learn about commonly found species and their host plants with a butterfly expert from Central Arizona Butterfly Association.
📅 October 24 and November 14
🕤9:30 - 10:30 am
🎟️Free with admission
#ButterflyWalk #butterflylovers #arizonabutterflies #pollinatorgarden #insectlovers #thingstodoaz
The outdoors make the best kind of classroom. Join one of our Family Workshops to learn fun facts about nature and participate in a themed craft!
🦇Bats of Arizona: Oct 24 | Craft: Pinecone bat
📝Nature Journaling: Nov 7 | Craft: Nature journal
🍁Fall Color Fun: Nov 14 | Craft: Leaf collage
🌲All About Trees: Dec 12 | Craft: Wood cookie ornament
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Non-Member child (5-17): $10
Member child: $8
Up to 2 adults free with child
#btarboretum #familyworkshops #outdooreducation #natureeducation #NatureFacts #aznature #plantfacts #VisitSuperior #ThingsToDoAZ
🚨Plant Sale starts TOMORROW 🚨
Take a piece of the Arboretum home with you! With over 600 unique plants, you`re bound to find something new and exciting for your garden.
Is there a specific plant you`re hoping will be on sale? Check out our full plant list by clicking the link in our bio.
Fall Plant Sale:
📅October 17 - November 1
⭐October 16: Member`s Preview
🕗8:00 am - 5:00 pm
#plantsale #fallplantsale #btarboretum #cactigarden #azgardening #desertgarden #plantlovers
🍄Did you know that fungi are more closely related to people than plants? They may look like plants, but the way they grow, get nutrients, and evolve is completely different.
Fungi DO interact with plants. They grow by absorbing nutrients from organic material, which is why you often find them on dying trees, logs, or on ground level.
These little guys can be found on the fence surrounding Drover`s Woolshed. Next time you visit, keep an eye out for them and any other mushrooms in your path. Sometimes they pop up in places where you`d least expect!
#MushroomLovers #fungi #fungilovers #mushroomfacts #btarboretum
The Fall Plant Sale is almost here! Take a look at some plants our staff have been eyeing 🪴👀
What plants are you planning on picking up? Let us know in the comments!
Fall Plant Sale
📅October 17 - November 1
🕗8:00 am - 5:00 pm
⭐Member`s Preview: October 16
#plantlovers #plantfacts #naturelovers #btarboretum #plantsale #fallplantsale #azgardening
These beautiful photos were taken by Tim Lee, one of our loyal members! We love seeing our visitors` photography. (Especially when they include cute birds! 🐦)
Want to see some of these birds for yourself? Join us for a Bird Walk! You`ll be surrounded by other avian enthusiasts helping spot and identify our little flying friends.
📅Every Wednesday | October 2026 - April 2027
🕗 8:15 - 9:30 am
🎟️Free with admission
#BirdingCommunity #birding #azbirding #birdinghotspot #southwestbirding #birdingphotography #aznature