To active individuals who love nature, adventure, and history…
Superior offers top-notch hiking and outdoor adventure, unique annual festivals, and a budding culinary and art scene.
Superior, Arizona has a rich legacy as an important center of mining. Located 60 miles east of Phoenix and 2,888 feet up in elevation, it sits in an impressive natural setting with a remarkable scenic backdrop that includes Apache Leap and Picketpost Mountain. Access to the surrounding desert and Tonto National Forest is provided by a convenient system of forest roads and trails including the Arizona National Scenic Trail and the newly completed Legends of Superior Trail.
Things to do in Superior:
Adventure
Community
Culture
Stay & Play
Make your visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum part of a weekend event! Stay and explore this picturesque, largely undiscovered destination that offers outstanding outdoor adventure, unique annual festivals, fascinating history, and a welcoming food, shopping and arts scene.
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Catch the Yarrow blooms in the Demonstration Garden and the Herb Garden.
New here? Let us show you around.
Welcome to Boyce Thompson Arboretum—Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden.
Explore winding trails, desert blooms, and 343 acres of living beauty just outside Phoenix.
Come curious. Leave inspired.
Calling all teachers! Boyce Thompson Arboretum invites you to join us for our professional development sessions. Come spend time with us as we familiarize ourselves with the 5E Instructional Model and explore desert plant adaptations! Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Visit https://btarboretum.org/pd/to apply.
✨Summer Golf Cart Tours ✨
Explore the arboretum this summer with our staff 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 staff will give you insights into our collections and take you to the best photo ops the gardens have to offer.
Wednesdays-Saturdays in June, July, August between 7:00am-8:00am, 9:00am-10:00am, 11:00am-12:00pm
Cost: $20 per person, plus the cost of admission.
Cart tours are first come first served with a limit of 5 guests. Ask about availability at our Visitor’s Center Wednesday through Saturdays this summer!
Some exclusions apply
Make the most of your mornings this summer! From June through August, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is open Wednesday through Monday, 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with last admission at 11:00 a.m. We are closed on Tuesdays.
Plus during these months enjoy special admission rates:
Ages 13 and up – $16
Children 5–12 – $10
Children under 5 – Free
Visit early, explore the trails, and soak in the beauty of the Arboretum in the cooler part of the day.
Tiny cuttings, big impact.
Every plant you see here started from just a snip — carefully cleaned, dipped, and rooted with care. Propagation isn’t just practical. It’s powerful. It helps us grow more plants for pollinators, restoration, and education — all while conserving precious resources.
But we can’t do it alone. Your support helps us expand our propagation efforts and grow the future of this garden.
Think you`re seeing bark? Look again. You might be spotting the Ornate Tree Lizard. But once you see it...you can`t unsee it.
If you grew up in the Southwest, this flower might be part of your childhood. The Desert Willow is back in bloom in the garden and just as magical as you remember.