Facilities

Facilities available at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park.

Fire Restrictions

Charcoal and propane fires allowed in picnic area grills. Check Current Fire Restrictions and learn How to Extinguish a Campfire.

Visitor Center

Visitor Center Hours: May – August, 6 am to 3 pm
September – April, 8 am to 5 pm (Fall, Winter and Spring)

Tours depart from the patio area located behind the Visitor Center.

Restrooms

Restrooms are located at the Visitor Center and Smith Building. They are handicap accessible.

Gift Shop

The Gift Shop located inside the Visitor Center offers Bbooks, gifts, drinks, snacks and sandwiches. There is also a small Art Gallery that display art on a rotating basis. Additionally, many unique desert plant and cactus specimens are for sale from the Arboretum.

Exhibits

Exhibits Unique garden areas at the Arboretum provide fascinating themed experiences.

Children’s Garden: Get lost in the maze, dig for buried treasure and enjoy the sites, sounds and smells. This garden has something for all ages.

Taylor Legume Garden: This garden showcases some of the many members from the very important Pea Family of plants.

Cactus & Succulent Garden: 300 species of cacti and succulents call our Cactus Garden home.

Herb Garden: You will find this garden to be an aromatic and culinary delight. Also located within the Herb Garden is the historic Clevenger House.

Australian Desert: Find yourself surrounded by trees and shrubs from the Land Down Under on this Australian Walkabout.

Demonstration Garden: This garden will give you design and plant selection ideas for your home landscape.

Group: Day Use Areas/Picnic Area

The Arboretum has a large picnic area with 30 tables and several barbeque grills. The area is first come, first served. A limited number of parking spaces are available adjacent to the picnic grounds. Once full, visitors using the picnic area are asked to park in the main lot.

Hiking Trails

Hiking Trails Before you begin your walk we encourage you to carry water, wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Stay on the trails. Take only photographs, leave only footprints.

Main Trail: The main trail is 1.5 miles and begins at the Visitor Center. Please allow yourself at least two hours for the full tour. While walking the main trail you will encounter numerous trails that shoot off from the main trail. We encourage you to explore and enjoy. However, be advised that is difficult to see the entire Arboretum in one day. Signs are posted on trails that are not recommended for wheelchairs.

High Trail: For those looking for a more rugged experience, this 0.45-mile trail will take you through the Upper Sonoran Natural Area.

Sonoran Desert: Follow our 0.3-mile long Curandero Trail to learn more about the medicinal and edible plants of our native flora.

Chihuahuan Desert: The 0.27-mile trail through this exhibit showcases plants from the Chihuahuan Desert of North America located in Chihuahua, Mexico, west Texas and southern New Mexico.

South American Desert: This 0.2-mile trail showcases plants from Cuyo, Monte and Chaco regions of Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife Viewing The Arboretum’s irrigated gardens and protected grounds are a magnet for birds and animals. Over 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians call the Arboretum home. While often unseen, Mule Deer, Javalina, Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Squirrel and Rabbits (just to name a few) call the Arboretum home.

In 2007 the Arboretum was designated as an important bird area. More than 250 species have been recorded in the “birds of the Arboretum checklist”. Gambel’s Quail, Canyon Wren, Curved-Billed Thrashers, and Black Throated Sparrows are among the most abundant species. Bird lists are available at the Visitor Center.

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