Boyce Thompson Arboretum: What I’d Know Before Visiting

The first time I visited Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Arizona, I expected a desert landscape and flowers. What I didn’t expect was towering trees with fiery red leaves in Pistachia Grove, a kid-friendly garden with colorful mosaics, and historical buildings.

We have visited the Arboretum twice and we will be returning again once it cools off. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth visiting or trying to decide how much time to spend here, this guide covers everything I wish I’d known before my first visit.

If you enjoy history, photography, gardens, hiking, or a peaceful walk with your dog, I absolutely think Boyce Thompson Arboretum is worth visiting. I would probably skip it only if you have very limited time in Arizona and aren’t interested in gardens.

A Visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. At the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, you can see towering trees, cacti, sheer mountain cliffs, bridges, art sculptures, gardens, and a hidden pond. This is one of the nicest areas to take a desert walk.

In addition to the Arboretum, you can visit the new 13-acre Wallace Desert garden. There are 11 stops in the garden and 38 stops at the Arboretum. You can easily spend the day here just exploring.

I love taking photos of windows and doors and other architectural details. To see more visit my gallery post on architectural features.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Main Trail

The main trail through the Arboretum will lead you to an eventual loop. Most of the walking is level. There are meandering paths off of the main trail. Once you get to the middle of the loop (around the Ayers Lake) it will become steeper.

The main trail has 38-stops and five miles of trails.

The Visitor Center leads you to the Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden.

You can also take a quick detour on your left to the Sonoran Desert Exhibit and Curandero Trail.

This trail is a loop and will lead you back to the main trail towards the Hummingbird Garden.

To the right of you there are paths to the

• Picnic area
• Demonstration garden
• Wallace Desert Garden,
• Australian Deserts Exhibit,
• Australian Pavillion,
• Drovers Wool Shed
• Heritage Rose Garden

Just across from the Heritage Rose Garden is one of the historical spots in the Arboretum, Smith Interpretive Center.

Smith Interpretive Center and Greenhouses

Across from the Rose Garden is the Smith Interpretive Center. Built in 1925, this was the arboretum’s original visitor center and is on the National Register of Historical places.  There are two greenhouses attached to the building and a beautiful area next to the building for having a picnic or enjoying the gardens.

Children’s Garden

Don’t miss the beautiful Children’s Garden. Down a meandering path to the side and the back of the Smith building is a children’s garden with colorful mosaic paths.

Just beyond the Children’s Learning Center a meandering path leads to the Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit, which will lead you back to the original trail. If you make a left from where it meets back on the main trail you’ll be taking the loop around Ayers Lake. If you don’t want to hike the steep part of the trail turn right.

Ayers Lake

After Ayers Lake the trail becomes steeper. If you continue up the trail you’ll have a great view from above. You’re going to see the Upland Sonoran Desert area and a view of the Picket Post House. Don’t forget to fill your water bottle before starting this portion of the trail.

If you would rather not take a steep trail, you can skip this and still see the suspension bridge by going to the end of the loop and skipping the middle of the loop. Go back to the Desert Legume Garden and make a left on the path by the Eucalyptus forest. Follow this path to the bridge.

Upland Sonoran Desert

Picket Post House

The Picket Post House overlooks Queen Creek and Queen Creek Canyon. It was built in the 1920’s as William Boyce Thompson’s winter home.

There are two gazebos on this part of the trail, so you can overlook the arboretum and take a break if you need to.

Queen Creek Riparian

After the gazebo you will make your way down to the Queen Creek Riparian area. You’re close to the suspension bridge.

Tree Tunnel

Berber Suspension Bridge

One of the highlights of the Arboretum is taking a walk across the swinging suspension bridge. This bridge crosses Queen Creek connecting the main trail to the High Trail. We just walked across it and back to the main trail.

Pistachia Grove

Back on the main trail you’ll find one of my favorite spots in the garden – Pistachia Grove. Such a gorgeous shaded area, you can see why the Clevenger’s picked this area to build a home. Near the creek and shade. Just look at the rings on that tree. It’s like a portal.

This area inspired me to purchase a Chinese Pistachia tree for my own yard. It has now grown about 20-feet tall. What other tree gives you fiery red leaves in the fall this far south? To see the leaves turn red, visit in late November.

Between Pistachia Grove and the Clevenger House there is a Herb Garden.

Clevenger House

Another piece of history within Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the Clevenger’s house. Built into the side of the rock of stone and mortar. It is a nice place to catch some shade and try to imagine was it must have been like to live in this little house. You can see why they may have picked this spot, close to the creek with lots of shade trees.

A family of five lived here in the early 1900’s. The Clevenger’s were homesteaders and left the area in the 1920’s. The land was later purchased by the Boyce Thompson family.

After the Clevenger house you can explore the South African Desert Exhibit, Mediterranean Garden, Palm Grove, Pine Loop, Benson Bridge, Eucalyptus Forest, and Aborginal Seep.

Wallace Desert Garden

To the right of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum Visitor Center there is a path to enter the Wallace Desert Garden. This garden is has an additional 1.5 miles of walking trails.

Best Time of Year to Visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum

One of the best times to visit the Arboretum and one of the busiest is during spring – Arizona’s wildflower season. Not only will see you hundreds of poppies, the desert cactus and succulents are in bloom.

When we visited in March, we also saw lots of hummingbirds and even a cardinal.

Another amazing time to visit is in the fall and winter. The weather has cooled off and in late November you can see the fiery red leaves of the Chinese Pistache trees.

Tips for Visitors

• Fill up your gas tank before heading out to Superior, there are no gas stations for many miles. There is one in Superior, Arizona.
• Bring a reusable water bottle. You can refill them here.
• Pack snacks or a lunch. There is no food on-site, but there are picnic areas. Alternatively plan on arriving at opening, visiting a few hours and driving to Superior for lunch. There are limited restaurants in this area.
• Dogs are welcome, on a 6-foot leash. Don’t forget a water dish for your pup.
• Arrive early

It takes me about an hour and half to reach Boyce Thompson Arboretum because I live on the opposite side of the metro area. I arrived around 10 am on a weekend the first time I visited and the parking lot was pretty full at this time. When I visited during the week it was a lot less crowded.

However, regardless of the day of the week, I would plan future visits so that I arrive when they open. If you wait until 10:00 am, like I did, it is starting to warm up and after a couple hours you’ll be hungry and hot. Visiting early definitely makes for a quieter and cooler experience.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum FAQs