Cactus, Sun, and Weekend Fun: Why the Desert Botanical Garden is a Must for Nature-Loving Adventurers
Nestled up against the rusty-red Papago Buttes, the Desert Botanical Garden is one of those places that you’ll want to visit again and again. Years ago we had an annual pass so we could see the gardens in every season.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth, there’s always something new blooming, something surprising around the bend. For years we had the membership, so we could visit the gardens during each season.
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Founded back in 1939, this garden is now home to over 50,000 desert plants from all over the world. It’s an immersive, educational experience in desert life.
The botanical gardens is a true gem in Phoenix. You can learn a lot about desert life and gardening here.
The Botanical Gardens was created in 1939 and is one of the few Botanical Gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. You can either take a guided tour of the gardens or a self-guided tour.
Garden Trails
- Desert Wildflower Loop Trail and Butterfly Exhibits
- Desert Discovery Loop Trail
- Center for Desert Living Trail: Herb Garden
- Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail
- Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail
- Agave Yucca Forest
- Succulent and Cactus Houses
Once you step through the entrance, you’ll have a choice: veer right or left. If you go right, you’ll find yourself on the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail, one of my personal favorites. If you head left, you’ll join the main Desert Discovery Loop Trail. You can’t go wrong either way.
Desert Wildflower Loop Trail
Tucked behind the gift shop, this trail feels like a secret garden. In spring, it bursts into color with desert marigolds, penstemons, and lupines. All of this set against the stunning Papago Buttes. The Butterfly Pavilion is located here too, visit here in the spring and fall.
Desert Discovery Trail
This is the heart of the garden. The path is paved with brick and offers a smooth stroll through some of the garden’s oldest plantings. Look for towering saguaros, blooming ocotillo, and funky barrel cacti. You can veer to the right to enter the herb garden or stay on the brick path to make a loop.
Steele Herb Garden
Keep your eyes peeled for a charming detour to the Herb Garden, a fragrant space filled with desert-adapted herbs like lavender, thyme, and native varieties that thrive in the Arizona sun.
The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail
Ready for a little incline? This short loop climbs just enough to give you sweeping views of the desert landscape. It’s one of the best spots for sunset photos, with silhouettes of saguaro cacti standing tall in the golden light.
Follow the main path to the next trail. The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail is a .25-mile loop. You will have beautiful views of the Saguaro Cacti.
Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert
This interactive trail is a hit with kids and curious adults alike. It’s designed to show how native peoples use desert plants for food, shelter, medicine, and more. It’s a fascinating way to connect culture with ecology.
Agave Yucca Forest and Succulent & Cactus Houses
As you loop back to the main path, don’t miss the Succulent and Cactus Houses. These greenhouses showcase some of the most bizarre and beautiful desert plants you’ll ever see, perfect for snapping photos or getting ideas for your own drought-tolerant garden back home.
After viewing this trail find your way back to the main brick path and the Succulent and Cactus houses this will bring you full circle to the beginning of the Desert Discovery Trail.
Seasonal exhibits
The Botanical Garden has many seasonal exhibits throughout the year. Our favorites include the Spring Butterfly Exhibit (March-May) and the Monarch Exhibit (September-November). The butterfly exhibit is located off of the Desert Wildflower Trail.
Must See Spots Near the Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden shares its neighborhood with two other must-see spots like Papago Park and the Phoenix Zoo.
You can spend your morning strolling through the gardens, grab lunch at the onsite patio café, then head over to the park for a casual hike or picnic. If you’re traveling with the kids or grandkids, the zoo is always a winner.
Phone: 480-941-1225
Address:1201 North Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ
Hours: Open seven days a week, year-round, except for major holidays. Hours vary by season.
