Desert Botanical Garden

Experience More - Subscribe to Our Weekly Events Newsletter

The desert often surprises people with its beauty and diversity. A stroll around the impressive grounds of the in Phoenix immerses you in the desert landscape. The garden houses over 4400 species of plants, including four hundred rare and endangered species.


The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail brings you to a view of Camelback Mountain and the surrounding Phoenix neighborhoods. Saguaro cacti, the iconic tall cacti with arms, only live in the Sonoran Desert. The trail also showcases various types of cacti from fuzzy Teddy Bear Cholla to the flat paddles and bright fruit of Prickly Pear Cacti.


The Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail demonstrate several examples of how native people utilized the desert environment. Huts made of leafy branches and shelters of mesquite logs demonstrate how they survived the harsh climate. The desert provided food and medicine to those who adapted to living there.

Stroll down the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail to find flowering bushes visited by hummingbirds and bees. You may be surprised by all the cacti sporting beautiful flowers of different colors.


The main trail leads you to other small trails. The terrain is mainly cement or packed dirt and easy to traverse. There are a couple of options for dining. Gertrude's is a full service sit down restaurant with a lovely patio. The patio café offers a quick bite with a large open terrace from which you can watch the pheasants and ground squirrels.


The hosts concerts and festivals among the desert landscape. The garden also offers classes for adults and children and performs research on desert plants and the desert habitat.



Experience the full beauty and complexity of the Sonoran desert at the . All ages can enjoy an outing in a safe desert environment.

#fun_things_to_do
#near_phoenix
#outdoor
#parks
#walks
%wnphoenix