Photo by Melinda Massey, courtesy of the NC Arboretum.
Sights & Sounds
Activities & Interests
The North Carolina Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, North Carolina, is one of the finest public gardens in the Southern Appalachians. Arboretum exhibits emphasize connections between local culture and the landscape and its gentle trails are popular for woodland walks.
While helping design the grounds at Biltmore Estate, renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned a public garden for Asheville. Today, the 434-acre Arboretum, located within the Pisgah National Forest, fulfills that dream.
The North Carolina Arboretum is a center for education, research, conservation, and garden demonstration. Throughout the year, the Arboretum offers a variety of educational programs, including seminars, exhibits, nature walks, and activities for children and families.
Of special interest to many visitors is the Arboretum's Bonsai Exhibition Garden, where more than 100 quality specimens are on display. The North Carolina Arboretum collection includes not only traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, but also plants native to the North Carolina mountains, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine.
Nine trails wind through the Arboretum, some restricted to foot traffic while others can be used for both hiking and cycling. Most trails are easy to moderate.
The Arboretum offers three-hour, guided Segway tours Mondays through Saturdays. Reservations are encouraged.
The Arboretum's Education Center houses a gift shop, gallery, and café.
Hours of Operation
Baker Exhibit Center and Education Center:
9 am - 5 pm (Monday - Saturday)
12 pm - 5 pm (Sunday)
The café and gift shop are closed on Mondays.
Property Hours:
8 am - 9 pm (April - October)
8 am - 7 pm (November - March)
Production Greenhouse Hours:
8 am - 2 pm (Monday - Friday)
Though the grounds are open on State holidays, most buildings are closed. See Arboretum website for details.
Admission Fees
The Arboretum charges a parking fee at the entrance gate.
$8 per personal motor vehicle
$30 for commercial vehicles
$50 for tour buses
Parking is free for all visitors on the first Tuesday of each month.
Hours of operation and fees are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.
Location
From the Blue Ridge Parkway, exit at milepost 393, following the signs for NC Arboretum, Hwy. 191 and Interstate 26. On the exit ramp, the entrance to the Arboretum is on the left (before Hwy. 191).
From I-40, take I-26 East. Take Exit 33 (marked Blue Ridge Parkway-Brevard Road-Hwy 191). Turn left (South) onto Hwy. 191. Travel South on Hwy 191 for approximately 2.1 miles (pass Biltmore Square Mall). Look for brown signs for Blue Ridge Parkway and NC Arboretum. Take right turn at light. The main entrance is ahead on right.
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, NC 28806-9315
(828) 665-2492 ext. 200
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 665-2492
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Also Nearby
- Mountain Gateway Museum
-
3 miles
The Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center in Old Fort, NC provides an excellent introduction to mountain lifestyle and history.
- Swannanoa Valley Museum
-
5 miles
The Swannanoa Valley Museum reflects the history of Western North Carolina through local artifacts and exhibits.
- Mount Mitchell State Park
-
9 miles
Lofty Mount Mitchell, near Burnsville, NC, rises to 6,684 feet and is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River.
