Visiting the RBG Arboretum: A Hidden Gem in the GTA

We recently spent an enjoyable afternoon visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario to see the many flowering trees with their spring blossoms and to explore the Cootes Paradise walking trails.

About the RBG Arboretum

The Royal Botanical Gardens, located on the border between Burlington and Hamilton, is the largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site of Canada and part of the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The RBG plays a vital role in the region in preserving environmentally sensitive areas and connecting people to the plant world.

The RBG Arboretum is a park with a variety of trees to see year-round (although particularly beautiful in the spring and fall) and is also a trailhead for the Cootes Paradise nature sanctuary. The Arboretum is over 47 hectares (116 acres) and showcases 1,140 types and 3,269 individual plants.

Royal Botanical Gardens is within the Traditional Territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Huron-Wendat Nations, on land covered by a Treaty between the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Crown.

We have visited the main location of the Royal Botanical Gardens (680 Plains Rd. W. in Burlington) many times but hadn’t visited the Arboretum before even though it is quite close to our home in Oakville (about a 35 minute drive west on Highway 403). We decided to check it out recently on a beautiful spring day in May primarily to see the blossoms but also to do a bit of hiking.

Our visit to the Arboretum lasted about 2 hours and 15 minutes in total – we admired the flowering trees and took photos for about half an hour and then hiked the trails for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Ideally I would have liked to stay for another half an hour but we had to cut our visit short due to an appointment in Oakville. The trees were beautiful and we enjoyed the hiking trails so will definitely add it to our list of nearby places to go walking.

Group of trees with pink blossoms at the Royal Botanical Gardens Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — RBG Arboretum

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Location of the RBG Arboretum

The Arboretum is located at 16 Old Guelph Road in Hamilton, Ontario.

Flowering Trees at the RBG Arboretum

Spring is a popular time to visit the RBG Arboretum to see the stunning flowering trees that are in bloom in May and June.

On our recent visit, the Flowering Crabapple trees, Redbud, and Dogwood were blooming and the Lilacs were just starting to bloom. Some Magnolias were still blooming and the Flowering Cherries were past peak. Bloom season is very weather dependent and varies year-to-year. It’s advisable to check the RBG social media feeds prior to visiting if you want to be sure that certain trees are in bloom.

Group of trees with dark pink blossoms at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Flowering crabapples at RBG Arboretum

Flowering trees with white blossoms at the RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Flowering trees at the RBG Arboretum

Pink blossoms on flowering fruit tree at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Spring blossoms at the RBG Arboretum

The Lilac Walk

The RBG is home to one of the largest lilac collections in the world with over 400 varieties and the Lilac Walk is one of the most beautiful and fragrant areas of the Arboretum.

Pathway with wooden bench surrounded by lilac bushes with purple blooms at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — The Lilac Walk at the RBG Arboretum

Pink lilac blossoms at RBG Arboretum. — Lilac blossoms

Curved pathway through lilac bushes with benches on both sides at RBG Arboretum. — The Lilac Walk, RBG Arboretum

Couple sitting on bench on grassy hill surrounded by lilac trees blooming with purple blossoms at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Enjoying the Lilac Walk at the RBG Arboretum

Hiking Trails at the RBG Arboretum

The RBG Arboretum, as a trailhead for Cootes Paradise nature sanctuary, is also a great place for a nature walk with more than 10 kilometres over several hiking trails to enjoy. Cootes Paradise was established as a sanctuary in 1927 due to its significance as a stopover for migratory birds. The area includes a marsh, creeks, shoreline and the surrounding forest dominated by oak trees.

When we finished viewing the flowering trees, we took a path from the Lilac Dell down to the Captain Cootes/Anishinaabe waadiziwin (Indigenous Plant Medicine Trail) and followed that to the Bull’s Point Trail (including down to the Bull’s Point Lookout) which is mostly flat terrain.

We also took the Marsh Trail which is a hilly path down to the waterfront for the views of Cootes Paradise Marsh and then a climb back up to Bull’s Point Trail. Bull’s Point Trail intersects the flat Homestead Trail which we followed back across to the Arboretum parking lot to complete our afternoon of hiking.

Map of Cootes Paradise trails. — Cootes Paradise Trails

Information sign for Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary at RBG Arboretum, Hamilton, Ontario. — Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary

Winding dirt path through grassy area with some trees and shrubs at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Heading to the hiking trails

I knew that Royal Botanical Gardens was a National Historic Site of Canada but finding Parks Canada red chairs on our hike was unexpected!!

Person sitting in one of two red Parks Canada chairs facing Cootes Paradise Marsh. — Parks Canada red chairs

Logs, plants and grasses along edge of Cootes Paradise Marsh. — Cootes Paradise Marsh

Wooden boardwalk through marsh to lookout tower - Cootes Paradise Marsh, Hamilton, Ontario. — Marsh Walk lookout tower

Magnifying scope on boardwalk overlooking Cootes Paradise Marsh, Hamilton, Ontario. — Cootes Paradise Marsh lookout

Dirt trail through green field with trees at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Homestead Trail at RBG Arboretum

White blossoms on a tree at RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Blossoms on the Homestead Trail

Four Canada Geese standing in the shade of a large tree at the RBG Arboretum in Hamilton, Ontario. — Canada Geese enjoying beautiful spring day at the RBG Arboretum

Activities and Tours at the Arboretum

The Royal Botanical Garden offers a program of activities and tours at the Arboretum (either outdoors or in the Nature Interpretive Centre) as well as the other garden locations. Some programs may not be included in the garden admission fee and some require pre-registration.

Scheduled events in May 2023 at the Arboretum include lilac tours, canoe tours and a family-friendly education program on oaks and acorns.

Information is available on the RBG – Arboretum website.

The Nature Interpretive Centre at the RBG Arboretum

Admission and Parking at the RBG Arboretum

Admission fees and parking fees at the RBG Arboretum vary by the time of year.

May 5 – June 1, 2023 (Bloom Season):

Garden Admission applies ($10 for Single Garden Admission for all ages except children under the age of 4 who are free).

Time-ticketed parking is in effect ($10) and pre-booking is strongly recommended during peak visitation. Parking is free to RBG members but pre-registration is still required. We didn’t pre-book and there was parking available but were visiting on a weekday. I would definitely pre-book if planning a weekend or holiday visit.

There is a free shuttle from the RBG Centre on weekends.

Jan 1 – May 4, June 2 – Dec 31, 2023:

No admission fee.

A $10 parking flat rate applies when the parking lost is staffed on weekends. Metered parking is in effect beyond staffed hours, $5/hr to a maximum of $15. Parking is free to RBG members with a RGB parking pass.

Flowering trees with pink blossoms at RBG Arboretum. — Flowering trees at RBG Arboretum

FAQ and Additional Information

Opening hours vary. Jan 1 to May 4: 8 am to dusk; May 5 to June 1: 9 am – 8 pm (last admission at 7 pm); June 2 to Dec 31: 8 am to dusk.
Dogs are permitted at the Arboretum but must be kept on leash and on trail at all times.
Portable washrooms are available.
Outdoor bottle refill at the Nature Interpretive Centre.
The day we visited there was a food truck set up selling drinks and snacks.
Picnics are permissible during regular hours but might be restricted during special events.
Bicycles are prohibited on the trails.
Picking or collecting plants is prohibited. Feeding the wildlife/birds is not permitted.
Use of drones is prohibited.