California Botanic Garden was absolutely beautiful! I loved exploring the different trails throughout the garden. There was so much nature and wildlife to enjoy along the way. We got to see bunnies, rabbits, turtles, and so many different types of birds. It was such a peaceful and beautiful experience being surrounded by nature. Whether you're looking for a relaxing nature walk, want to explore the trails, or enjoy a nice hike, this is a great place to visit. I definitely recommend coming here if you love nature and wildlife! read more

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Claremont, CA This botanic garden has grown on me. There are so many varieties of California native plants and they do have a nursery that is usually open a few days a week but is closed for Summer and reopening in October, 2026. What I love about this property is the sprawling amount of walkway to take a nice walk. You'll find enough shade along the way but many parts are not shaded. The pathways are decomposed granite, concrete and or asphalt so it's like hiking in nature but without the dirt road or elevation gain. I also really love that it's not crowded here. It's also smack dab in the middle of nature so you will occasionally see wild animal poop on a path, cracks that have not been repaired, but none of that really bothers me. There are plenty of benches along the path and a restroom on one side of the property so plan accordingly. They used to have a nice gift shop here and novelties like hats, t shirts, children's toys, books are now displayed in a small outdoor kiosk near to where you check in. California Botanic Garden is a member of the American Horticultural Network of Gardens (AHS). So if you have an annual membership at one of the participating Gardens associated with AHS Gardens you automatically have access to visit all of the gardens in network, unlimited visits for no additional charge. It is nice being a member at one garden and having access to visit hundreds of gardens. Currently, 380 gardens participate in this Network throughout parts of United States and Territories of U.S.A., Canada, and Cayman Islands. https://ahsgardening.org/ahs-garden-network/ I copy and pasted the exerpt below from AI but it has been a treat to see the blooms and how they change color, specifically Native California Buckwheat which can be seen along many hills and roadsides in California. To observe how the plant changes and matures in different seasons is quite fascinating: "Native California Buckwheat flowers start out white (or pale pink/creamy) and transition through shades of orange, cinnamon, rust, and deep red-brown as they age and dry out into summer and fall. Flower Color Changes Fresh Blooms (Spring): Tiny clusters open up as bright, clean white or pale pink. Aging and Drying (Summer): As the weather heats up and soil dries, the petals shift into rusty orange, copper, and tan. Late Season (Fall/Winter): The spent flower heads mature into deep rust-red and chocolate brown tones across the hillsides." I truly enjoy seeing the change of colors on each visit, they are so bright and vibrant! Look for it, and you will find a lot of beauty in the varied California native plant foliage and blooms on this property. Visiting seasonally gives the best picture. For example, The 1000's of large Matilija poppies which resemble a crinkly giant sunny side up egg just finished peak bloom a few months ago. They will be back! read more

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We visited for the Native Plant Festival in early April. It was so much fun. The vendors were awesome and the day was filled with so many wonderful activities. There's also a Native Plant Festival in October, as well. So be sure to mark your calendar. The grounds are amazing and the community is too. read more

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California Botanic Gardens was a delightful surprise! My wife and I had never heard of it until recently, and made a point of stopping by. It's in Claremont, across Foothill Rd (old Hwy 66) from the college. About 80 acres, and specializes in California native trees and plants. A great place to wander with lots of benches and well marked sections (Channel Islands, Mojave, coastal, etc), so it is easy to imagine what will grow in your area. read more

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A hidden gem dedicated to California native plants and trees along old Route 66, we have driven by the freeway sign numerous times, and decided to stop in July. Located across the road from Claremont College, the garden is filled with well-signed walking paths through myriad gardens from desert, to chaparral, to oak woodlands. There is even a pond filled with turtles. In an hour we finished off one loop and only covered a third of the gardens. We will come back on a cooler day to explore more. read more

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Love this place. So peaceful and relaxing. They have a. Decent amount of shaded rest stops if you get tired or just enjoy the view. A few restrooms and water fountains more towards the beginning part of the garden. There's a large loop walking area in the back and I don't thing I've seen water fountains there. So if you get thirsty on walks I recommend filling up before . They also have stage areas. I've seen weddings here and group events. But when there's isn't an event going on there is seating there to rest read more

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Huge line of cars today at 8 a.m. for the birdwatching event. Once we got inside though, we just quickly separated from the crowd and then saw almost nobody for an hour. Cloudy misting beautiful day amongst the California native plants, trees, flowers, and wildlife. Saw so many bunnies!! read more

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Plenty of parking Admission paid at the entrance of the park Best to go during spring time. We visited in June. Walking most of the park will be 2-4hr (we arrived at 11 and left at 2:30pm). Garden terrains were not difficult. Great place to visit to see most of the plants that grow in California all at one place. read more

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Stopped by on Saturday, 12/27/25 with my sister and my parents (their first time). This was my second time here and it was very relaxing to enjoy nature! Located near the Claremont Colleges. Unfortunately there was nothing to see as it's winter season and flowers are not blooming. However, we all enjoyed getting our steps in (13,000 steps total for me!) read more

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Serenity abounds at this botanical oasis nestled within the suburban neighborhoods of Claremont. CBG is located just north of the Claremont Colleges, above Foothill Blvd. Reasonable entry prices and free parking. Annual Memberships offer even greater value. The garden is divided into several sections that are well marked and easy to traverse when you stay on the paved pathways. Sections include palms, oaks, chaparral, water features and art sculptures, as well. For those seeking a fun walking or jogging experience, check out the "Trail" route located in the CA Plant Communities section. If you're lucky, you might see a squirrel munching on their lunch, or a turtle sunbathing while gazing at a waterfall. read more

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Loved this place I def learned something new and saw beautiful flora and fauna! The best you can also get free tickets through LAPL.

The garden has a small parking lot in the front but had no issues finding parking. Admission is $15 for adults but if you have a los angeles public or county library card you can reserve for free admission. It is a large garden. Pretty stroller friendly. They have different areas to explore. My favorite was the reflecting pond. So pretty. Go and enjoy a nature walk. Very peaceful also since it's so big you don't really run into crowds. read more

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Beautiful desert paths. Excellent place to walk. Will be back soon. $15 entrance fee per person. Free parking. Tiny wooden stroller stand with limited gift items. read more

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I wanted to try something new on a free Saturday, so we decided to visit the California Botanic Garden in Claremont. Adult admission is $15, and students pay $11. The staff member at the ticket counter recommended that we visit the Majestic Oak, the oldest oak on the grounds. The garden was relatively empty when we went on a late afternoon. It was peaceful and quiet with a wide variety of native plants. I enjoy looking at different types of flowers, but the main focus of the garden was showcasing California's rich variety of native flora. I did enjoy looking at the sunflowers, coastal redwood trees, island barberries, monarch butterflies, and other floral trees. There was also a shallow pond with a few turtles and many tadpoles. Overall, it was a nice and relaxing place to decompress and walk around with friends. read more

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Beautiful botanical garden for a great price. Looking for a scenic walk through nature where you'll encounter countless butterflies, birds, and lizards? This is a great place to do that. There are student and senior discounts that lower the already low price. There's plenty of parking by the entrance. Would definitely recommend going during Spring. It is still a good experience during other seasons but Spring is by far the best. read more

Beautiful place to take photos!!! The view is amazing and peaceful. Great place if you are wanting to go for a hike or just peaceful relaxing walk with the family read more

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It's a pretty quaint garden space, with many themed areas to visit. There's beautiful gardens, complete with trees, flowers, statues, and great walking areas. You can get a good walk through the garden, depending on your route. I enjoyed the flowers, the pond, and the off-path walkways. There's a designated route, but there are also a lot of the side routes, that basically are on the small trails between the different areas. There were some noteable dry areas and it was a little of a buzz kill (pun intended) to see maintenance equipment or like a building sticks out - it kind of takes away the "nature" sense of it, because you become aware it's a more manicured garden and space. There's a lot of benches set around this garden, and they're each beautifully placed if you need to take a break or just want to enjoy a moment in the park. There's a good amount of parking up front, though not sure if you come here on a really busy day that there would be enough spots. Think of it like a campsite parking lot: enough spaces, but can become full quickly. Restrooms are also very clean here. Would recommend to visit at least once to this garden. read more

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This beautiful garden has been my favorite place to destress. I have been an active member for many years. I love bringing a book and reading on a wooden bench. I love that the garden is open rain or shine. I recently visited and so many flowers are in bloom! read more

California Botanic Garden - Taken 4/1/2025 - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Claremont, California

As a botanical Garden this place is beautiful, every inch of the garden is lined with succulents, native plants, and different infographics detailing what you're looking at. It's really easy to get lost in the windy mazes and different scenic spots. The only downside is maybe the pricing of around $20, which is a little steep considering that it's often self-guided. As for weddings, the pricing ranges from around $3,000 or less at the lower end, to $27,000 or more at the higher end, but absolutely nowhere in the middle. To have a ceremony and reception there, it would have ran me and my wife around $27,000, which obviously came with the bare minimum (food, chairs, maybe a few decorations) and also a coordinator, but not much else. I guess it's a package deal, and because you're sort of paying for the scenery and nature aspect of it more than the wedding festivities. The coordinator was super nice and seemed eager to help until we acknowledged that our budget was under $20,000, which is when I noticed her attitude shift. To rent just the venue space itself for a ceremony (The Gazebo specifically, hosting around 120 people), it was a little less than $3,000 which was well within our budget. The downside being that we would no longer get a coordinator to help us with the process, nor food, nor a reception space, nor security to keep people out of the venue space during the ceremony. All that was included in that was literally just the space itself, chairs, and a shuttle that would bring guests to the venue from the entrance on the day of the wedding (so know that everything else is on you). When we asked about renting just the space to have the ceremony, the coordinator directed us to Adeline, a manager at the garden. Although she didn't have to, Adeline helped out a lot with simplifying the answers we were looking for and was very patient with us when we asked to schedule a rehearsal and look at the venue. She even assisted us with moving things back and forth with a golf cart staying late at night to make sure we were ready for our big day. So, know that even if you don't go for the lavish expensive wedding there, you'll still be in good hands. We were allowed to enter the garden up to 2 hours before the wedding to prep our decorations, and the chairs were already setup and ready to be decorated (they run about $2 per chair). The dressing rooms we were given weren't really "dressing rooms" in the traditional sense but a classroom and an office. It definitely made for some really aesthetic pictures (e.g., old school green chalkboard for the bridesmaids, office chairs for the groomsmen, etc.), but if you're the type of person who needs a sink and an LED lined mirror to get ready, this is probably important to take note of. I believe that they only gave us those rooms because the actual dressing rooms were still under construction. The staff also shuttled the wedding party to and from the venue space tirelessly, as well as our wedding guests. Overall, what we got was well worth the price we paid. If we had maybe a little more money, we definitely would have bought a full package, but considering that we didn't, we were still treated exceptionally. read more

We went to the Native Plant Festival, and it was such a gorgeous day to be outside surrounded by all the plants! The flowers were blooming everywhere, and it was so fun to see everything coming to life. It was the perfect day to walk around, explore, and just enjoy being outdoors. read more

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If you're into nature and a peaceful stroll, California Botanic Garden in Claremont is a lovely spot to spend an hour or two. It's the largest garden dedicated to California's native plants, with hundreds of species spread across shady paths, open meadows, and little ponds -- perfect for a slow, relaxed wander. Staff are friendly, parking is free, and there are benches everywhere if you just want to sit and take it all in. Worth it whether you're into plants, bird watching, or just a quiet outdoor break. read more

Environment was good. Beautiful flower and walk amazing pretty cool place to chill too read more

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Beautiful and local! Kind staff, serene and peaceful, have been several times already!

None day I was bored. The art piece i was walking on wasn't going the way I wanted it to go. I was time for a break. I went to the California Botanic Garden for a change of scenery. I wasn't sorry at all. I bought back beautiful memories of my landscaping days with my deceased husband. I also met people i would not of met if I didn't leave the house. I also made friends with some new parent and their two week old son. He was so tiny. It was a lovely, enjoyable day. read more

Gorgeous venue! Great prices and student discount available. Easy level hike trail and mainly flat terrain. Lots of clean restroom options throughout the trail and water refill stations. read more

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It's not a bad place to go for a walk, but if you are looking for flowers is not. Just get ready with a hat, sunscreen and water, I'll return in the month of February there'll be more flowers then. read more

Such a gorgeous botanic garden with native ‍‍ The ambience was serene and relaxing ! The redwood, pines, palms and so much more were wonderfully kept! Looking forward to another visit ! read more

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Came here with my husband for the first time this past Sunday. Weather was warm but thankfully, there were shaded areas along the way, We got our steps in about 2.35 miles which is not bad at all for a botanical garden. You could probably get in 3mi total if you walked the entire garden. I'm rating this place 4/5 only bc there was not many wild flowers since we didn't get a lot of rain this year. I could imagine how beautiful this garden would look if there were full blown flowers everywhere. We still enjoyed this place as there were many paths you can walk on with different sceneries & greenery too. I was able to capture a few photos of pretty flowers & palm trees. There weren't many people there either which made it even more peaceful. I would like come back one day when there are blooming flowers. read more

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Wow this garden has it all! Plenty of parking (admission is $15 for adults), so many different trees, flowers, birds, and other animals! I came here years ago by myself and it was not this neatly organized/admission was free. I returned with my husband and the changes are so massive-including the size of the garden!! We enjoyed bird listening and watching here. We also loved the diversity of creatures running around-squirrels, rabbits, turtles, and lizards (I personally don't like bugs so I ignored and avoided the butterflies and bees)! It has endless paths that we tried exploring as much as we could and didn't see it all! There are at least two ponds and some shady spots, but majority is in the sun (bringing a sunbrella helps majorly). I highly recommend this place for nature lovers, kids, bird watchers, and explorers!! We had a great time and I definitely will be back! Oh and their bathrooms were surprisingly so clean AND they had water fountains which were so needed because we left our water in the car!! read more

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I came here during a hot summer morning around noon and there were still some plants but many of them are way past bloom. There were only about 4-5 cars in the parking lot when I came so I assume the garden was pretty empty. Ended up purchasing 1 adult admission and 1 student admission (they didn't really check the student ID). In terms of the garden, everything seemed pretty well kept and you can easily get in 2-3 miles walk. This botanic garden is kind of like a mini hike, there are trails listed out that you could check out. We ended up spending about 1.5 hours here and walked through about 80% of the whole garden. Definitely a very calm garden and I want to try coming back here during the spring when everything is blooming. Parking - They have a small lot, probably 50ish cars and I believe I saw an overload parking area. Easy to find/get. read more

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Wonderful array of cacti and flowers bushes and trees! The turtles and birds and sitting areas made it extra special l.

Beautiful, comfortable and natural. Will be going here again. Priced well and annual passes are good for the frequent flier.

I have been a volunteer and visitor of the garden for almost a decade now. It is easily one of the most serene, fascinating, and captivating places in SoCal. The activities, trails, and events here are wonderful; the staff and all volunteers are so generous and friendly. It is such a wonderful treasure! read more

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Took my 3 year old and 1 year old (in stroller) for a walk around the garden. Trail was nice, lots of shady areas. My boys got to see lizards, squirrels, butterflies, turtles, and tiny fish in a pond. They were very happy walking around. There's a new children's area they're opening up that will be fun for kids too. I would like to go back in the fall to see how the trees look. I paid about $28 for my boys and I. read more

The California Botanic Garden offers a peaceful escape from the city with an affordable entrance fee: $10 per adult, $6 for seniors and students, and $4 for children. Parking is free. The garden features various areas to explore, starting with the flat, paved SoCal Garden, which is an easy walk from the entrance. The Mesa Garden, located uphill, includes attractions like a turtle pond, reflecting pond, Sage Gallery, Butterfly Garden, and more. There's also a larger walking trail in the back which is not as well cultivated but a larger space to walk. We even found a few Joshua Trees. There are lots of nice benches to stop and sit. read more

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Took my parents here to get outside for some fresh air and it did not disappoint. They participate in the American Horticulture Society which has a reciprocal admissions program with other botanical gardens (except those within 90 miles). We came around sunset and definitely got our steps in walking around and seeing all the different clusters of environments and California plants. They have a convenient loop trails you can follow on the floor by the green markings, but also some other fun areas to explore on dirt paths. There are coyotes in the area so keep an eye out for their scat on the floor. The garden has many gorgeous backgrounds for photos and sitting, so just take it all in. read more

California Botanic Garden - Sunset photo - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Claremont, California

Our first time here paid $32 for 2 children and 2 seniors. The weather was perfect and the kids were totally engaged the whole time. The pond was a hit and they enjoyed the holes that they imagined to be homes for someone. It was hard to tear them away but we need to take in this immense place in sections per visit. read more

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Still my fave local garden in the SGV! Been coming here for years now (found it thanks to Yelp!!) and have been a member for several years - membership is totally worth it. They go above and beyond in support of native California plants and all the staff are just awesome! One of my favorite things over the years has been their various themed photography contests - birds, butterflies, flowers! So fun! It never fails to help me see the gardens and our native nature in a whole new light! I love the shift in perspective. If you walk the entire trail system, it's about 2 miles long. But you can definitely get in mor steps and distance than that in all the little offshoots and habitats. The trails are all exceedingly well maintained and well marked with maps everywhere. There's lots of great little nooks to sit in, lots of benches, and plenty of shade! The only area with lack of shade is the "desert" exhibit. Membership lasts a year and is $50. It allows you to enter the garden anytime without reservation or tickets. And you get discounts on classes, events, and other things. They have a nursery where they sell native plants and members get discounts there as well I believe. I've attended several events and always enjoyed it. I've also interacted with numerous staff and scientists during my many visits and they are all just wonderful! So enthusiastic and welcoming! Thanks to everyone here for all your efforts and support for the native plants! I love that it's smaller than the LA arboretum - and way less crowded too - but just as much to see! There's plenty of parking in a large paved lot. And plenty of clean bathroom access. I'll definitely be maintaining my membership and visiting regularly. read more

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I'm typing this as I try to find my way out. Horrific signage, horrific map. I'm shocked at the multiple good reviews. I was so hopeful and excited to come here. I suggest you drive a little further to Arcadia for a much better experience. read more

Just recently started coming here again after many years. it was always nice but i feel its gotten better! the staff is always super friendly and a good spot for photography. read more