I was staying on campus for a few days and decided to visit the botanical garden for a nice walk. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of flowering plants as the weather was still quite cold. The trail map was easy to follow and there were multiple areas to explore. I was fascinated by the medicinal herb area as each plant described the ailments it could treat. There was also a large area for growing produce that is being used to feed needy people in Vancouver. A portion of the trail is paved and there are also trails that are mostly mulch. It takes about 2 hours to cover the whole garden if you go at a leisurely pace. There are restrooms throughout the garden and the staff is very friendly. The parking lot is spacious and the parking rates are inexpensive. I believe it was $1.50 CA per hour. The google maps did route me to the back of the garden (no parking or entrance) so you may have to loop around to get to the front entrance. There is an information booth right in the front and the staff will give you a quick explanation of the layout of the place. read more

See all

Very attractive place. Tree walk is fabulous! Unfortunately very aggressive entrance pricing!! read more

A vast garden near the UBC campus. It encompasses a large area next to the University. It is divided into different zones connected by well maintained walkways that wind through the whole garden. We visited there on a cloudy day in an early Saturday afternoon in early May. There were not many visitors so the views were unspoiled and magnificent. We visited specifically the Physic garden full of medicinal plants and the Food garden with edible plants. In the Physic garden, many varieties of herbs and medicinal species were showcased. Each is separately labelled for its uses and origin. As it's early in the season, the Food garden only had some hardy seedlings planted including onion, kale, cabbage, broccoli, rhubarb and Brussell sprouts. The dwarf apple bushes were just showing new leaves. Accordingly the produce harvested from this garden will be donated to charity. Even in early May the azaleas were in full bloom and prints a colorful picture. Tulips were at their last stage but still provide a rainbow of colors. There are hiking trails through the wooded area within the garden . You can easily spent 3-4 hours wondering through the park like setting studying the wide collection of plant species and enjoy the view! There is a parking lot nearby with minimal charge for parking. Entrance fee is very reasonable and discounts are available for seniors and children. Fees are in Canadian dollars so it's an added bonus for US visitors. read more

See all

This place is such a treat. Absolutely gorgeous and highly recommend upgrading to the ticket with the canopy tree walk. It was such a great experience. Volunteers who told us about the facility and what to check out were awesome--thanks for the hot tips Bob! read more

See all

We went on a rainy day, but made the best of it. Everyone was friendly and helpful. There were several weddings happening this day, but they didn't bring the crowd. We spent about 2.5 hours here in total. It was worth it read more

See all

One safe place to be during the Covid season. Tickets can be bought online also can be purchased at the entrance. Was not that busy, we went on Sat without booking. Google map has directed me to the back of the garden, I had to walk a long way to get the the front entrance. There is actually front car park available which I didn't find. Now it's a good season to visit as you get to see all the flowers, I don't know much of plant, but if you are interested, they have tags on plants to tell you what it is. The walk on the tree is the fun part, one group at a time, it's longer than i expect, was feeling a bit dizzy at the end. Remember to look ahead instead of down, also don't go if you are afraid of height read more

See all

Lot parking. Gift shop was closed; opens March 1st, 2024. We still walked around in the rain. There is a healthcare 50% discount in case you want to be a member for one year. read more

Wow. I honestly didn't expect much and only paid for access to the garden ($9). If I go back, I will want to try the tree canopy walk, too. ($20). I asked how long it takes to see the garden and was told at the ticket booth about an hour. I spent nearly 3 hours there and could have stayed longer if I had brought my water bottle. Don't skimp on the pavilion side and don't miss the rainforest or alpine garden- really lovely. I strayed from the main path and randomly walked all the smaller paths- it was perfect. Don't forget to look up for birds! Go, go, go to the Botanical Gardens. You will not regret it. Updated review: I went again and brought friends. We did the tree walk. It was a serious highlight of our trip! I won't skip this place on any Vancouver trip again! read more

UBC Botanical Garden - Fork in the road! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Peaceful & quiet place to enjoy relief from the hectic city. Garden is not as pretty as VanDusen but costs less to enter. As you'd expect at a university garden there is lots of scientific information on paper you carry and signage on the trails. Budget 3 hours if you want to see most of the garden. read more

Got a deal thru Groupon for combo admission to the Botanical Gardens and Canopy Walk. It's a very nice spot, and if you've got visitors from out of province or overseas, it's a great place to show them a typical West Coast Rain Forest. Parking was free, it wasn't too crowded (10 AM on a mid-August Friday morning), and it's not an long or exhausting walk at all. I would recommend these gardens even if it's raining (not in a downpour though) as it would actually enhance the experience. read more

UBC Botanical Garden - Canopy Walk - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

So awesome! The UBC Botanical Garden is a great family outing, or for a quiet wander in the afternoon. I love going for the annual UBC Apple Festival, and the various plant sales. I have also gone on the Greenhearts Canopy Walkway which is fun, but not for those with a fear of heights or mobility/accessibility issues. I keep meaning to go for some of their workshops like wreath-making or transplanting trees. read more

See all

Wow what a lovely place to visit! Gorgeous grounds, they are so beautiful and not overly groomed like fussy gardens. As we walked through the trails the scent of fallen leaves was heavenly. Nice staff at check in! Lots of places to roam around. The treetop canopy walk is quite the experience, I am wary of heights and so glad I white knuckled it through. Amazing! Definitely a great way to spend an afternoon, I came end of october and it was gorgeous. read more

I am so glad I went, it's a lovely garden, very well maintained. The variety of plants is impressive. The smell of vegetation and soil here is just wonderful. The vegetable garden for the poor is such a great idea!!! read more

See all

I did my undergrad for 4 years at UBC and don't live too far away, yet I had never visited until recently! Wow, what an amazing garden. The treetop Adventure makes it worth it. It is not too high, although I did see a few toddlers crying. My son loved it and did a few rounds. It is so peaceful and zen. It never feels busy because the grounds are so big. We have visited a few times now. Free parking for 3 hours, but still make sure to enter your license plate. The tunnel makes cool photos. read more

A picture says a thousand words and I didn't take any. Sorry. I actually came here as part of the 2013 "Tourism Challenge" which, for those of you who don't know what it is, it's for people working in the tourism industry to get to know what tourists experience. So we know more about the great attractions in our great city and the outlying areas. Ok, so after I got past the gate with my new map in hand, I wandered in tranquil beauty and saw many different plants..some from North America, some from Australia, Japan, and China. Other places, too. There were not many people there in early May, even on a sunny day. A few couples, one other lone women, a group of children on a school trip, & later, on my way out, a gaggle of college kids (I think with their teacher) took forever to clear the front gates. So, right off the bat, the fact of its population gives it points over Stanly Park. Its not really for kids...not that kids wouldn't and dont have fun there..its just more for quiet reflection. I doubt many TAKE their kids, which is nice if your looking for peace and quiet. It has different areas, it's VERY large, and it gives you a feeling as if your almost alone, yet its safe, I ran into a groundskeeper, i would see people just through the trees, but rarely did we intersect each others experience. I also took the tree walk, in which metal and rope walkways have been erected up on some trees and you get a tour, telling you a bit about the history of trees, and habits ect. Its kind of exciting. Ok, I guess it helps that my tour guide was a cute student. I want to return - I see myself going back and taking time to enjoy different parts _ i felt I had to see EVERYTHING on my 1st trip there, and feel i would more enjoy less, but for longer times. You owe it to yourself to at least go once! read more

A lovely place to wander around and enjoy the solitude of the gardens on an ordinary day. On a weekend such as this weekend, when they hold the UBC Apple Festival, it is far from quiet. But what a lovely way to use the gardens to sell some 44,000 pounds of apples, some 2,800 gigantic slices of pie. (We were lucky enough to get the first two slices on Saturday morning!!!) Childrens area, vendors, displays, fruit and fruit tree sales, pocket pies, grafting seminars, cider, musicians. Was so much fun we decided to visit both days. If you missed out, I still recommend the gardens as a lovely way to spend a few hours. We visit a few times a year, and are going to try to make "Apple Pie Breakfast" at the Apple Festival and annual event. read more

UBC Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This was one of our highlights on our 1st Anniversary weekend getaway. We spent 4 hours here enjoying all of the little aspects and beautiful things this botanical garden has to offer - and there are many things indeed! I took so many really terrific photos. The suspension bridge was a little scary, but the amazing foliage, flowers, amphitheater and serenity of some of the gardens more than made up for the bridge experience. I'm a scaredy-cat anyway and have a slight fear of heights, but my husband loved the bridge. We cant wait to visit Vancouver again!!! University of BC Botanical gardens will be on the list to check out again! read more

We took advantage of the garden pass that gets you into 3 exhibits. We loved the tree climb. It was great walking those bridges. It would have probably been better to comne here when the flowers were in bloom. Nice anbd peaceful though. read more

I was very surprised that this place gets less traffic than all other Vancouver attractions, because, in my opinion, it is one of the best out there. Its length is only 310 meters, however, it feels much longer. The walking boards are secured to the tall fir trees with metal cables, and they swing up and down, and to the sides, as you walk on them. Some of the trees, Douglas firs, Grand firs, and Red cedars are 100+ years old. The walkway is only wide enough for one person, so everyone is moving in a single file. This is not much of an issue, as long as everyone is moving at a similar pace. The walkway is located within UBC Gardens, so you have to pay the $24 admission for the garden+walkway entry, or a little less if you want to visit just the gardens. There are guided tours to join (which do not cost anything extra), or you can walk at your own pace. What surprised me, is that there are no security cameras (usually, there is one on every corner in such attractions, mainly for liability). And, as such, the absence of 1984-esque "Your every move is being filmed" signs, makes the teenagers go a little crazy. I have witnesses 4 guys jumping their hardest at the second to the last portion, and, even though it felt like we were on Paris Hilton's waterbed, the cables did not snap, which was reassuring. The gardens are a nice walk for a sunny day, too (though, I doubt we would have much more of those until the next summer). They have created a ton of micro-floras, showing what the mountains look like in certain areas. The gardens have different fruit trees and vegetable plants. read more

If you want to learn about native plants in British Columbia and ecosystems then this may be the best bet. They also have a shop where you can buy native plants. read more

This is more so for the Apple Festival rather than the gardens itself. I need to get out to the UBC Botanical Garden again when the weather is better to really get a feeling for the gardens. We went to the Apple Festival and I was kind of dissapointed buy the whole thing. For a festival it is quite boring with not much going on. I did enjoy when we were leaving and it was time to go buy some apples. The volunteers where so knowledgeable about all of the varieties that were up for grabs. It is amazing to know that there are that many varieties of apples. read more

I guess your appreciation will depend on the season you visit it.If you don't know too much about plants and flowers,it is a huge place that you will enjoy strolling but wonder why you have to pay for admission.They recently added a canopy walk to try and boost their image, but it is a short one that is not really worth the (additional) price of admission in my opinion... read more

UBC Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

Trees are amazing! They are old and the garden on both sides of the street is well taken care of. A group of 10 went on the catwalk from as young as 6 years to 50 year old. WE all enjoyed it very much and the catwalk above the forest is well designed and safe. Diversity of trees and shrubs very nice. read more

If you enjoy gardens, then this is one you should not miss. I was privileged to be shown around by my friend Roy Forster of the VanDusen, originally. A wonderful collection and a thoroughly enjoyable out-of-doors experience. read more

This garden is so comprehensive! It has something for everyone. My six year old nephew loved the Greenheart TreeWalk and the tunnel to the North Garden. We looked for all the different types of rhododendrons (there are 500 different kinds). And he found his favourite tree with another vine knitted around it! read more

Compared to nearby Pacific Spirit Park, the Botanical Gardens can seem overpriced for a walk in nature. However, the Gardens do offer guided and self-guided tours where you can actually learn about the plants and trees around you. Some other highlights: -You can also pretend you're an ewok by walking through the treetops. -There is a douglas fir there known as the "eagle tree" because there are two residential eagles always perched on the top most branches. -The tunnel that connects the two different sections of the gardens has great acoustic for singing your favourite song. -The apple festival happens here every fall which offers reduced entrance fee to the gardens and all the apples you can eat. Bonus: -Admissions during the winter is by donation, even though the canopy walk is closed for the winter, this is a good way to check out the gardens to see if you want to come back in the spring and summer. read more

We took advantage of a Groupon for our whole family to enjoy the garden and the TreeWalk. I'm not a big fan of visiting gardens, but this really was beautiful, and we all had a great time strolling and learning about some amazing plants. And the TreeWalk was a highlight of our entire vacation. read more

*3/30* The botanical gardens are a great place to visit if you like nature, but you don't really like hiking. The very gentle walks are lined with a beautiful assortment of trees, shrubs and other plants, mostly ornamentals. It's beautiful in the spring and summer when all the flowers come out. The Greenheart canopy walk is definitely worth checking out. It wouldn't recommended it for those with mobility issues or a fear of heights, though! It's similar to the Capilano canopy walk, but not as high up and much more rickety. Tours are included in the price or you can walk it self-guided. If you're interested in a canopy walk I'd definitely suggest coming here - it's less expensive and less crowded. It also only takes about 1.5 hours to complete a pretty extensive walk around the gardens as well as the canopy walk. UBC students also get free admission to the gardens and $9 admission to the canopy walk, so it's a great place to de-stress when you need to take a break from the marathon studying sessions. read more

The botanical gardens at UBC are a perfect way to escape the concrete jungle and lose yourself on a sunny afternoon. The gardens are quite large and take you through a range of different landscapes where you can see everything from cacti to herbs to gumtrees. Within the garden also lies the Greenhart canopy walk which is a 300m walk that takes you high into the pacific coastal rainforest canopy. The walk is not for those with vertigo as the walkway bounces and sways with every step and a special thanks to the two people who though it was fun to jump up and down and shake the entire walkway. I feel bad now that I was secretly hoping the cables would snap, just to teach them a lesson. Aside from that the gardens were an immensely relaxing experience and well worth the trip out to UBC. read more

Maybe I'm spoiled by living in the West End, but I thought the combination of the Stanley Park Rose Gardens, the several community gardens, and the various landscaping on people's homes actually beats the UBC Botanical Garden... and they are all free! All is not lost as I do still believe it is worth a trip to go see, just temper your expectations. read more

I took my parents and aunt and uncle from Ontario here today. The day started with the Greenheart Canopy walk. The walk was really quite informative. Our guide, Matt, was really quite passionate and was very well informed. He took time and was respectful of everyone's abilities. I should say that my aunt and uncle are now seniors and were able to go. I think if they knew ahead of time they might have thought twice about how wobbly it was, but they did just great, and were happy to have gone. They love nature and it wasnt a hike, but a nice stroll through the forest. The Asian gate was really a highlight and walking through the culvert was fun. On the other side it was an alpine presentation of plants which was quite remarkable to see at sea level. It's worth a look. I loved the plants behind the yew hedge that described traditional remedies. We then went to Natobe Garden where the zen was superb. The pond and bridge and house were very well kept and well done. Some students were studying there too. So worth seeing!! read more

Got very lost trying to make our way there, but was worth it once we finally found it! Large garden grounds, lots of different things to see. Liked the toxic medicinal garden. The canopy walk is awesome! There were only 2 others that were on the tour in addition to our party, so we just about had the whole thing to ourselves and got to go back and forth as we liked. Cool tour for sure. read more

Tucked away on the edge of UBC off of Marine Drive, is a wonderful place for botanists to get lost in. I got a groupon deal on this one which included the canopy walk, which scared the crap out of me. The canopy did not feel sturdy, and i felt like i could easily lose balance and topple over the thin netting.. i am sure they tested this out (i hope). It's an extra $10 to do the canopy walk without the groupon which i felt was a little bit pricey. The rest of it was very relaxing and peaceful. It is quite a diverse garden. What i really enjoyed was the rammed earth wall area where you could sit and chill out ... which you could do anywhere here really. read more

We drove here on our 2nd day after visiting Gastown in the morning. It was at least seeing a different part of Vancouver other than downtown. Well, the campus of UBC was beautiful and this is on the outskirts to house a pretty large garden. Parking is the best that you can do with a parking meter that allowed for free 3 hour parking:) It was nice that the garden staff left instructions to avoid paying the 2-hour choice. The garden has two sections separated by the road. So, you take the underground tunnel to reach the other side. We spent easily 30-45 minutes walking the grounds and saw alot here. There was a Groupon to save on the bridge and garden admission but the suspension bridge was a lot smaller. We had thought to visit the Capilano bridge afterwards but it was getting late and our feet were getting tired. Anyways, I am glad we stuck with only the garden since that was good enough for us. The garden alone was vast and nice to take our time. read more

Simply beautiful place to come.sit.relax.think..

I bought a Groupon for the canopy walk which included admission to the garden and it's a lovely place. There were signs and descriptions of many plants and had so many diverse plants. The canopy walk was definitely fun and worth it. We walked it twice and could have done more but we were on a time constraint itinerary. Anyway, the only complaint is that we had to pay for parking which was not too bad. read more

I went with a groupon deal, and it was so great! The gardens are lush and beautiful, and the canopy walk was so fun. It's a lot more extensive than I had thought from the pictures. Our group of 11 really enjoyed this garden and walk. read more

not much flowers in September, but pretty interesting canopy walk and overall - just wish more name signage naming trees and shrubs species so could enjoy/learn some thing. no PA system to tell visitors park is closed, so potentially could be locked in after hours. Staff seemed disorganized. read more

In spite of the gross weather, I managed to talk myself into/through my weather discouragement and took the long 3 hour round trip down to UBC to the botanical gardens for the 2012 Apple Fest. During the long ride I appreciated looking at the trees sprinkled with red leaves, changing for the fall. At first glance at the festival, it didn't seem like much other than an apple cider demo, a museum of apples from all around the world and an apple market, however, the patience of walking along the garden path to other activities including an apple tasting made the entire festival worth it. The $4 entrance fee was well worth it and extremely cheap compared to other events in the city. It was well organized with signs everywhere. The walk through the botanical gardens had some of the apple trees listed with information. If you love gardening in general, this place was peaceful heaven. I ate so many apples that I felt sick. The bus ride home with my motion sickness didn't help much. I tried hard not to make apple sauce in my lap during the ride home. read more