UBC Botanical Garden

Discover Canada's oldest university botanical garden, featuring diverse plant collections and a thrilling treetop canopy walk.

UBC Botanical Garden in the Fall
UBC Botanical Garden in the Fall cc licensed photo by Wendy Cutler

A hidden gem on the University of British Columbia campus, the UBC Botanical Garden is a lush, 44-hectare oasis of biodiversity. Established in 1916, it's a living museum of temperate plants from around the world. The garden is comprised of numerous smaller, themed areas, from a traditional Asian garden to a forest of native BC rainforest plants. But the highlight for many is the Greenheart TreeWalk, a series of suspension bridges offering a unique bird's-eye view of the forest canopy.

Why Visit UBC Botanical Garden?

  • Greenheart TreeWalk: Experience the coastal temperate rainforest from 23 metres (75 ft) high on a series of suspension bridges through the treetops.
  • Diverse Gardens: Explore dozens of curated collections, including an Alpine Garden, a traditional Physic Garden with medicinal plants, and a Food Garden.
  • A Living Laboratory: As part of UBC, the garden is a major centre for botanical research, conservation, and education.
  • Peace & Tranquility: It's a perfect escape from the city, offering peaceful walks through beautiful and varied landscapes.

What to See & Do

  • Greenheart TreeWalk: The number one attraction. This 310-metre-long aerial trail system gives you a squirrel's-eye view of the forest. (Note: Seasonal operation and separate admission apply).
  • Asian Garden: Stroll through a forest of rhododendrons, maples, and other plants from across Asia, complete with streams and a moon gate.
  • BC Rainforest Garden: Discover the native flora of British Columbia, with towering trees and lush undergrowth typical of the local coastal rainforest.
  • Food Garden: See what's growing in the demonstration food garden, which showcases sustainable food production on a small scale.
  • Nitobe Memorial Garden: A short walk from the main garden is this exquisite traditional Japanese stroll garden, considered one of the most authentic in North America (separate admission).

Food & Drink Options

  • There are limited food options at the garden itself, mainly snacks and drinks at the gift shop.
  • It's a perfect place for a picnic. Bring your own food to enjoy in one of the designated areas.
  • A wider variety of cafes and restaurants can be found a short bus ride away in Wesbrook Village or near the main UBC campus bus loop.

Pro Tips & Local Insights

  • Wear Comfortable Shoes: The garden is large and involves a lot of walking on varied terrain.
  • Check TreeWalk Hours: The Greenheart TreeWalk operates seasonally (typically April to October) and has specific hours. Check the official website before your visit.
  • Allow Plenty of Time: To see the main gardens and the TreeWalk, plan for at least 2-3 hours.

Nearby Attractions (Transit-Friendly)

  • Museum of Anthropology at UBC: A world-renowned museum featuring incredible First Nations art and artifacts.
  • Pacific Spirit Regional Park: A massive, forested park with an extensive network of trails, surrounding the UBC campus.


Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

UBC Botanical Garden Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Address: 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 2J9, Canada

Phone: (604) 822-4208

Official Website: UBC Botanical Garden

UBC Botanical Garden Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Our visit to the UBC Botanical Gardens was wonderful. They are well cared for, active gardens (so some areas were recently planted / being tended) with a variety of climate plants available. We spent about 90min exploring both sides of the garden and the treetop walk was a fun experience as well. The gift shop was lovely. Highly recommend a visit.
Elena - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating UBC's Botanical Garden was massive and fun to explore. Some of it was forest that had survived logging attempts. Other parts were well-manicured gardens. It's quite the gem, well worth the visit.
Harry Bradley - a month ago

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5 Star Rating A beautiful nature walk with lots of meandering pathways. Plants are all tagged and named for identification and paths and gardens are exceptionally manicured. There is a wonderful skywalk up in the trees to get a squirrels eye view of the old and new growth forest.
Cris Baets - in the last week

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5 Star Rating Visited on Saturday with live, jazz playing through the park and it was incredible hearing it float up into the treetops.
Allison Chow Allison - 3 weeks ago

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Directions

Skytrain + Bus Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Canada Line -> R4Oakridge-41st Avenue5 - 16 Minutes

How to get to UBC Botanical Garden by Skytrain + Bus

From downtown Vancouver, take the Canada Line to Oakridge-41st Avenue Station. Catch the R4 41st Ave RapidBus and get off on W 16th Avenue at Wesbrook Mall. Transfer to the #68 UBC Exchange bus northbound on Westbrook Mall (by the round-about) and get off on Stadium Road at West Mall. The entrance to the UBC Botanical Garden a short walk west right across SW Marine Drive.

Alternatively, you can skip the #68 bus and walk west on W16th Avenue to the round-about at East Mall. Follow it north to Stadium Road and go west on Stadium. This is about a 16 minute versus a 5 minute walk, but saves you waiting for another bus so it may actually be quicker.

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