UBC Botanical Garden
Discover Canada's oldest university botanical garden, featuring diverse plant collections and a thrilling treetop canopy walk.
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: YesUBC 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 out of 5
UBC Botanical Garden is beautiful and diverse, with multiple themed sections. We especially enjoyed the BC Rainforest area, the food garden, the physic garden, and the desert/cacti garden. I highly recommend exploring everything, which will take around 2 hours. This is a great place to visit even if you're not a current or prospective UBC student.
Harry Hao - a month ago
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 months ago
Nice place, we liked it. We went on the Tree Walk, and it was a different experience than the Capilano Bridge. There were also many birds, which made it even more enjoyable.
Gulnur Sultanova - a week ago
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 - 4 months ago
Directions
| Skytrain + Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Line -> R4 | Oakridge-41st Avenue | 5 - 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.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Photo Gallery
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Forest and water feature at the UBC Botancal Garden cc licensed photo by Wendy Cutler -
Photo Credit: vcbf_cherry_scout - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: wlcutler - cc license via Flickr
