Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City: what to see and when to go

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is a public garden and arboretum run by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The site features cultivated gardens, native plant areas, and an amphitheatre, with trails winding through natural landscapes. It is open year-round for visitors to explore and learn about plants.

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Located at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City
Features 21 acres of gardens and over five miles of trails
Open to the public all year
Includes an amphitheatre and themed gardens
Began as a plant research site in 1930

What is Red Butte Garden and Arboretum?

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is a large public space that combines cultivated gardens, an arboretum, and an outdoor amphitheatre. Visitors find a mix of themed gardens, plant collections, and natural areas, all set against the backdrop of the Wasatch foothills. The garden includes both formal plantings and wild vegetation, with several miles of walking paths. There are also facilities for events and educational programs.

The history of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

The garden began in 1930 when Dr. Walter P. Cottam started using university land for plant trials and research. His work led to the site being named the State Arboretum in 1961, with a focus on plant education and appreciation. In the 1980s, the university set aside more land at Red Butte Canyon to create a regional botanical garden. The name changed to Red Butte Garden & Arboretum, and the mission expanded to include conservation and environmental education. The garden opened to the public in 1985.

What there is to see

Red Butte Garden covers 21 acres of display gardens and has more than five miles of trails. The grounds include a visitor center, themed gardens such as rose, herb, and fragrance gardens, and spaces for children and families. Community support has helped fund many of the garden’s features, including the amphitheatre and educational facilities. The garden is set up for year-round visits, with both indoor and outdoor attractions.

When to go

The garden welcomes visitors throughout the year and is a place for plant education, recreation, and community events. It offers programs for adults and children, as well as volunteer opportunities. The amphitheatre hosts concerts and gatherings. Garden members and volunteers help support its activities, and the site is a resource for learning about plants native to Utah and from other regions.

Parts and collections

Within the garden, visitors can explore a range of themed areas, from formal rose and herb gardens to spaces dedicated to medicinal plants and fragrant species. There are also gardens designed for children and a floral walk. The site’s layout and plantings change with the seasons, offering different experiences throughout the year.

Why Red Butte Garden and Arboretum matters

Red Butte Garden plays a role in local plant conservation and public education. It is recognized as a major botanical garden in Utah and is connected to the University of Utah. The garden’s mission includes fostering appreciation for plants and the environment. Community involvement and educational outreach are central to its activities.

Questions people ask about Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Where is Red Butte Garden and Arboretum located?

It is in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the campus of the University of Utah, near the Wasatch foothills.

What can visitors see at Red Butte Garden?

Visitors find a mix of cultivated gardens, native plant areas, themed sections like rose and herb gardens, and miles of walking trails. There is also an amphitheatre for events.

When is the garden open?

Red Butte Garden is open to the public all year, with different attractions available in each season.

How did Red Butte Garden begin?

It started in 1930 as a site for plant research by Dr. Walter P. Cottam. It later became the State Arboretum and expanded into a public garden in the 1980s.

What is the main purpose of Red Butte Garden?

The garden focuses on plant education, conservation, and public enjoyment, offering programs and events for the community.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Red Butte Garden and Arboretum", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sim's Park, Coonoor: Thangaraj Kumaravel, CC BY 2.0, source

Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute: No machine-readable author provided. Shyamal assumed (based on copyrig, CC BY 2.5, source

Baldha Garden: Muntasir du, Public domain, source

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Longwood Gardens: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Missouri Botanical Garden: Yinan Chen, Public Domain, source

Morton Arboretum: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5, source

Callaway Gardens: Thomsonmg2000, CC0, source

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum