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July & August 2026 Trail Guide | Day | English

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DESERT

OASIS

Summer at the Garden TRAIL MAP & VISITORS GUIDE


GARDEN GO

like a pro

Welcome Your Desert Oasis!

As you explore the Garden and desert plants from around the world remember: Summer temperatures frequently reach more than 115 degrees. Be prepared for the extreme heat. Stay hydrated with water refilling stations.

Cool off in Cool Down Zones or shady spots.

Don’t be shy– anyone with a name badge is happy to help.

Be sun safe– wear a hat and reapply sunscreen often.

The Garden is Closed for Peak Heat 1-5 p.m. Daily

YEAR ROUND Here are seasonal highlights you may encounter on today’s visit. For more bloom sightings, visit the “What’s in Bloom” display in Ottosen Entry Garden.

Cylindropuntia fulgida Chain fruit cholla

Ferocactus wislizenii Fishhook barrel

Leucophyllum sp. Texas sage


DAYTIME

experiences

Download the Garden App and Explore the Trails with Audio Tours: Birding Tour Learn more about the desert birds on the trails.

Happiness Tour Take in the natural beauty and peace of the desert.

Garden Shop

Gertrude's by Tarbell's

8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Daily

6 a.m. – 1 p.m. Daily

Patio Café | Ullman Terrace Closed for Summer

Cool Down in The RAF Exhibit Gallery Escape the heat and cool off in our indoor Light Lounge. Discover playful and colorful interactive light installations all day long! Open 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Daily


MAP LEGEND Grassland

Mountain Vista Telescopes

Parking Pratt

Ramada

Restrooms

Apache Household

SONORAN DESERT NATURE TRAIL

Akimel O’odham Household

Hydration Stations

1/4 mile = .40 km

N Spanish Gardens

ATM

Ullman

Terrace

CENTER FOR DESERT LIVING TRAIL

Native Crop Garden Patio Café Closed for Summer

Saguaro Harvesting Ramada

Mary Jean Connell

Webster

Sensory Garden

Steele

Archer

Herb Garden

House

PLANTS & PEOPLE OF THE SONORAN DESERT TRAIL

Retail

Edible Garden

Information

Weisz

Family Plaza

Kitchell Family

Heritage Garden

1/3 mile = .53 km

Food

1/10 mile = .16 km

Center

Desert Oasis

ATM

First Aid DESERT DISCOVERY TRAIL 1/3 mile = .53 km

READY TO

explore

Berlin

Agave Yucca Forest

The RAF

Sybil B. Harrington

Lewis

Cactus and Succulent Galleries

Exhibit Gallery

Desert Portal

Marley

Learning Lab

The Pavilion at Sunset Plaza

Ahearn Portal

Christensen Family Desert Oasis

Nina Mason Pulliam Desert Research and Horticulture Center

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Boppart

Courtyard

Marley Education and Volunteer Building

Desert Terrace Garden Amphitheater

Cohn Family

Butterfly Pavilion Closed for Summer

Dorrance Hall

Ottosen Gallery

Weisz Learning Center

Admissions

Ottosen Entry Garden

Butterfly Garden

Hummingbird Garden

Bee Garden

Sonoran Sunset Garden

Schilling Entry Arbor

Follow us @dbgphx #desertbotanicalgarden

Gertrude's by Tarbell's

Garden Shop

Ride Share Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Harriet K. Maxwell

Binns

Pavilion

Boulder Garden

DESERT WILDFLOWER TRAIL 1/3 mile = .53 km Closes at sunset


ABOUT THE DESERT DISCOVERY TRAIL

trails

(1/3 mile = .53 km) Explore the Garden’s main trail and discover the many ways desert plants from around the world have adapted to the environment. Featuring a diverse array of cactus and succulents as well as historic plant collections, this core trail takes you on a journey to celebrate the beauty of the desert.

Harriet K. Maxwell

DESERT WILDFLOWER TRAIL

(1/3 mile = .53 km) | Closes at sunset Stroll along this meandering trail where you’ll encounter brightly colored blooms as well as the pollinators they attract, like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Find out how flowers, insects and birds play an essential role in thriving desert ecosystems.

CENTER FOR DESERT LIVING TRAIL (1/10 mile = .16 km) Fragrant herbs, vegetable beds and shady spots to relax make this trail a delight for the senses. Come see what’s growing this season and discover tips for creating a lush, water-wise home garden.

SONORAN DESERT NATURE TRAIL (1/4 mile = .40 km) Take our nature trail to learn how plants and animals survive in the desert with so little water. Watch for wildlife on your way to the top and take in mountain vistas that will change your point of view.

PLANTS & PEOPLE OF THE SONORAN DESERT TRAIL (1/3 mile = .53 km) Wander through five diverse desert habitats and discover the variety of ways indigenous people use native plants for food, fiber and shelter.


Music Nightly!

Your Nights Just Got Cooler ... Now – Sept. 30 | Enjoy this made-for-summer Garden After Dark experience as more than 12 light installations take over the trails. This shimmering display creates a playful break from the summer heat with cooling colors and designs inspired by the monsoon season.

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS

Join today for unlimited Garden access and exclusive perks. Help protect the Garden for future generations.

Apply today’s admission toward a membership. Offer is only valid the day of admission.


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July & August 2026 Trail Guide | Day | English by dbgphx - Issuu