| Membership | Price (+HST) |
|---|---|
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $300/year |
| Supporting | $600/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
Peak Bloom Season at the Arboretum
- Arboretum (16 Old Guelph Rd. Hamilton)
- Parking is limited
The Arboretum (16 Old Guelph Road, Hamilton) is home to the majority of RBG’s flowering tree collections, including Flowering Cherry Trees, Magnolias, Crabapples, and Lilacs. Each has its own bloom timing, creating a season that unfolds in stages. Before your visit, check our ‘Bloom Watch‘ or follow along on social media for the latest updates.
Parking capacity at the Arboretum is very limited; flat rate parking applies, with select weekends available to members only (shuttle available to the public from RBG Centre).
Plan Your Visit to the Arboretum
Parking capacity at the Arboretum is very limited. Garden admission is not required to visit the Arboretum; paid parking or shuttle ticket in effect. Reservations required weekends May 9 to 24, 2026.
Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Until May 8, parking at the Arboretum is available to all first-come, first served. Weekend shuttle available from RBG Centre (680 Plains Road W., Burlington).
Non-Members:
- Weekdays: Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only)
- Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only) OR pre-book your shuttle ticket ($10), park at RBG Centre (680 Plains Rd. W. Burlington)
- Weekends, 5 to 8 p.m.: Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only)
Admission is not required to access the Arboretum; parking fees OR shuttle ticket apply.
Members:
- Weekdays & Weekends: simply scan your member parking card upon entering and exiting
- May 2 & 3 Weekend Overflow Shuttle: Pre-book your free shuttle tickets, park at RBG Centre (680 Plains Rd. W. Burlington)
NOTE: your parking card is required for all Arboretum visits (tap to enter and exit). Members arriving without this card will be required to pay the parking fee.
Parking capacity at the Arboretum is very limited. To best accommodate increased weekend visitation, on-site parking is reserved for RBG Members only. All other visitors can take advantage of the shuttle service from RBG Centre on weekends.
Reservations are required for weekend visits between May 9 and 24, 2026 for both RBG Members and Shuttle from RBG Centre.
Non-Members:
- Weekdays: Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only)
- Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Pre-book your shuttle tickets, park at RBG Centre (680 Plains Rd. W. Burlington)
- Weekends, 5 to 8 p.m.: Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only)
Admission is not required to access the Arboretum; parking fees OR shuttle ticket apply.
Members:
- Weekdays: simply scan your member parking card upon entering and exiting
- Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Member-exclusive on-site parking, make your reservation online + scan your member parking card upon entering and exiting
- Weekends, 5 to 8 p.m.: simply scan your member parking card upon entering and exiting
NOTE: your parking card is required for all Arboretum visits (tap to enter and exit). Members arriving without this card will be required to pay the parking fee.
Arboretum Frequently Asked Questions
Are there washroom facilities?
Portable washrooms are available at the Arboretum.
Is the Arboretum Accessible?
The Lilac Walk at the Arboretum is a paved pathway. Access to the lower lilac dell involves a steep hill descent. Beyond this route, much of the Arboretum is an open grass field and acts as a trailhead to the Cootes Paradise nature trail system.
Accessible parking spaces are available in the Parking Circle.
Food and Drink / Picnics
RBG’s Food Truck will be on-site serving BBQ items on weekends in May, starting May 9.
Pack a picnic! Outside food is permitted at the Arboretum (excluding special events). Please pack-out or properly dispose of any waste. Outdoor cooking is not permitted.
Outside food is not permitted at RBG Centre, Hendrie Park, or Rock Garden.
Please note that food and beverages may not be consumed while riding the weekend shuttle.
Is a water bottle filling station available?
At the Arboretum, an outdoor bottle refill station is available at the Nature Interpretive Centre.
Can I bring my dog/pet?
RBG is pet‑friendly on our nature trails and at the Arboretum. Pets are welcome in these areas when kept on leash and under control.
When visiting with your pet:
- Keep them leashed and held by the handler
- Stay on designated paths
- Clean up after them
- Be mindful of other visitors and wildlife
Please note: Pets are not permitted on the weekend shuttle. Service animals are always welcome in accordance with Ontario law.
Thank you for sharing our spaces responsibly.
Visitor Code
Upon entering the Arboretum and surrounding nature trails, you are making a pledge to respect the environment and fellow visitors. These lands are Canada’s biodiversity hotspot, set aside at the head of Lake Ontario for environmental protection, open for environmental education and passive recreation only. While walking our trails, it is important to remember that you are a visitor in someone else’s home, and that your impact will be multiplied over by 200,000 other visitors.
Environmental protection bylaws are posted at each trailhead. Please follow them and play a role in protecting and restoring the area for future generations.
RBG Bylaw Restrictions
The properties and activities are regulated by the Royal Botanical Gardens Act and supporting bylaws.
- Pets must remain leashed at all times. Please clean up after your dogs and leave waste trailhead garbage receptacle.
- Bicycles are prohibited on the trails.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited.
- Horseback riding is prohibited.
- Picking or collecting plants or wildlife is prohibited.
- Feeding the wildlife/birds is prohibited.
- Use of drones is prohibited under RBG bylaw and further regulated by NavCanada.
Signature Flowering Tree Collections
Please respect the trees.
Don’t break off blooms, shake the branches, or climb the trees as you can damage or break the tree branches.
Use of drones is prohibited under RBG bylaw and further regulated by NavCanada.
What’s In Bloom?
Check our bloom watch and stay connected on social media for bloom updates!
