We took a "field trip" here while learning about trees in our homeschool unit and we really appreciated three things: the walking trails are very nicely maintained and paved well, all of the natural shade with benches to rest, and all of the labels & information panels on the various types of trees! The area is beautiful and a great place for a walk. My 4 star rating is coming from a desire for a better map, the ones they have are ok but I had a little bit of trouble at times, and then for being let down on 2 things I promised my kids. The "children's garden" has definitely seen better days and is very lackluster in general. There's nothing to do inside of it and we were honestly just confused. The other thing was the butterfly garden, all of the bushes were gone on our visit. In general, these things aren't a big deal but considering I had 4 small kids with me, these were 2 things advertised that we were looking forward to. read more

What a lovely little paved path just off the main road in the Union-Florence area! Don't let the baseball fields fool you - just follow the trail in to experience a wonderful little oasis of nature. There's plenty of parking - regardless if you're there for a baseball game or for a nice walk. We brought our dog with us, and ended up doing the entire loop in just under an hour. We'd initially pulled up this trail in the AllTrails app, and it told us this was 1.1 miles ... we're not so sure that's accurate, since it felt like we were walking for much longer than that. Next time, we'll make sure to measure how far we've gone. Either way - what a gorgeous way to start your day! The plants and trees are all labeled, and sorted into various collections. The Magnolia Collection was by far our favorite, although that's about as far back into the loop as you can get. The trail itself is well-maintained, and wasn't too busy at all on a Saturday morning around 9 a.m. There was a good age range among the folks walking ... it was nice to everyone from families to elderly couples out for a morning stroll. We'll definitely return to this paved trail - it's especially convenient after a big rain, when you don't want to hike through the mud! read more

Boone County Arboretum - Butterfly Garden - Hiking Near Me - Union, Kentucky

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The arboretum is a large and manicured space with numerous subsections. It has a lot of fields and facilities, but there are trails that go around the circumference and by various small bodies of water. It is free and open to the public and is not terribly far from the highway, so while I suspect that most of the people are local, it is a viable diversion. read more

This is a real gem in Boone County. There are two main trails. Put together the trails give you over 3 miles to walk. There are many soccer fields, so during soccer season, it's very busy. Trees, bushes, flowers are labeled and you will always find natural beauty no matter the season. read more

This park is very close to me, I like coming to this place for the trails, the open space and all the plants that a person can enjoy while in the park. The park was not crowded at all, in fact I only saw a few people walking. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy nature. read more

Boone County Arboretum - The park - Hiking Near Me - Union, Kentucky

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Nice place for a walk. Particularly on cooler days. There isn't much shade on the trail. The two main trails are paved. We also saw one trail that went into the trees. It appeared to be mostly shaded. A sign at the head said it's creation was an Eagle Scout project. Since we had a stroller with us, we stayed on the paved trails. Along the paved trails are signs explaining the collections, as well as what the plants are individually. The arboretum is more than the trails and trees. Soccer fields, and baseball fields are also available. League baseball was being played on one of the fields while we were there. Seeing the sports fields from various parts of the trail made it feel less like a traditional arboretum, and more like any other park. (Except there was more signage for the plants.) It distracted from the feeling of being at an arboretum. There is also a play structure near the entrance. I'm not sure we would make the drive out again. I prefer many of the Great Parks of Hamilton County over this. Since I am not overly familiar with the area, I'm not sure what other park options there are, or how they compare. If the arboretum was just being billed as a park I would give it another star. We were looking for more of a tranquil arboretum feel. read more

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We found this lovely little arboretum/park tucked into the rolling hills of northern Kentucky. Hubby and I are tree and plant lovers, so we really enjoyed strolling on the paved paths, admiring the tree collections, and reading all of the informational placards. There is quite a nice variety of specimens here, most grouped by species, with native plants as well as more exotic types. For flower lovers, there are perennial gardens that include pollinator favorites and a shady children's garden. While we were most attracted to the gardens and trees, we noticed that there were tennis courts, ball fields, and a playground available for fun and exercise. The park was clean and attractive. The paved path through the arboretum was available for mixed use...walking, jogging, skating, and cycling. While some parts of the path were shaded, other parts were definitely full sun, which could lead to uncomfortably warm strolls on sunny summer days. This seemed to be a family-friendly park, with mixed ages enjoying what it had to offer. read more

On my way to the Cincinnati Art Museum I decided to stop off at the Boone County Arboretum. To be honest it's more ball fields than arboretum. Now there is a nice small butterfly trail with pavers but that's not a good reason to go out of the way to come here. I suspect I was expecting something more like Bernheim Forest or the arboretum in Lexington. For those who prefer ball fields for their kids go for it. For those who prefer something more akin to a nature preserve then you may be underwhelmed. read more

One of my favorite parks in our community. It has been a place where my family could grow. From playing at the playground and exploring the butterfly trail, taking a hike along the nature paths, to playing baseball and soccer and doing a few 5 K runs, this park has been great! The trails are breathtaking, and honestly, who doesn't want to walk/run under a tree tunnel?! It's not only a park, but also an arboretum. It showcases beautiful trees and shrubs great for pictures or for sightseeing. The Boone County Parks Dept. Does s fabulous job maintaining this park. Check it out if you are ever I. Boone County KY! read more

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The nation's first arboretum set in an active recreation park setting, the Boone County Arboretum is a wonderful place to learn more about common and exotic flora while enjoying the exquisite Kentucky country-side. The arboretum is part of the Central Park grounds. And did I mention that it's free? Encompassing over 121 acres, the plants at the arboretum flourish year round, thanks to a state-of-the-art computerized irrigation system. Last year when my yard was a desiccated wasteland, the arboretum was lush and thriving. Almost every plant that I encountered as I strolled along the 2 miles of paved walking trails was identified with a small placard. On this sign, the plant's common and scientific name was stated, as well as an informative tid-bit about the species. Because the arboretum is operated by a partnership between the Boone County Extension Service and Boone County Fiscal Court, there are often a number of free or inexpensive workshops, lectures, and activities guided by expert horticulturalists. If you've ever had an interest in botany or just want to find out about plants to brighten up your landscape, make an afternoon at the Boone County Arboretum. Their website is full with useful information, such as maps, lists of blooming flowers, calendar of events and a searchable database of their collection. read more

Boone County Arboretum - Photo from arboretum's website - Hiking Near Me - Union, Kentucky

Nice walking trail, and also quite some of more like hiking trail.. didn't got chance to hike into those trail, but definite a place j will come back. read more

Nice park with many ball fields, paved trails or paths. With very nice and well kept Arboretum. Beautiful plants all year round a bit thin in the winter. read more

This Arboretum was a special place to take a walk when we visited your fine state from Alaska recently. The trails were very nicely paved, the weather was glorious, and the selection of trees and plants were wonderful. I hope every one in the vicinity realizes how special this place is. read more

Took my mom while waiting on a flight. Just so happened to be Earth Day! What a beautiful park! read more

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Such a nice park! They have fun playgrounds, walking trails, gardens, fields for baseball/softball, and shelters to hold activities. I went last night for Yoga at shelter 1, which is every Wednesday at 7 pm through the end of August, and I was impressed by the park and the yoga (high quality for being a free class!). I will definitely be coming back to this park! read more

The location of the Boone County Arboretum is a little out of the way for most Cincinnati folk-- I hadn't been in over a year-- but I made a point of going again this month. The arboretum is part of Central Park, so there are multiple athletic fields, ample parking, and a playground nearby. This is especially convenient if you want to bring the whole family, and it makes that long drive a little more worth it. Unlike nearby county parks (I'm looking at you Hamilton and Butler), it's also free-- no parking pass needed. While the playground is a bit outdated, it is nicely fenced in and has a lot of different play sets to keep the little ones entertained. There is a children's garden area attached to the playground, and my two love to explore it. The arboretum itself is large with a nice paved trail weaving in and out of the trees. It's so huge, in fact, that we got lost the last time we walked it. Next time, I'm bringing a map! Getting lost wasn't so bad, though, as the arboretum is filled with great, diverse plant life that is gorgeous. The plants are also well categorized, although I wish signage on them was just a bit more consistent. Less the drive down, I really struggle to find fault in the arboretum. If it were closer, I would walk there regularly. As for the foliage, I will say that it is more stunning in the spring. Going recently in the cold just wasn't as special. However, it really is a great park overall that I need to visit more often. read more

This is a great space to walk, run or just relax in nature. Come in spring or summer so you can get a look at all the beautiful flowers and plants! read more

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My husband and I spent a Sunday afternoon here wandering the trails and checking out the park. The arboretum has several areas devoted to trees, plants and flowers. There is a paved path that will take you through the entire park, and navigates you around the many softball and soccer fields. There are also plenty of wooded areas that have short trails that you can hike (or bike) as well. Overall, a great place to go and enjoy the outdoors. read more

The walking trails are awesome! Come visit spring or summer when the trees, plants and flowers are in full bloom! Who knew you could exercise and enjoy the absolute beauty of nature! This is a great paved trail for families to enjoy biking, roller skating or scooters. The trail is a little narrow, but plenty of room for a great family adventure! The trails go full circle or you can walk to the other side of the ball fields and back! This is a great workout! There are many things labeled and all is well maintained! Check out their annual perennial sale! This park has lots of ball fields, soccer fields, picnic area, butterfly garden and more! Definitely a place the whole family can enjoy! You're going to LOVE this! read more

The Boone County Arboretum is a great place for our family to go walking and take the kids to the park. If you want to get away and go for a quiet walk, this place will give you just that! If you want to connect with nature and smell the fresh air, I highly recommend this place! read more

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Great place to walk! Challenging in some spots but well worth it. I can't wait to walk this in the spring and summer!

This park is beautiful! It is filled with beautiful trees and shrubs, winding paths, and lots of space for sports recreation. It's a great place to take a walk or ride your bike, while also getting to see many different types of plant species. Very peaceful AND informative! read more

Love this place for the local walks and for the trails. Our dogs and kids love going here during the spring and summer.