We went here in February 2026 and we had a phenomenal time. The weather was perfect and the plants were all just amazing. We saw tons of unique cactus plants as well as roses and turtles and frogs and we really enjoyed the large trees for shade. We loved listening to all the birds as we walked around the botanical gardens. There are plenty of benches throughout to take refuge and there were many people just enjoying a book in the serenity of this magical location. Definitely recommend if you're in Riverside California area. read more

It was a great ealk and not too hard. Wewent on winter so not too much flowers yet. Glad to have this at local area

I arrived at 11:15 am on a Monday. Parking lot was almost full. There were large groups leaving. Not sure if it was meetup or tour going on but I got one of last narrow spots left. I paid for 2 hours of parking. I don't remember the cost, as I tapped to pay. Several bare trees, but some in full color. Spring hasn't completely sprung yet. Some trails were steep and damp due to recent rains. I enjoy coming here for bird watching, admiring the flowers, and the steep trails with a view. read more

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Beautiful garden. Lovely walk. Be careful for the snake. It crossed our path at the entrance. read more

You'll love it. A true hidden gem. Some pro tips. 1. Download the ParkMobile.io app and pay for parking there. Otherwise you'll have to walk back down to your car to deposit proof of purchase. 2. Parking is scarce. You may have to go around a few times and wait for someone to leave. 3. Prepare to climb. Lots of uphill hiking but you'll be rewarded by the beauty. read more

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Surprising how much is bloomed considering it is the winter season. The iris' are springing up! A given are the gorgeous aloes that are nicely bloomed. Instead of taking the route of the left side, I headed on the right and made my way up! Best to arrive early as there isn't much parking close by. You will need to park in the other lot if the small one is packed. read more

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Amazing place to visit! You will get lost with all there is to see here! I enjoyed the afternoon time seems more tranquil to me.

A beautiful and inexpensive way to spend the day. We took the grandkids and they had a fantastic time. So much to see and explore. But be careful! We did run into a rattler on the far end trails. Just watch your kiddos but overall an amazing spot. read more

It's been many years since I've visited UCR botanical garden. Didn't realize how beautiful it is until my recent visit there. Very serene and well kept open air botanical garden. It was a very pleasant experience and a perfect day in April. Flowers are blooming but the roses are not blooming yet. Too bad I didn't have time to see the desert plants but I will definitely be back in May to see the rest of the plants. I am looking forward to buy some plants that they sell on certain days of the year. Pay parking ($2/hr) is limited close by. I was lucky to get an open spot on a late Friday morning. I highly recommend visiting this garden if you're looking for something outdoor and relaxing to do with your time off from work or school. It is not as big as the Huntington botanical gardens but it is certainly big enough to enjoy your day. read more

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Parking: $2/hr for the arboretum. $5 donation for admission. Irises, cacti, roses, and various flowering trees are in full bloom right now. Enjoyed seeing various plants that I've never seen before at other arboretums. Half of the arboretum is mountainous with trails meandering through different vegetation. There are some shaded trails for warm days. There is also some paved paths leading to the rose garden. Definitely worth a visit for an hour or two! #ucrbotanicgardens #grace.in.nature read more

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I considered this a very nice place to visit, walking from the main UCR campus. I wish it was open more on the weekend. However, my weekday visit was very nice, and I think it provides a good variety of plans to view at low cost (with the suggested donation). I will also look into purchasing some merchandise on-line! read more

gorgeous place! went for the first time yesterday and loved it! nice hike and beautiful scenery read more

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This place is lovely. They have changed their hours, I believe they stay open later. Overall a peaceful and serene experience. read more

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Beautiful and breathtaking views! There's so much beauty in nature. The Botanic Gardens captures all of that. Such a great place to go for a walk and appreciate one of God's creations. The rose garden is so pretty. The streams, trees and all the greenery. What a great place for a picnic. You do have to pay for parking, it's a couple of bucks and that gets you 1-2 hours at the Botanic Gardens. Which is more than enough time to explore the whole area. If you plan on going up to the rose garden, wear some tennis shoes because it is a little bit of a hike to get up there. This is a wonderful place to come to meditate, breath and focus on the beauty of nature. read more

UCR Botanic Gardens - Gorgeous - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Riverside, California

Beautiful place. Many trails, lots of shade and benches. Took my parent they love it too.

This place is PERFECT if you're a photographer! If you're new to the area, & don't know your way around UCR, look for the street Botanical Gardens, it will lead you to the visitor parking lot & up the little hill near the entrance to the garden. Parking permits costed $2.50 for 90mins, I purchased my permit at the parking machine, not a bad price in my opinion. As you enter the gates, there are maps that direct you to the different routes, there's restrooms, water fountain/reusable water filter if you brought water bottles, and a donation box to help maintain the garden, make sure you donate at least something! ;) The garden is huge. I spent about over two hours walking and taking pictures. Anybody is welcome, I usually see families, students, and toddlers roaming around here. If you bring children, keep an eye on them AT ALL TIMES... there's some spiky plants, bees, steep areas, and some wild life animals roaming around, so keep your babies safe. I also believe pets aren't allowed here. There's many areas and routes to explore, take your time observing each species of plants/flowers/herbs. Literally, it's a nice, relaxing stroll, and there are some seating in certain spots. I recommend to come in the Spring when the garden is lush, and flowers are flourishing. read more

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Beautiful place. There are paved trails and unpaved trails. It gets really hot so bring an umbrella and water. The parking is 4.00 for 2 hours and admission is free. We came Friday morning around 9:30 am. It wasn't to busy but it was already hot. They're open from 9 - 2 on Fridays. read more

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Great place for a stroll. Entrance is by donations but you don't have to donate if you don't have the money. Great place to feel that your not in the city. All ages can go. Only drawback is it's paid parking so u have to walk back to your car after you pay and put the ticket in your vehicle. It's a good place to frequent. The rose garden is beautiful read more

UCR Botanic Gardens - My granddaughter at UC Riverside Botanical Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Riverside, California

Wandering through the gardens at UCR are always a delight. It's my husband's alma mater and to see the growth over the years since is always a great way to relax, get in some exercise and enjoy the gardens. It's been an inspiration for me to try some of the designs and different plants in my own garden. It's a nice campus but the gardens always add a special element of color and respite from busy university activities. I'd recommend you don't miss this opportunity when visiting Riverside. read more

Free (donation-based) activity, with excellent botanical diversity, great for strenuous hikes and casual walks. A gem for both UCR and Riverside. read more

You gotta go to this place for a lovely healthy walk and a great show of native and other plants. The turtle pond was amazing and so beautiful amongst the trees and hillside. read more

I never knew this place existed and of all places in Riverside. I'm glad I stumble upon this hidden gem. We stayed here for an hour and parking was about $2.00. When walking into the gate there is a donation box, donate what you can to preserve the place. There so much look at, take your time and watch your step on the trails. This is an excellent place to clear your mind, and just enjoy nature as whole. Overall a good place to take photography or just to relax and eat lunch. I would say good for kids, family, etc. Tip: *They close at 5PM *Bring a reusable bottle, there is a water refill station on the left when walking through the gates. I didn't notice until I exited the gate. read more

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I live 2 miles from the UCR Botanic Gardens. I rediscovered this hidden gem a few weeks ago. I had not visited in about 25 years. This was my 4th recent visit. The Rose Garden is beginning to bloom. I captured some of the roses currently in bloom. There are 40 acres with varying trails with different plants and trees from different climates and geographic regions. There is a butterlfy garden. A Rose Garden. A Turtle Pond. Parking is available for a small fee. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. Hours are 9a.m. to 12p.m. M-F. read more

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Perfect place for a walk and lesson about nature. Very kid friendly, great place for running around.

A true gem with an amazing array of different plant species from all over the world. An oasis of serenity. Highly recommend spending several hours here! read more

It was such a big surprise to see botanic gardens in a university. My favorite part was their rose gardens. They also have some nice desert planets which was rare to see. The gardens are huge, but I only recommend the main flowering areas read more

UCR Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Riverside, California

Seriously wished I knew about this garden while I was schooling at UCR. Pretty neat, and it could be considered a mini hike, lots of walking for sure. Free admission but parking is not free. Not sure how other school's botanical garden is but this place is a gem in UCR, especially when there isn't much plant life other outside of campus. Bring some sandwiches and hike to the top for a picnic. read more

I came here with a friend about an hour before closing (hours are generally 8a-5p). For those who are driving to the Botanical Gardens, there is very affordable parking near the front entrance (I believe it was 25 cents an hour or something very affordable like that). Or, if you have a UCR permit, you can just park here as well. There isn't a lot of staffing in the gardens, but it is not that big of a deal as it is mostly a self directed stroll through a variety of garden scapes. Suggested $5 donation at the front. Admission is otherwise free of charge. There are multiple types of gardens - succulents, roses, you name it! There is no better place to be than Riverside for the diversity of flowers and plants that can be seen all year around. There are restrooms throughout, benches, and pathways so you can go at your own pace. Great place to come for a quick mind reliever or a nice, serene walk with friends or family. read more

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It's such a beautiful garden. A variety of plants. Gorgeous flowers surrounding Gazebos. Yes, and plenty of opportunity to take a wide variety of photographs. Definitely recommended-- read more

I visited UCR Botanic Gardens in the morning around 10:00 am. Very cool morning with few visitors. Parking is not free. You can use the pay machine to purchase the parking ticket : $2 for 1 hr and $4 for 2 hrs. Record your license plate before walk to the pay machine. The machine requires you to enter the license plate before it issues a receipt. Admission is free, but UCR accepts donation. The red donation box is located to the left side of the main gate. read more

I visited the Botanic Gardens for the featured arts. I was hoping to see artists painting live, instead, there was a line of booths with arts and crafts being sold. The gardens is huge. I went for a nice stroll on the paved and unpaved trails. It's easy to get lost, so make sure you bring a map with you. Trails are not well marked and terrain can change quickly. We found ourselves walking downhill on steep terrain. Parking is free but space is limited, but you can park on E Campus Drive and shuttle service is available to get you to and from the Gardens. I would return to check out the other side of the Gardens. read more

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This is the best place ever. It's my new favorite thing to do and I seriously wish it was open today on my day off. The trails (when done in order) equal about 4 miles of some awesome hiking. There is also a beautiful rose garden, butterfly garden, herb garden, iris garden, and of course Lilac Lane! It's just a seriously amazing and beautiful place. read more

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Started off kinda bleh because we got the map and the map made the place look ginormous. We started down the pathway and found ourselves at the first split off the path within a few steps, so we thought the map was deceptive. Turns out that there's a whole world in the forest/Australia/hiking trail area where you really can get lost! This isn't a good "flowers and flowers everywhere" type of garden--more of like a hiking in the forest type of garden. I especially like how there's shade in the forest area. You only have to pay for parking ($2/hour). This isn't a crowded garden by any means, so lots of peace of mind to be found here. read more

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Horrible. Doesn't say anywhere on google that dogs aren't allowed, only on yelp. Please do better advertising as we drove 30 minutes out to the gardens just to get turned away. read more

Great way to spend time. My partner and I didn't get to finish the entire garden, nonetheless it was very beautiful.

This by far is a beautiful place to take pictures at ive been here a couple of times ! And I have gotten beautiful pictures! A lot of my clients love coming here for pictures Instagram: @orozcophotography read more

I lived in Riverside for one month, this is my first time discovering the beautiful place. It is very close to where I live. The butterfly flies and Flower begin to bloom. There are not big as I thought. We came Thursday morning around 10.30. I believe they close at 2 pm. There's nature beauty and a good place to go for a walk. The turtle is so cute. We went to there by walking. I was there and I like this place. read more

We were impressed with the garden, even in Fall. . The different areas were lovely. We plan to come back to see it in Spring when other flowers are in bloom. The rose garden was gorgeous. The variety of plant species was really interesting. We will definitely be back! read more

Hidden gem in Riverside. If you love nature, hiking, or getting to see plants from different regions of the world, this is an absolutely terrific place to visit. There are deep forests and tall, tropical canopies as well as Mediterranean, and arid, desert landscapes. Being our first time coming here, we greatly underestimated the size of the place. The 90 minute parking was much too short for us to really explore everything without rushing, so we will have to come back again to fully appreciate it all. It can be a bit humid and very hot, even outside of summer months. Try to go early, or after the hottest parts of the day for extended hikes. There is plenty of shade, though some trails are much more open and exposed than others. A hat for added sun protection helps. Be sure to wear appropriate walking shoes, as some trails are steep. Also: be aware of, and keep a respectful distance, from any wildlife that may be roaming around. We saw two small bobcats on our visit -- one was quietly drinking near the turtle pond, and the other was wandering closer to the rose garden. Lovely place. We will definitely be back here! read more

Absolutely love this place. Totally worth going. There's lots to see and some small amount of hiking if you walk far enough