Located in the heart of Boone County, there are few places in the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area where you can see such a unique arrangement of diverse plants. At 121 acres, the Boone County Arboretum was the nation’s first arboretum within an active recreation park setting - the specialized arrangements of plant families are connected by a 2+ mile multi-use trail winding around 12 athletic fields. The beauty and educational value of these plant collections, including obscure selections rarely observed by the public eye, will captivate everyone from the avid plantsman to the average homeowner. Special attractions at the Arboretum include the Children’s Garden, a Wildlife Viewing area in our Native Kentucky Grassland, and two short woodland trails. Three informational kiosks are located at the main trail entrances to provide horticultural information, Extension class offerings, and our Arboretum map - all free to the public.
We are located just outside Union, KY, only 25 minutes southwest from downtown Cincinnati. We are open daily from dawn to dusk for your year-round enjoyment of our more than 3000 trees and shrubs. There is no charge for admission or parking.
The mission of BCA is "to create a living museum that enriches the quality of life by providing a place for the appreciation and study of plants and the preservation of the natural environment."