Visitors Center
The Visitors Center is the perfect spot to begin your magical journey through nature! Inside the center, you’ll find a wealth of information from our friendly staff, brochures and maps that are all available free of charge. On the top level, you’ll find restrooms and a gift shop filled with fun trinkets and treasures to take home. On the lower level, you’ll find our lively Discovery Center where kids can enjoy hands-on nature activities while adults can relax and enjoy the peaceful, soothing sounds and sights of the Bird Watching Garden, a space that offers beautiful views of nature and tranquility.
Learning Garden
The Learning Garden is where we celebrate one of the key reasons Beman and Bertie Dawes, the cofounders, created The Arboretum – to “give education to the youth.” The Learning Garden is right off of the Parkwoods Trail and is used for educational programs throughout the year. The garden features an arbor, tables and chairs and a walkway amongst beautiful plantings. After programming, the plantings from the garden are donated to local food pantries.
Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden is a calming and serene space that invites visitors to reflect and relax. The rippling sounds of the water, the feeling of the breeze and the resting house along the winding path all provide a space that has become one of visitors’ favorite spots. Designed in 1963 by Makoto Nakamura, it was one of the first of its kind in Ohio, and the only one Nakamura designed outside of Japan.
Cypress Swamp
Deep in the Cypress Swamp is where The Great Mole Salamander Migration occurs every year. One of the very few Cypress Swamps this far north, this magical space invites beauty to the eyes as the sunlight glistens and glimmers through the towering trees. Next time you’re there, take a walk on the boardwalk and see what you notice. What plants do you see? What sounds do you hear?
Deep Woods
The Deep Woods is encapsulated in greenery in the summer and towering with warm orange colors in autumn. Many trees in the Deep Woods are over 200 years old, so when you walk into the Deep Woods, you’re walking into two centuries of history. The Deep Woods also houses the Log Cabin, where co-founders Beman and Bertie Dawes enjoyed using it for birdwatching in the summer and maple syruping in the winter.
Dawes Lake
Dawes Lake could be considered one of the most serene areas on The Arboretum’s main grounds – the ripple of the water against the wind, the sunlight beaming against the reflection of the water and the sound of birds chirping. It’s the perfect spot for a summer picnic, or catch-and-release fishing if you’re a member of The Arboretum!
Beard-Green Cemetery
On our property, nestled off of the South Auto Tour, lies the Beard-Green Cemetery, a cemetery where many Revolutionary War veterans lie. To learn more about the Beard-Green Cemetery, please reach out to Larry at 614-499-1730. He can also be reached at myersle@twc.com.
Arboretum East
Arboretum East is for those who seek out adventures. Beyond every twist and turn is another trail to be discovered. Endless new environments are around – deep woods are to be explored, gorges are to be discovered and endless hikes with something new every visit are just around the corner.
Red Barn Reserve
Red Barn Reserve is one of our free areas at The Arboretum that’s located outside of our main grounds. It’s a common area for our annual summer camp, school field trips and research. Find a calming white pine forest, a rare Ohio ecosystem - an Oak savanna and various reforestation projects. Can you spot them all?
Dutch Fork Wetlands
Dutch Fork Wetlands is another one of our free areas. There, you can traverse flat gravel trails, grass trails, boardwalks and wetland pools. Here, you can experience a Red Fox Meadow, the Riparian Redbuds and a Hibiscus Corridor.
Are you ready for your next adventure? There are endless ways to explore The Arboretum. Download a map below to begin your journey through nature!
Download Main Grounds Map (PDF)Download Red Barn & Dutch Fork Map (PDF)