Three-Mile Walk

People walking on Three-Mile Walk
Photo by Nick Kreevich

Three-Mile Walk provides an excellent overview of the Arboretum grounds, allowing visitors to hike to the Arboretum’s highest point and experience woods, wetlands and prairie as it meanders through a variety of the Arboretum’s gardens and collections. It features a beautiful new paved trail, the Gail and Bob Buuck Walkway, which provides sweeping views of the Red Barn. Walkers will travel mainly on paved paths and brick walkways, as well as short distances on gravel paths. Taken at a leisurely pace, the walk could take about an hour and a half to walk the 2.25 miles (3 miles if visitors walk directly from the gatehouse). 

Directions

  • From the gatehouse, proceed up to the first stop sign. Go straight.  
  • Follow the road just past the Oswald Visitor Center. Take your first left.   
  • At the stop sign, take a left. Follow the road straight up the hill. 
  • Go down the hill until you see a small parking lot on the right hand side in front of the Sensory Garden. Park here. 
  • Three-Mile Walk begins just to the right of the Sensory Garden. Look for signs that say Three-Mile Walk. 

Download the PDF map or use our digital map for easy navigation

3 mile walk sign

Look for these signs along pathways, helping to guide you through the Three-Mile Walk!

Picture Perfect Spots

While there are plenty of photo-worthy views along the walk, these are great places for a selfie or a snapshot.

  • Little houses in the Shade Tree exhibit.
  • Crabapple Tree Collection during its spring bloom.
  • Top of the hill in the sculpture garden. This is the highest point at the Arb!
  • A tree house near the ornamental grasses.
  • Inside the tree along the Pine Walk.
  • The platform overlooking the Maze Garden.
  • A distant view of the iconic Red Barn on the new paved trail after the Maze Garden.
Girl in crabapples
Slide 1
Inside the pine tree exhibit
Sensory Garden
Platform over the maze garden

Want to see more?

Additional Walks & Trails