Nichols Arboretum

Nichols Arboretum

Nichols Arboretum (123 acres, 49.7 hectares) is operated by the University of Michigan. It is a mosaic of University and City properties operated as one unit. The arboretum is open daily from sunrise to sunset with no charge for admission.

The Huron River separates a northern section of the arboretum's floodplain woods; the railroad marks the northern border. The arboretum is popularly known as "the Arb" by locals.

The arboretum was designed in 1906 by O. C. Simonds, and he used the steep glacial topography to include areas both for collections and natural areas.

Many of the older plantings date from the 1920s and 1930s.

It is particularly known for its Peony Collection, Heathdale Collection (species primarily from Appalachia), the Centennial Shrub Collection and the Dow Prairie. The University of Michigan conducts controlled burns of the prairie each year in an attempt to maintain native species and habitat.

Location

1610 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County
Michigan, USA

Getting There

 Nichols Arboretum is easily accessible by public transportation.

To get to Nichols Arboretum by public transit, you can take the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) bus. Several bus routes run through the area, including Route 5, which stops at the Washington and Observatory bus stop, just a short walk from the arboretum.

You can also take the Route 6 bus, which stops at Geddes and Observatory, another stop within walking distance of the arboretum.

For more information on bus schedules, fares, and routes, visit the AATA website or download their mobile app.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Michigan that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.