Get the lay of the land
Use this section to explore our cultivated collections around the Nevin Welcome Center and within the Newman Arboretum, as well as over 30 natural areas on the Cornell campus and throughout the county.
Nevin Welcome Center and Gardens
Start your visit here to learn what to see and do from our visitor services staff, check out our exhibits, shop our Garden Gift Shop, and step outside to explore specialty gardens.
F. R. Newamn Arboretum
Explore the #1 most beautiful college arboretum, a place of beauty and scientific study, featuring collections of trees, shrubs, and specialty gardens.
Featured Garden and Collections
This intimately-scaled, hemlock-shaded, streamside garden displays moisture-loving plants that cannot be grown well elsewhere at Cornell Botanic Gardens.
Explore a collection of flowering plants that hold symbolic meaning by cultures around the world.
With over 500 varieties of herbs, this garden is used by faculty from many disciplines to enhance their teaching and research.
On-Campus Natural Areas
Explore eleven natural areas on Cornell University’s campus including Beebe Lake, Cascadilla and Fall Creek Gorges, Mundy Wildflower Garden and more!
Featured On-Campus Natural Areas
The iconic Cascadilla Gorge Trail passes through one of the most picturesque gorges in the Finger Lakes Region.
Beebe Lake is a sanctuary of water, woods, and wetlands in the heart of the Cornell Campus.
This natural area consists of young and old forests on the north and south sides of Fall Creek.
Off-campus Natural Areas
We steward over 30 off-campus natural areas throughout Tompkins County, each offering a unique sense of place and opportunities to explore and study.
Featured Off-campus Natural Areas
Majestic, magical, inspirational, with trees over 150 feet tall, this site is a sanctuary in every sense of the word.
One of the few remaining areas of floodplain forests and marsh around the mouth of Cayuga Lake.
One of the most dramatic examples in the local region of a valley slope over-steepened by glaciers.
On Display
We display plant-focused art and create seasonal exhibits in the Nevin Welcome Center lobby that explore plants indispensable to cultures around the world.
Explore us Your Way
There are many ways to explore Cornell Botanic Gardens!
Learn from our plant tags and other interpretive labels throughout the gardens.
Where we recommend visiting for gardening inspiration.
Visiting with family? Check out these spots to make your family visit extra fun!