Jacksonville Arboretum by the Numbers: 136 Acres, 7 Trails, 13 Ecosystems and a $3 Ticket

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens covers 136 acres, offers seven hiking trails and contains 13 distinct ecosystems, with admission costing $3 per adult. Located at 1445 Millcoe Road in Jacksonville, the property combines woodland trails, marshes, curated gardens and a two-acre lake. Here is the Arboretum by the numbers, from its acreage and trails to its hours, fees and rules.

The Arboretum is not a city park. A private nonprofit organization manages the grounds, which officially opened to the public on Nov. 15, 2008. Here is a closer look at the numbers behind the property, from its mining history and trail distances to admission prices and seasonal hours.

136 Acres of Natural Landscapes

The Jacksonville Arboretum occupies approximately 136 acres, although Wikipedia lists its more precise size as 135.82 acres. The property contains a mix of natural habitats, hiking paths and planted garden areas. Visitors can explore several different landscapes within the grounds without leaving the property.

The Arboretum also includes newly planted palm, tea, pollinator and raised-bed gardens. These curated spaces complement the naturally occurring plant communities found throughout the property. The grounds are managed by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rather than the city.

13 Distinct Ecosystems

The Arboretum contains 13 distinct ecosystems, including freshwater marshes, tidal marshes, upland hardwood forests and pine flatwoods. Other habitats include dry prairies, bottomland forests and live oak hammocks. These environments provide different landscapes along the property's network of hiking trails.

The diversity of habitats has a connection to the property's industrial history. From 1941 through 1961, the Humphries Gold Mining Company mined the land for zircon and other minerals used in producing titanium. After mining ended, the property remained largely undisturbed for approximately 30 years, allowing 13 separate ecosystems to develop.

7 Hiking Trails, From Easy to Extremely Difficult

Seven designated hiking trails cross the Arboretum, with difficulty ratings ranging from easiest to extremely difficult. The trails include firm, accessible surfaces, winding dirt paths, sandy sections and routes with substantial elevation changes. Trail distances range from about 0.15 mile to 1 mile among the six trails with published lengths.

The Lake Loop Trail circles Lake Ray on a wide, firm route that is partly paved and accessible. Despite its easiest rating, the route descends approximately 25 feet from the trailhead to the lake's east side. It provides a shorter option than the more demanding Sand Ridge and Jones Creek trails.

Sand Ridge Trail extends 1 mile through a xeric hammock, rosemary/oak scrub, depression marsh and wetland marsh. Its small gated side trail to the Rosemary Scrub contains soft sand, and dogs cannot enter that section. Visitors must also avoid disturbing the fragile deer moss.

The half-mile Live Oak Trail passes oaks that are at least 100 years old and the National Champion Loblolly Bay tree. Jones Creek Trail rises and falls nearly 25 feet, passes a baygall and a large cypress tree, and is unsuitable for strollers. Aralia Trail, near the Mormon Bridge, offers views of Jones Creek and large Devil's Walking Stick trees but can become wet and muddy after rain.

2 Acres of Water at Lake Ray

Lake Ray is a two-acre, man-made lake within the Arboretum. According to Wikipedia, the lake originated as a borrow pit excavated during the 1970s. Today, the 0.3-mile Lake Loop Trail provides a route around its shoreline.

Water also features in the property's other landscapes, including its freshwater and tidal marsh ecosystems. Visitors must remain out of the water under Arboretum rules. Fishing is not permitted anywhere on the property.

185 Feet Wide and 25 Feet Deep

A ravine approximately 185 feet wide and 25 feet deep is another notable feature of the Arboretum. Two hiking trails provide access to different portions of this landscape. Both carry moderate difficulty ratings.

The Upper Ravine Trail follows a 0.3-mile dirt route along the ravine's south side. The Lower Ravine Trail covers approximately 800 feet, or 0.15 mile, around a small man-made island at the bottom. Volunteers from the Student Conservation Association built the island.

$3 Admission for Adults

Admission costs $3 per adult, while children age 3 and younger enter free. Visitors pay at the Welcome Kiosk after parking. The Arboretum accepts cash, cards and contactless payments.

Tour buses and vans must pay a $30 parking fee. The Arboretum also offers memberships that provide unlimited visits for one year. The published admission information does not specify a separate ticket price for children older than 3.

8 a.m. Opening, With 2 Seasonal Closing Times

The Arboretum opens daily at 8 a.m., but its closing time changes seasonally. From March 12 through Nov. 5, the grounds close at 7 p.m. From Nov. 6 through March 11, closing moves earlier to 5 p.m.

That means the shorter fall and winter schedule begins Friday, Nov. 6, about a week after this article's publication. Visitors cannot enter during the final 30 minutes before closing, so the last admission time also changes with the season. Hours may differ during special events, and the Arboretum observes certain holiday closures.

8-Foot Leash Limit for Dogs

Dogs are welcome at the Arboretum, provided their leashes do not exceed 8 feet. The requirement follows city ordinance 462.102, and owners must clean up after their pets. Dogs cannot enter the gated Rosemary Scrub Vista.

Visitors must also remain on designated trails and avoid feeding wildlife, including gopher tortoises and alligators. Bicycles and scooters are prohibited on hiking trails. Camping, drones, balloons and sports balls are also prohibited, and professional photography requires a permit.

5 Picnic Tables and 1 Accessible Restroom

Five picnic tables sit near the Arboretum's entrance, although there is no picnic shelter. An accessible restroom and a water bottle refilling station are also available at the entrance. Benches are located along each trail, and bicycle racks are provided.

The Arboretum requires anyone younger than 18 to visit with an adult. Its supervision rule calls for one adult for every three minors. Visitors should account for that requirement when planning a group outing.

2004 Founded, 2008 Opened

The nonprofit organization behind the Arboretum was founded in March 2004. The grounds officially opened on Nov. 15, 2008, following the property's earlier decades of mining and natural recovery. Those dates mark the transition from former industrial land to a publicly accessible botanical destination.

The Arboretum later received the Civic Horticultural Leadership Award in 2009. In 2010, it received the HandsOn Earth Award from HandsOn Jacksonville. Both awards are listed in Wikipedia's history of the property.

3 Hours of Wednesday Volunteer Work

The Arboretum holds a weekly volunteer workday every Wednesday from 8 to 11 a.m. Volunteers help maintain the property through weeding, pruning, planting and mulching. The organization also offers weekly, monthly and corporate volunteer opportunities.

Before You Go

The Arboretum is located at 1445 Millcoe Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225, and can be reached at (904) 318-4342. Visitors should check the seasonal closing schedule and remember that admission stops 30 minutes before closing. They should also select trails according to their published difficulty ratings, particularly when considering routes with elevation changes, soft sand or muddy conditions.

Visitors must stay on the marked trails, keep out of the water and follow the property's rules regarding pets, wildlife and recreational equipment. The entrance provides a restroom, drinking-water refill station and bicycle racks, while benches are available along the trails. For non-emergency police assistance, the listed number is (904) 630-0500.

How We Did This

Jax Times compiled this guide using information from the official Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens website, including its home, Visit and Trails pages at jacksonvillearboretum.org. Historical details, property measurements and award information also came from Wikipedia's "Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens" article. The source information was read Oct. 27, 2026, ahead of publication Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.