Arboretum Project

All events at the UT Arboretum have been cancelled through April 30. The Visitors Center will be closed through April 30. The walking trails and parking lot will be open from 8:00 am until sunset daily.

The UT Arboretum is a place for all seasons! Walkers can enjoy our over five miles of Walking Trails year round. There is always something in bloom at the Arboretum and our Featured Plants page showcases a different plant each month. Bird and Wildlife spotting is common during every season and holly berries abound in the Elmore Holly Garden during the holidays. Enjoy a virtual tour of the Arboretum via our Photo Gallery. The Arboretum and Arboretum Society hosts spring and fall plant sales, seasonal workshops, timely lectures, and special guided walks - even on New Year's Day!

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Visitors Center and Office is routinely open Monday - Friday from 8:00 am - Noon and 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm (excluding holidays.)

The Arboretum grounds are open for walking daily from 8:00 am until sunset.

The parking lot is accessible during office hours, but is subject to restrictions after office hours on weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Click to view and print an Arboretum Location Map.

All public access is walking only. (Persons with disabilities may obtain permission to drive on roads.)

• Please stay on designated areas and observe all posted signs
• No collecting of any materials
• No picnicking
• No pets
• No bikes or skateboards

Featured Plant - March Spring Blooms

March issues in a burst of spring blooms, some of which are shown here. Read more about red maples on our Featured Plants page. Our Plants List page provides an index of descriptions and images of over 200 plants commonly found at the Arboretum.

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium is a picturesque setting for events, meetings, and workshops. It is available for rent during all seasons! Our Auditorium Event Rental page has information about how you can rent this unique facility.

The Auditorium and the nearby Sharp Program Shelter is also a beautiful place to celebrate your wedding and reception. Visit our Weddings and Receptions page to plan your special day at the UT Arboretum.

There are over 5 miles of walking trails in the Arboretum's Self-guided Walking Trails System. The variation in length and difficulty of the trails provides walkers with a range of choices from a casual stroll to a serious hike. The Walking Trails page provides a map of the trails and information about each trail including a description and "what to see" along the way as well as a profile of the terrain. Happy Trails!

The UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center and Arboretum officially received the Level 4 arboreta re-certification status by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) on Monday March 16, 2018. This accomplishment was a year-long team effort by the FRREC staff, center volunteers, and UTIA/UTK personnel. Visit our Urban Trees page to read about this special certification and view a map containing the locations of the over 120 trees that qualified for the Level 4 designation.

The UT Arboretum has been designated a Wildlife Observation Area and a Wildlife Refuge by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The Wildlife Programs page provides an overview of the wildlife that has been observed, as well as the research projects and the educational outreach programs that the Arboretum supports.

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society (UTAS) is a non-profit organization of volunteers from throughout Tennessee, dedicated to furthering the objectives and programs of the Forest Resources Research and Education Center's Arboretum Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Chartered in 1965, the Arboretum Society has assisted the Arboretum by providing support and funding for such projects as expanding plant collections, constructing facilities to enhance the public's use and enjoyment of the Arboretum, and informing the public of the unique value and importance of the Arboretum to the area. Recently, the Society accepted the challenge of providing a portion of the operating funds needed to assure continued public access to the Arboretum.

Information about the Society and membership opportunities are available at the UT Arboretum Visitors Center or by e-mail at utarboretumsociety@gmail.com. A history of the Society can be viewed on our web page UTAS History.

The UT Forest Resoures AgResearch and Education Center (FRREC)/Arboretum is proud to provide an attractive venue for all types of outdoor photography in the East Tennessee region. However, considerable materials and labor are required to maintain the UT FRREC/Arboretum to the high standard that has attracted so many professional photographers for their photography sessions. As a result, starting on July 23, 2014 the UT FRREC/Arboretum implemented a new Photography Policy. Click here to view the new Photography Policy.

Please be advised that the UT Arboretum follows the same weather closures as the Knoxville Campus. In the event that our staff cannot make it in and/or the conditions are deemed unsafe, we will close the UT Arboretum and the gate will be up and locked. We ask that you refrain from entering the property at any time the gate is locked.