Bernheim Forest and Arboretum
More than 16,000 acres hold arboretum collections, restored habitats, lakes, research plots, art installations, and Forest Giants that draw visitors into a much larger conservation landscape.
Artwork inspired by Bob Thompson
Bernheim’s scale gives unusual depth to its combination of conservation, research, horticulture, and outdoor art. The Forest Giants provide an inviting landmark, but the larger intellectual reward lies in moving between planted collections, restored habitats, lakes, prairie, research areas, and woodland whose age and management complicate any simple idea of untouched nature.
Choose one principal focus before setting out, since more than 16,000 acres cannot be understood from a single parking point or short circuit. Pairing an ecological trail with an installation, the Canopy Tree Walk, or Big Prairie reveals different forms of stewardship. Carry water and set a realistic turnaround time when leaving the developed center for longer routes.
- Scale
- More than 16,000 acres
- Mission blend
- Forest conservation, research, and art
- Family landmark
- Three monumental woodland sculptures
Quick guide
- Best pairing
- One woodland trail and one art installation reveal different forms of stewardship.
- Admission model
- A recommended donation supports access; events may have separate tickets or traffic controls.
Move between designed art and restored forest
- Begin at orientation
- The property is extensive; choose forest, lake, art, or family discovery as the day’s anchor.
- Read the canopy
- Tree age, succession, management, and habitat matter more than a simple “untouched forest” label.
- Meet art in place
- Ask how scale, material, weather, and site alter each outdoor work.
- Protect the route
- Long trails, heat, ticks, and limited service require water and realistic turnaround times.
Good to know
At Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, Forest Giants and Canopy Tree Walk may follow different access, tour, or weather constraints; use this destination’s official homepage for the current date and reserve ahead whenever the named experience is capacity-controlled.
Notice these
- Forest Giants
- Canopy Tree Walk
- Big Prairie