Red Butte Garden
The Basics
Adjacent to the University of Utah, the Red Butte Garden is as focused on education as it is on natural beauty. You can explore on your own and learn from the plaques throughout the garden, or hop on a tram tour or guided walk. If you have time for a deeper dive, consider attending classes such as pruning and water-wise gardening. The garden also hosts kid-focused workshops, summer camps, and a popular summer concert series.
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Things to Know Before You Go
- You can pay a one-time entrance fee or get an annual pass that also offers entrance into reciprocal gardens across the nation.
- No reservations are needed for free tram tours, but for a private walking tour you must make reservations 10 days in advance.
- The gardens are wheelchair accessible and the first-come, first-serve tram tours give priority to people with limited mobility.xa0
- Snapshot photography is welcome but photographers must make prior arrangements for professional photoshoots.
Trip ideas
How to Get There
The gardens are easiest to reach by car—from downtown Salt Lake City take University Boulevard to Wakara Way. You can also take a bus or university shuttle to the University of Utah campus and walk to the garden from there.
When to Get There
The gardens are open all year round (half-price admission December, January, and February) and the flower gardens are at their most impressive in the spring. The summertime concerts are also one of the park’s top attractions—check the online schedule for event details.
Wildcard
Listen to Live Music at Red Butte Garden Pack a blanket, get ready to dance in the grass, and head to Red Butte Garden’s scenic outdoor amphitheater. Hosting a series of shows throughout the summer, the park welcomes music lovers to bring a picnic, drinks (there is a concession stand at the venue but if you want alcoholic beverages bring your own), and sun (or rain) protection depending on the weather.
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