HOURS OF OPERATION:

Grounds: Open to the Public Dawn to Dusk, Year-Round
OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre [1]: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday (Closed on Statutory Holidays)
The Arboretum grounds are open.
Admission to The Arboretum is free!
Arboretum Rules are at the bottom of this page. 

DIRECTIONS:

Directions (including the maps, below) are available for download in PDF format, which can then be printed. Download - PDF [2].

If Walking or Biking:

From the University of Guelph, campus follow East Ring Road until you come to Arboretum Road, then turn East onto Arboretum Road and continue about 0.1 km to The Arboretum Entrance and the Information Kiosk.

If Driving:

From the north follow Highway #6 south and turn left onto Wellington Road #38 which becomes Victoria Road. Turn right onto College Avenue. Our entrance is the first driveway on the left (south side) of the Road on College Avenue East.

From the South take Highway #401 to exit 299 which is County Road #46 toward Guelph.  Turn right onto College Avenue and we are the last driveway on the right-hand side before you get to the end of the road (which is the intersection of Victoria Road).

From the East take either Highway #7 or #24 into Guelph and turn left onto Victoria Road.  Turn right onto College Avenue East and we are the first driveway on the left.

From the West take either Highway #7 or #24 to the Hanlon Expressway (Highway #6 South) and turn left onto it and then left again onto College Avenue.  We are the last driveway on the right-hand side before the end of the road (it ends at Victoria Road).

Parking is free for visitors to The Arboretum in the parking lots designated on the above map. Visitors to the University of Guelph main campus are asked to kindly refrain from parking on The Arboretum grounds.

The OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre:

From the entrance on College Avenue, continue south about 0.3 km to the parking lot on the left. The OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre is on the right. 

If walking from campus, take Arboretum Road off East Ring Road to the kiosk and follow the Ivey Trail or Arboretum Promenade from the entrance to The Arboretum Centre.

The J.C. Taylor Nature Centre:

From the far (east) end of the parking lot, you can access the Ivey Trail (look for the split-rail fence) which leads to the south corner of Victoria Woods and the J.C. Taylor Centre.

The Arboretum's Co-ordinates are:

Latitude 43 degrees 32'27.20" N
Longitude 80 degrees 12'54.90"W

GPS Co-ordinates:

• OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre: 43.540854900079225, -80.21513264534705
• Taylor Nature Centre: 43.54188096501522, -80.21188117731904
• Arboretum Entrance via Main Campus: 43.53610418929407, -80.21972787580182

ARBORETUM REGULATIONS:

Arboretum habitats are under pressure due to high visitor use and our location within the City of Guelph. As well, we have researchers doing specific projects within our boundaries. Please ensure that our site remains a welcome area for visitors, researchers, and wildlife by complying with the following regulations.

1. Free parking is provided for Arboretum visitors only. If the driver is seen to be walking to the main campus, their car will be ticketed and possibly towed. This includes cars parked at the Information Kiosk. 
2. This is a non-consumptive use area. You are not permitted to remove or pick any plant material including flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, and roots without written permission from our director, Justine Richardson. Professors can request permissions for classes of students.
3. You are not permitted to remove or harm any animals in The Arboretum, including insects, without written permission from our director, Justine Richardson. Professors can request permissions for classes of students.
4. All dogs must be leashed at all times. In past, off-leash dogs have killed deer fawns, baby porcupines and cottontail rabbits. We also have coyotes in The Arboretum and some off-leash dogs have been chased by them. Dogs have also had many close calls with vehicles on the roads going through The Arboretum. As well, off-leash dogs have bitten joggers and jumped up on visitors. While we welcome dogs to The Arboretum, this privilege may be taken away if owners don't keep them on leashes. If you see a dog off-leash, please call the Campus Police at 519-824-4120 ext. 52000. Campus Police have the authority to charge owners. Please clean up after your dog and place the bags in our garbage containers. Thank you!
5. Bicycling and jogging is not allowed on our wooded trails. Bicycles are allowed on all gravel roads and stone dust trails but remember to give way to walkers and runners!