University of Rochester Arboretum

The University of Rochester Arboretum is a botanical garden along the Genesee River containing roughly 200 oak trees representing 15 species distributed across the campus. The collection spans from Elmwood Avenue to Intercampus Drive with walking paths that allow visitors to observe the trees throughout the seasons.

The university acquired the former Oak Hill Country Club land in 1923, after which landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed the campus grounds layout. This early planning established how the trees and paths are organized across the property today.

The arboretum functions as an educational resource where students conduct field research and participate in environmental science programs throughout the academic year.

The arboretum is accessible for casual walks at any time, requiring no special preparation or planning to visit the grounds. Most visitors explore the paths at their own pace, taking as much or as little time as they prefer.

The grounds contain two state champion trees, including a Weeping Willow and a Ponderosa Pine, recognized as the largest specimens of their kind in New York. These standout trees are notable for their exceptional size when walking through the property.