Top Arboretums in Augusta, United States

A fun place to take a short walk in town in Augusta. The trails are very well maintained and take you through diverse ecosystems like prairies, wetlands, natural forests, and orchards. Most trails are pretty flat too, and they are all well marked, so you're never far from a sign showing you what trail you're on. The trails are well used by the community throughout the year, but I never had any trouble finding a spot in the parking lot. There's also a gift shop with bathrooms and some local nature merchandise at the front too.

Beautiful arboretum with shady trails through the marsh. Great spot for birdwatching!

The place is beautiful! I got my photos done here. There are so many trails and cool things and facts you come across.

It was my first visit at Viles Alboretum.
I visited on Saturday, December 16 2023.
I arrived at about 12:30, it was about 38 to 40 degrees f
The trails were a bit slippery and muddy along the way.
We just had 8" of snow fall on us a week before, and then the outside temperature would rise during the daytime and freeze during the evenings.
It was 40*f on Satuday, and the sun was shining as you will witness in the photos that I have provided of the property.

There are 3 trails that you can hike at Viles Alboretum,
The longest being 1.25 miles and 2 others that are approximately
.5 miles in length.
They are all relatively easy to stroll along and are pet friendly as long as you keep your pet on a leash and dispose your dogs waste products in the proper dispensaries.
There are also some common sense rules in place not to disturb the wildlife or forage on the many acres of property.
Please don't litter.

The staff that I met along one of the trails was very friendly as well as informative.
The scenery and wildlife at this Sanctuary are beautiful!

The conversations that I had with others on he Crossroads and trails at Viles Alboretum were priceless!
I will be sure to visit again!
Donation boxes are present for those who would like to donate to the cause.

https://g.co/kgs/Wzeyva

I took my first walk here last weekend. There was litter kicking about the trails, sadly. The landscaping was nice, and the trails were well marked, though. I'd travel up there for a walk again.

I've gotta say, while the prime time to come see the Vile A would be in the summer, the trails are still very pretty to walk in the fall. And who doesn't want to see the nut tree? Or the bunch of dogs who come with their humans?

It's free. Nice collections of trees and some gardens. Pleasant for a walk through the fields and forests

Great trail system, well maintained. Can easily add on additional steps if desired. There are some benches on a few of the trails and many of the trees in the main area have signs describing them. Plenty of parking, but it does get busy so I could see the lot filling up on gorgeous days.

Well maintained trails and friendly staff. A good variety of trails through 200+ acres of fields and forest.

In need of an escape from the day-to-day? Viles Arboretum is a quiet, calming respite from reality! Whether you’re focused on nature, hiking, art, or solitude, each can be readily accessed by a walk into these welcoming wild fields. Beautiful, vibrant, and wonderful, this FREE attraction is a gift to everyone in Maine!

Scenic and vast trail system, surprisingly right in the heart of Augusta. There's a parking lot with ample spots to which in Summer, during vacation season, it was nice to be able to drive straight into the Arboretum and not have to search for parking.
Leading up to the forested trails were interesting stone sculptures, which is a nice touch, and there was even a cute little bee farm!
The only major criticism I would have is that the trails aren't as well managed, not completely neglected, but there were points along the paths where me and my husband had to trudge through fallen tree needles and small twigs which made it a chore to walk. All in all, it's a good way to get out and explore nature without having to drive out of the way and with a walk which isn't rigorous. We will be going again sometime in the fall as I expect the trees and crops will be pretty.

This is an amazing and exciting place to walk and enjoy nature. There are several trails to take depending on how much walking you would like to do. If you enjoy birding... this is a one place you have to go. It is a hot spot for birders. Check out the visitor and gift shop area. They have many programs for all ages.