Tips for Visiting Niguel Botanical Preserve in Laguna Niguel

If you are looking for a scenic family-friendly nature adventure, then the Niguel Botanical Preserve in the city of Laguna Niguel is a great place to visit. Enjoy gardens, hundreds of different plant species, water features, artwork, and plant lined trails that will leave you feeling calm and relaxed.

Niguel Botanical Preserve is 18.2-acre botanical garden, situated above the amphitheater within Crown Valley Community Park (A great park to visit I might add). It displays garden-worthy plants appropriate to the Southern California region. All of these plants were collected from five areas of the world with similar Mediterranean climates. I believe that this is one of the best botanical gardens in Orange County.

Everything you need to know about Niguel Botanical Preserve

Before you visit, read all about what to expect when you visit Niquel Botanical Preserve. It's a huge garden with lots of species of plants. Plus there are miles of walking trails and different sections of the preserve explore. Each with different unique features and landscapes.

Does Niguel Botanical Preserve Cost Money?

Admission to the Niguel Botanical Preserve is FREE to the public and 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. Our family went just before sunset and it was so nice because the weather had cooled down and there was still plenty of light to see the different varieties of plants and flowers.

How to Get to Niguel Botanical Preserve

To get to Niguel Botanical Preserve, you will want to park at Crown Valley Community Park. You can enter the preserve at multiple entrances. The easiest one to find is just above the Amphitheater. There is also an entrance at the west end, and the east end. Here is a map of the different areas of the preserve. I expect that you will find something you didn't see before each time that you go.

While you are in the preserve, you can walk the trails and explore the different greenery. Most of the plants have markers to let you know what they are. There are also some informational boards throughout the reserve. I suggest you have the map handy, as there are no maps displayed within the preserve.

Is Niguel Botanical Preserve Fun for Families?

Yes! Our family had an amazing time...along with many others we observed. Here are some photos from our visit to the Niguel Botanical Preserve. As you will see, there are so many trails and areas to explore that I might as well show you in pictures. There are also places with seating available to sit a relax along the way.

We loved that all the trails were scenic and led you into different areas of the preserve. Each area has lots of species of plants and different themes.

For instance, there is and area with just cactus species of plants. Every kind of cactus you can imagine.

There were areas with lots of flowers, areas with pathways lines with informational plaques, and areas with desert terrain.

Laguna Niguel Labyrinth

The kids had some favorite parts of the garden. This Garden Labyrinth was particularly fun to learn about. We learned that labyrinths are not meant to be tricky mazes, but as a way to meditate and find peace. Our whole family followed the labyrinth to the end!

Attached to the Garden Labyrinth, is an area with this pretty gazebo. It's located at the back of the preserve at the top of the hill. It looks like the perfect place to have a wedding although they don't hold weddings at the Niguel Botanical Preserve at this time.

Niguel Botanical Preserve Children's Garden

There is also a Children's Garden at the Niguel Botanical Preserve which the kids had the most fun at. It's located on the west side of the preserve at the bottom of the hill. It's next to a beautiful rose garden that smells heavenly, and is flanked with royal blue arbors and topiaries.

Once you arrive, you are greeted with this butterfly statue.

There is also a small little garden maze to explore.

And garden statues and artwork among the plants and trees. We especially loved the butterfly artwork.

Wow! We spent almost two hours exploring. You could easily spend more, or less. There's no amount of time that you must spend inside. It could be a short trip or a long trip depending on your schedule. We also isn't see many people at all on our visit, so we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Additional Information for Visiting the Preserve

I highly recommend a visit to Niguel Botanical Preserve in Laguna Niguel! It makes a great adventure for all ages. The trails are very accessible, you can easily bring a stroller, and there are plenty of shade areas. If you want to bring a picnic, you can eat within the preserve or right outside in the park.

When is Niguel Botanical Preserve Open?

The great news is that Niguel Botanical Preserve is open 7 days a week and 365 days a year! Its hours are 7am - 7pm, sunset to sun down. So you can practically visit anytime you'd like.

Amenities at Nickel Botanical Preserve

As I mentioned before, the preserve is located next to the Crown Valley Community Park, which is full of amazing amenities! You will find:

• An Amazing playground
• Splash pad
• Amphitheater
• Bike trails
• Sport areas
• Restrooms
• Parking Lot

You could easily make a day out of your visit.

Happy trails!