Cox Arboretum MetroPark
About
189 Acres Plus a 65-Foot Tree Tower Above the Canopy
Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a 189-acre tree-and-garden park in south Dayton with one of Ohio's most unique features - a 65-foot Tree Tower that lets kids climb above the canopy to see the entire arboretum from a bird's-eye view.
What Kids Can Do
The Tree Tower's spiral staircase rises 65 feet above the forest with platforms at three levels - kids touch leaves of mature oaks, maples, and beeches from above. The Butterfly House (open Memorial Day-Labor Day) lets kids walk among hundreds of native pollinators in a screened enclosure. Children's Maze made from yew hedges challenges kids to find the center. Crabapple Allee, Edible Landscape Garden, and Synoptic Garden show different design styles. Visitor Center has fish ponds and live frog displays [marked: Butterfly House open Memorial Day-Labor Day only, separate ticket some years - confirm at Visitor Center].
What's Included
Free day-use of arboretum, Tree Tower, and trails. Butterfly House admission varies by year. Visitor Center exhibits free during open hours.
Experience
Plan 2-3 hours. Almost entirely outdoor with indoor Visitor Center option. Stroller-friendly main paths. Tree Tower stairs steep but safe with handrails. About 9 miles south of downtown Dayton. Free on-site parking. Open daily April-October 8am-10pm, November-March 8am-8pm.