The highest botanical garden in the United States at 8,200 feet — free, beautifully maintained, and extraordinary in summer when mountain wildflowers bloom beside Gore Creek.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens sit at 8,200 feet elevation beside Gore Creek in the heart of Vail Village — the highest botanical garden in North America. Four distinct garden areas showcase alpine plants from Rocky Mountain habitats and mountain regions worldwide. In summer (June–September), the gardens are spectacularly colorful with Colorado wildflowers, rare alpine species, and the constant soundtrack of Gore Creek. Free to visit and rated among the most beautiful public spaces in the mountain West.
What Stands Out
- Highest botanical garden in North America
- Free to visit
- Located beside Gore Creek in Vail Village
- Best from June–September
- Mountain wildflowers in peak summer bloom
- Elevation: 8,200 feet