Received a recommendation to visit Descanso Gardens while visiting the La Cañada area as they went to see the Enchanted Forest of Lights. However, I came during the day to see the botanical garden. It was a Thursday afternoon , but there was plenty of parking available and the grounds weren't crowded at all. There were about 10 distinct areas that represented areas of California, North America, and Japan. All the areas, plants, flowers, trees, and water features were well maintained and properly cared for. There were many different paths that all connected so you were able to pick your own journey at your own pace. It took a little longer than an hour to casually walk through all the areas. The Gardens were a perfect place to sit, relax, and interact with nature. I enjoyed seeing everything during the day, but would also like to come back to see the Enchanted light feature. This place is amazing. You really do feel at peace when walking around this garden. The parking was free but entrance cost $15 for adults and children under five are free. We spent an hour walking around and we only covered half of the park. We got train tickets and that was pretty fun.

I took my wife here for the Enchanted Forest of Lights thay Descanso Garden do every Christmas time. I brought the ticket ahead of time because it can get sold out fast especially before Christmas. I chose the first time slot when the place open to avoid waiting in line to find parking and also to get inside before a rush of people come. They change some theme every year and add new stuff. I took my wife before back in 2019 when we first met and we had a good time. This time, I got my friends to join us so it was a triple date. They have 10 different light theme inside the garden and they have arrows to help navigate people throughout the park. They also have hot drinks booth or stand inside the garden as well if you get cold or just need something hot to drink. All of the lights were beautiful and it especially stands out when it's fully dark.

What a beautiful magical place. So many places where you can sit and just listen to nature without hearing the sound of cars passing by or too many people. I would recommend to wear tennis shoes as there is a lot of walking to do here. Kids will enjoy it here as there is ponds and a lake with fish. A very beautiful lookout by the lake. I highly recommend to take a weekend trip here arrive early as it will probably take you half a day or more to walk around comfortably all around.

A wonderful space of peace and beauty on the edge of the urban sprawl. There are many walking trails through various species of trees, plants, and flowers. Not many blooms today, and the little lake had been drained, but it was beautiful in its late fall dryness on a warm Southern California day. They were preparing for the Enchanted Forest of Light starting later this month, which should be well worth seeing. Admission is reasonable, and they sell food and drink there in the gardens.

I love visiting this garden, I've been here three times now and it amazes me everyime. They have a nice trail to hike on. Lots of beautiful views, flowers, trees and so much more. I think my favorite time to go is during fall because that's when they have the light show at night. That's a must see if you haven't yet. If your a student you get a discount and you can also get a membership if you like to walk/hike often there.

Very pretty gardens! The groves of trees make it feel a bit less manicures and a bit more natural, which is nice! There’s many benches, but careful of cobwebs; they don’t seem to be cleaned. There is a small gallery at the top of the hill next to the house. I enjoyed the gift shop. The food was just okay, and very overpriced. Still it was a nice place to come for a very pretty walk.

Loved Enchanted Forest! The lights, music, and fog (in one of the areas) made the entire place look magical. My favorite parts were definitely the flower lights and the firefly lights. The staff were all super nice too :)

The visit was on a free day so there were many people, especially in areas with beautiful gardens or architecture. Overall, a beautiful place to visit. There's a gift shop that has many succulents for sale that are reasonably priced. The dining area is beautiful and interesting. There are many open areas with beautiful and calm space. Was I wrong or I heard cicadas singing! They're beautiful! The bathrooms inside the garden are clean and well maintained.

The gardens are beautiful! I highly recommend coming here if you're interested in marveling at the flowers, roses and way more! The Rose Garden has to be the best part of it. Ticket prices as of when I'm writing this are $15 for an adult, $11 for a student w/ ID or senior, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 6. These prices can change, and you can check it at Descanso's website. Parking is free, and it's very easy to drive in. If you decide not to buy advance tickets online, you'll have to wait in a mediocrely long line, sometimes longer. I highly suggest buying tickets online as you can walk right into the Visitor Center and up to the ticket agents in the front ready to scan your ticket. You can also re-enter when you leave for a short-period of time, just make sure to ask the agent first so they remember you. It takes about 2-3 hours to look around all see all the parts of the garden, so make sure to bring some snacks, water, and comfortable shoes. There's also decent cell service in the area, so you should be able to call for help if you're in trouble or need help. Also, it shouldn't be that easy to get lost as there are many signs around the entire garden guiding you by saying what is in what direction, how long it'll take to walk there, and if it's moderate to steep terrain or not. Anyway, it was a great time. Definitely recommend visiting.

This botanical garden & conservatory is a true gem. One does not have to be a botanist or plant nerd to appreciate and enjoy what's to see here. All the gardens and exhibits are easily accessible on foot and the setting for this place is spectacular. You'll learn, smile and relax simply taking this all in.

Great place to visit if you're looking for something to do outdoors. Most of the walking trails were paved and divided into different sections such as the Japanese gardens, rose garden, and so on. It was really lovely, and when you get close to the rose gardens, you can smell a sweet scent just radiating in the air. There are many places to sit to soak in the beauty of nature. Whether it be by the ponds with the dragonflies dancing or under the sequoia tree's you will find a peace of heaven on earth.

We went here during the Halloween weekend, and I loved it. The theme was "Carved," and they did not disappoint... pumpkins galore. The gardens were family-friendly and enjoyable for adults. We went on a chilt night and were able to get some spiked cider...yum. We wondered how long it took to set up the entire place for display because they did an amazing job. Highly recommend.

What a beautiful, well put together collection of light displays! It took us about two hours to go through, and we took our time admiring each exhibit. It’s pretty cold out now, but they have lots of warm food options. We didn’t end up eating here since we didn’t know they had food available and ate right before. Great spot for date night or a family night out. Our little loved seeing all the lights. The pathway is mostly dirt, so wear appropriate walking shoes.

Gorgeous magical place with a ton of flowers in blossom. April is definitely one of the best months to visit with so many trees and flowers in full blossom! Very easy to buy tickets online and skip the line, love the park layout with both exotic flowers and California native plants. Will be coming here again and again.

Large and varied botanic garden with wide walking paths, many shady old oak trees, a Japanese Garden, and a huge Camellia collection. Visiting in August probably doesn't provide the showiest display, but the rose garden and butterfly gardens were certainly lovely.

Such a beautiful location. The tulips were so amazing. It is so nice to see people walking the grounds enjoying Gods creations. It’s family friendly and handicapped accessible. They have a little shop and snack cafe. You can even have your wedding here. If you want to get out and enjoy a beautiful day ten out of ten totally recommend.

Descanso Gardens is a lovely place for a walk. It's divided into lovely areas such as the Japanese Garden, the Camellia Forest, the Ancient forest, a rose garden, and more. The paths are pretty easy, and with a downloadable map, you'll never get lost. You could spend a couple hours there exploring and still have something new to see on your next trip. There is an amazing gift shop that likes to feature local small businesses and artists. Descanso is definitely worth the trip!

So happy to have visited this absolutely stunning place. I was instantly impressed by how beautiful the gardens are. The entrance fee is more than reasonable given how well-maintained everything is. Staff couldn’t have been nicer, and the map is very clear. The cafe and gift shop have great offerings as well. I will say that I wish I would have skipped the (un)Natural Gardens art exhibit. While incredibly well-done, it is meant to evoke feelings of discomfort. It put a bit of a damper on an otherwise fantastic day of appreciating nature’s beauty.

Absolutely love the night time experience for Halloween. Carved was amazing. We walked around twice because we wanted to see all of the festivities. I love that the exhibit was also interactive. The night market was also a nice exploration

I have been there for an Halloween event. It is fabulous. Love all sound & lighting effect on every scene. Highly recommended. I have spent time there about 1hour. I personally hope I had more time :)

Beautiful, peaceful, full of nature. Gardens are more blooming in spring than winter but definitely still a lot to take in. Get train tickets for kids in advance.

Wow! Visited in late April and the gardens were incredible. The flowers were blooming everywhere, the grounds are huge, they have food and beverages and plenty of places to sit. If the flowers aren’t in bloom I’m not sure I’d visit, but I’m sure it’s still relaxing.

I took my daughter and my 4 year old granddaughter and they both loved it. We easily spend 4 hours there visiting all the beautiful gardens. This place is absolutely gorgeous and serene. If you like to spend a wonderful peaceful time. Well this is definitely a place from babies to 99 years old a wonderful place to be in nature and peace. I love this place thank you to all to care for it and share it with all

Every 3rd Tuesday of the month is free admission. We went June 2023. Unfortunately not many flowers. The ones we did see were either beautiful or dying. It's better to plan on going January-April. Otherwise it will mostly be greenery. But a good place to get a good walk in nature. There is a place to get some food (hot dog, sandwiches, chips, drinks, etc). A little pricey. There's also a gift shop, which again, I found a bit pricey. The staff is very nice.

Descanso Gardens was exactly as its name a rest from the city fuss and noise. Fresh air and the flowers and scenery beautiful. I paid a total of 22.00. If you're a student you get a cheaper ticket and senior citizens also get discounts. I suggest purchasing your tickets online. They offer a membership as well on line. At the entrance there's a cafe that serves food and beverages. The food is a bit on the pricey side just FYI. Also they host events like weddings. I was there visiting and caught a wedding. I would bring walking shoes it's flat dirt road but it's safer to bring walking shows nothing fancy. Also would say come picture ready plenty of photo ops. You must visit at least once. Definitely family friendly as well.

A very nice, relaxing place to visit and a great place for a stroll if you just want to be one with nature. You can purchase your tickets in advance, but the line wasn't too bad despite the holiday weekend. Weather was cool and cloudy the day I visited, which made it feel like I was in the Northern California Coast going through the groves of redwood trees they had. The roses were definitely in full bloom in late spring and a variety of other flowers were in bloom too. Absolutely gorgeous! The lake could use some work though, it was all full of algae sludge at the surface and wasn't appealing. Other than that, had a wonderful visit!

What an amazing gem! Everyone should pay a visit especially during the spring!! I will highly recommend getting the tickets on line and skip the line at the box office and go straight to the check in. Also I saw people holding drinks (wine mostly) when wandering around inside. I should definitely do that next time.

Absolutely beautiful place when we went today (April '22) the rises were in full bloom. I especially liked the Japanese garden. We were able to borrow a wheelchair and most of the paths were accessible, however some of the transitions from paths to tarmac were not easy.

Went here on free day in the middle of September so it was hot and lots of the flowers were dead. The gardens are very easy navigate with signs telling you how far everything is from each other. It took about an hour to see everything. This place mainly consists of different Forrest trees. They have a cute gift shop that even sells plants!

Descanso Gardens is a tranquil place with magnificent oaks and largest camellia collection in North America. Camellias are in peak bloom Jan -Feb and there are so many varieties! It was not too crowded past Saturday in the afternoon but cool and damp weather might’ve been a factor. Camellias looked mysterious in the light misty fog under a canopy of oaks. Daffodils, irises, cherry trees and deciduous magnolias were also blooming. Tulips are likely coming soon (leaves have sprouted). They also have a cute gift shop for those looking for a souvenir.

This place is amazing for Halloween! We went for their Carved event and it's basically a family friendly spooky forest! The amazing lighting, decorations, and music makes it just feel oh so spooky scary. It's such a vibe to walk though the garden at night and enjoy it all at your leisure! They also have food and drink to purchase at the beginning and some more places throughout the garden, so if you're in need of holiday snacks they have churros, donuts, hot chocolate, hot cider, etc. Big fan of the glow in the dark churro. They seem to change it up every year so the decorations and food choices/locations should be different!

Absolutely amazing experiences for fall and holidays. Sure it’s a bunch of lights but they way the garden is lit up, makes it absolutely breathtaking! Make sure to grab a hot chocolate on the cold nights!

We really enjoyed spending the evening enjoying such a beautiful place. We started with a tasty bratwurst in a pretzel with sauerkraut from The Kitchen. Took our time taking in the lighting of the trees, fog in the air while strolling up the path. Truly amazed at the skills of the artist who craved the pumpkins 🎃

Carved was so much fun. Great for the whole family. Over one thousand pumpkins carved and lined lined up over a mile long. Gift shop open with lots of really unique Halloween decorations. The kitchen at the entrance and further in the park were the two places to get drinks and snacks. The lines for the pumpkin house and carved signs went pretty fast. It did seem very crowded during the 7-8pm time frame on Sunday. Parking was efficient and easy, guided by parking attendants. Tickets sold on line only. The entire walk took about an hour and a half. The walk is easy, but a little dusty, you are walking on dirt, your shoes will get very dusty, I wouldn’t wear sandals.

It was the first time for us to be here and love it. It's so nice, peaceful, beautiful, you can relax , walk, read if you want. Check out the different plants they have, Of course we'll come back again. 💖

Came here for the light show and was not disappointed! Stunningly beautiful with so much to see! A very lovely park so I’ll have to come back some time on a normal day

We were underwhelmed when we went. I remember going three years ago and being absolutely captivated. It saddened me to talk so highly of the gardens when I took my boyfriend to have most of the gardens dried out. The forest was still enchanting, but everything else seemed dry and dead…it was quite unfortunate. I’m hoping it’s just because we came during summer. We’ll have to try again in the spring time.

Descanso is always great to visit during the day, but this holiday we went to see Carved, a Halloween themed display of scary spooky pumpkins and other neat stuff. Lit up in spooky lighting themes with fog machines, it's a treat for everyone.

I hadn't been to Descanso Gardens in many years. I was pleasantly pleased with the new additions, especially the rose garden. We enjoyed live music in the rose garden. The only issue we had was after standing in a long line the credit card machine at the drink cart malfunctioned and they didn't accept cash as payment. Otherwise we enjoyed a beautiful day exploring the gardens.

Came here on a summery Sunday morning for the first time with my family and we had a great time. There is a lot to walk so come prepared with hats, sunglasses, umbrellas, water, etc! We spent a little over 3 hours here and never once did we get bored. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and peaceful. There are plenty of restrooms throughout the gardens and a lovely cafe at the entrance.

What an amazing treasure to have visited! Had heard about the gardens for a while but hadn't had the true pleasure of visiting. Highly recommend to all nature lovers. The grounds are very well maintained. Water fountains are available throughout the gardens to refill your water bottles, which a plus. Ponds with endless turtles and coy fish. The Japanese gardens are just Beautiful!! Must add it is a great place for families and First Dates alike!

Nice walk through different gardens. Peaceful. I like the gift/plant shop. Really cool and cute items. The plants are really nice as well. Small cafe to the side not bad. Serves quick bites , drink, coffee , fruit, sandwiches. 15 dollars for adults and EBT accepted as well. Nice walk around to pick up steps!

Ideal way to experience the natural habitat by walking the trails in the oak forest along the hillsides, good exercise too. The rose garden and Japanese garden areas were our favorite. I would recommend spending 2-3 hours here in order to see it all.

Beautiful gardens! The Rose Garden is there nicest I've seen. I love that they intersperse other flowers in the roses to add variety. With little brooks and fountains, beautiful birdsong, and live ducks, geese and other wildlife, it is a very serene and beautiful place to visit. There are plenty of benches and gazebos to sit on, and they provide free wheelchairs if you need one.

Love this place changes throughout the seasons. Great place to walk and exercise. Perfect for a stroll at your own pace and just take in the scenery. Also amazing for bird and animal watching. Photography and photo shoots for events here is a brilliant idea. We went and got a student discount on the entrance fee, all we had to do was show our ID. Definitely plan on going back with family. There's a variety of gardens and i can't wait to show them.