Playing Woods
THE EXPERIENCE
Nature’s Backyard
We are excited to offer this special space for outdoor wilderness adventure, creativity, and exploration for kids of all ages. Outdoor play and unstructured activities are important parts of childhood development, even as spaces for such opportunities become harder and harder to find.
Newly opened in the spring of 2025, the Playing Woods is a dedicated area near the Education Center where kids can build a shelter, hop stumps, walk beams, and explore, improvise, and interact. Let the kids loose at the Playing Woods and see what curiosity, interaction, and fun can build!
The Playing Woods are available to guests during all Arboretum open hours, except when reserved for camps and programs. You can find more details about hours below.
Fall – spring hours
The Playing Woods are open for exploration!
Sunday & Monday: All day
Tuesday & Thursday: After 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday & Friday: After 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: All day when no special Arboretum
programming is scheduled. Please check with guestservices@ncarboretum.org
for this Saturday’s hours.
Summer hours
June 8 – August 21, 2026
Monday – Friday: After 3:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: All day
Click the map below to view as a PDF.
Thank you to the following donors for helping to develop the Playing Woods:
The Glass Foundation, Marsha Upton Munn and Duncan Munn, Community Foundation of Henderson County, Spriggly’s Beescaping, Rotary Club of Asheville, Linda and Thomas Southard, as well as an Anonymous Donor.