The Gardens is open Year-Round
Our main entrance recently changed and is now located at 1901 N 4th Ave. We look forward to your visit!
Make sure to add Monk Botanical Gardens to your list of Wausau attractions! We offer a special space for both local community members and out-of-town tourists looking for an adventure.
Monk Botanical Gardens occupies a nearly 30-acre property with 15 acres of designed gardens and two miles of walking trails. As the only botanical garden in Central Wisconsin, the Gardens hosts events, educational programs, summer camp, and a nature preschool, and is the perfect backdrop for wedding ceremonies and private parties. When visiting, don’t miss the accessible Treehouse, Hobbit House, Kraemer Family English Garden, or Shade and Hosta Garden, officially recognized by the American Hosta Society! Learn more about our gardens and plants.
All of our main trails are wheelchair accessible. We have many benches along all trails to rest and recover. We currently do not have any wheelchairs available but can accommodate three people during any of our tours or events via a golf cart June-August. To reserve this service please call 715-722-4771 at least one week in advance.
Looking for awesome and unique things to do in Wausau, WI this weekend? Check out our programs and events! Throughout the year we have both free things to do as well as paid experiences.
Dogs are welcome on leash. Please pick up after them and keep them on trails. *No dogs are allowed in the Kraemer Family English Garden*
No bikes, skate boards, scooters are allowed.
No weapons of any kind are allowed onsite or in the parking areas.
No smoking is allowed in the Gardens or parking areas.
Learn about our
Seasonal Hours
November 1-March 31
8 am-4 pm, Daily
(Bathrooms may be locked during winter months.)
April-May
8 am-6 pm, Daily
(Bathrooms may be locked during holidays, evenings, and weekends.)
June-August
8 am-8 pm, Daily
September-October
8 am-6 pm, Daily
**Always check our event calendar for special event closures. Some may require advanced ticket purchases.
Information About
Admissions
A seasonal admission fee will begin on April 23 and continue to the day before Thanksgiving. Winter months will not currently require admission.
Members: Free
Not a member? Join today!
Adults: $10
Youth 3-17: $5
2 and Under: Free
Museums for All: $5*
Occasional public free for all days will be scheduled each season. Partnerships with other non-profits and local agencies are also being explored.
See our Admission FAQs page for more details.
*The Gardens is a participating member of Museums for All, a national, branded access program that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. Those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,500 museums throughout the United States.
**By visiting Monk Botanical Gardens you understand that you may be photographed, filmed, or video taped, and you hereby give permission and grant the perpetual right to use your likeness, image, photo (collectively, “image”), without compensation, for broadcast or exhibition in any medium and to put the finished pictures/recordings to any legitimate use without limitation or reservation.
The perfect setting for
Photography
Take your next Memorable Photo at Monk Botanical Gardens
The Gardens is a beautiful, year-round space for photographers to capture nature’s beauty or take memorable photos. The photography guidelines outlined here are intended for all guests. However, a permit is necessary for those who wish to use the Gardens’ setting as the background for posed photography or commercial videos. This includes wedding, family, engagement, senior photos, maternity, quinceañera or the like and all other commercial uses. (If money is exchanged for photography services, a permit is required.)
Use of the Gardens for photography is open to the public during regular Gardens hours. Posed photography is not allowed after hours, on days the Gardens is closed, or during specific special events. The Gardens is a public facility and privacy cannot be guaranteed. Areas in the Gardens cannot be reserved for the exclusive use of any group.
While you do not need to schedule your photography session, you should check the Event Calendar for closures, and photography is only allowed during our regular open hours.
PERMITS
A photography permit covers the photographer or videographer’s use of the Gardens for a commercial session, and admission for them and their clients. Posting a photo online? Please credit us (#monkgardens and geotag Monk Botanical Gardens) and tag us on Instagram and Facebook.
- Annual Photography Membership – $85 (valid for 365 days and includes Individual Membership)
- One Day Permits – $30 (valid one day only during Gardens hours)
Annual Photography Memberships and One Day Permits should be purchased online in advance.
