Plan your visit
Plan your visit

Plan your visit

Visiting the gardens

Prices, hours, directions and what to expect on the grounds.

The weathered siding of the millhouse, the copper flume, and the bridge over the lake beyond

Admission

Entry to the gardens, fishing entry and canoe rental are each priced per person.

Hours

Hours

Monday
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Included

What your ticket includes

General admission gives you the demonstration gardens and everything that connects them.

  • English garden
  • Mill Creek medicinal garden
  • Japanese garden
  • Legend Falls
  • Grandfather Tree pavilion
  • Mill Pond vertical gardens
  • Lakeside meadows
  • Hillside vertical gardens
  • Edible flower, food and herb tastingA gardener must be present.
  • The self-guided tour
  • A scavenger hunt for kids
  • The gristmill museum loft
  • Connecting pathways throughout

What to expect

On the grounds

A curved lawn path beside the pond, the millhouse roof and the iron gazebo dome visible in the distance

The watermill

Look through the windows at the millworks, or climb to the gristmill museum loft, and see how pecans were cracked and shelled and how grain was milled in the late 1800s, the age of water power.

The demonstration gardens

In the demonstration gardens you can talk with the garden staff and learn about garden techniques, plants, soil and watering.

A tray of freshly picked mulberries, close up

The fruit orchard

The year-round fruit orchard is woven into the landscape throughout the garden. Ask the garden staff which fruits are in season on the day you visit.

Children’s activities

A scavenger hunt is included with admission. Rotating exhibits change through the year, and there are hands-on exhibits along the way.

A white egret standing in the lake below the planted hillside, the waterwheel and millhouse at the left

Aquaponics

Pecan Lake is more than a lake. The fish in it enrich the water, which is pumped through filters and piped out to irrigate the plants across the gardens and beyond them. It is a regenerative system.

Before you come

  1. Taste the edible plantings only when a gardener is with you.
  2. Casual photographs are welcome. Posed sessions need a photo pass arranged in advance.
  3. Fishing is from the grass shoreline only, catch and release, with a valid Arizona fishing license.
  4. Adult supervision is required for everyone who fishes.
  5. Fishing entry and canoe rental are each priced per person.

Getting here

Directions

Located in Queen Creek off Riggs Road, just east of Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre, west of Ellsworth Road.

Pecan Lake Gardens25002 S 206th StQueen Creek, AZ 85142
Get directions

Frequently Asked Questions

What themed gardens will I actually walk through?
The self-guided tour takes you through gardens like the English, Japanese, Mediterranean, Tropical, Vietnamese and Southwest gardens. Along the way you’ll also pass Legend Falls, the Mill Creek medicinal garden and the year-round fruit orchard. Every one of these is included with general admission, so there’s no extra charge to see them all.
What kinds of fish live in Pecan Lake?
Pecan Lake is stocked with catfish, largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill. It’s also a regenerative aquaponic system, meaning the fish help enrich the water that irrigates the gardens. That makes the lake itself part of the garden experience, not just a fishing spot.
Where can I get food or drinks during my visit?
Three restaurants sit a short walk from the gardens at Pecan Lake: Hide Out 206, Your Pie and Caldwell County BBQ. Between craft soda and microbrews, pizza, and wood-smoked barbecue, there’s a good range of options for lunch or dinner. It’s convenient to plan your visit around a meal at one of them.
Do I need to bring my own fishing pole and bait?
For the most part, yes. You’ll need to bring your own fishing line, swivels and bait, since the gardens don’t supply these. A few fishing poles are available to rent if you don’t own one, and barbless hooks are provided and simply need to be returned before you leave.
Can I book the gardens for a wedding or proposal?
Wedding and proposal photography isn’t covered under the standard photo pass process. It’s best to reach out through the contact form, where staff can direct you to the right person to coordinate with. Since these events likely involve extra planning, it’s worth asking well ahead of your date.
The millhouse and waterwheel seen past an olive tree, a topiary-lined garden path leading up to it
The lake with the Pecan Lake sign wall on the far bank and the mill at the left

See the mill turn

Bring the family, a fishing pole or a camera. The gardens are open to all ages.

Plan your visit