LSU Hilltop Arboretum

Oak Hills Place, Louisiana, United States

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The LSU Hilltop Arboretum in Oak Hills Place, Louisiana, is a 14-acre natural sanctuary located about six miles south of the LSU campus on Highland Road.

Originally purchased as a farm and country retreat by Emory and Annette Smith in 1929, the property was donated to Louisiana State University in 1981. The arboretum features over 150 species of Southern native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers arranged to resemble a cathedral, with grassy plots as the nave, trees and shrubs as walls, and old tree trunks as pillars.

Visitors can explore a bamboo grove, walking trails through wooded ravines, and meadows with native plants and colorful wildflowers. The site includes an environmentally sensitive education facility designed by Lake|Flato architects, which serves as an outdoor classroom and community hub.

The arboretum offers a peaceful space for nature appreciation, educational programs, and conservation, emphasizing the preservation of Louisiana’s native flora and the legacy of the Smith family. It is open to the public free of charge during daylight hours and is an important resource for botanical research and environmental education in the Baton Rouge area.