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Carleton College

The Arb (Cowling Arboretum)

(website)

The Arboretum (known affectionately as "The Arb") consists of 880 acres of prairie and woodland purchased by Carleton president Donald J. Cowling back in the 1920s. Students enjoy its jogging, biking, and skiing trails and biology classes use it for field research.

  • Peter Schlesinger '12 in the Arb
    Peter Schlesinger '12 likes The Arb (Cowling Arboretum).
    I love the Arb. It's a great place for walking, running, and reflecting. It's 800 acres to explore and enjoy! I go on runs in the Arb multiple times a week. Last week, I got to run by a family of deer!
  • Alex Brewer '12 and Kelsey Parsons '13 say The Arb (Cowling Arboretum) is a favorite place.
The Arboretum
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  • The Arboretum
    The Arboretum
  • The Arboretum
    The Arboretum
  • The Arboretum
    The Arboretum
  • Arb
    Arb
  • Morning

    Morning

    Did not catch up with sun rise...

    Photo:

    Jialun Luo '16
  • Feathered Friend

    Feathered Friend

    tweet

    Photo:

    Maria Kjellstrand '15

    Tags:

  • A placard image for media work Carleton's Arb
    A placard image for media work Carleton's Arb

    Photo:

    janthony
  • Fall Prairie

    Fall Prairie

    Samuel A. Ward would be proud.

    Photo:

    Berett Wilber '14

    Tags:

  • Sherbert

    Sherbert

    How to Enjoy Fall: A Visual-Tactile Lesson for the Year's Third Season at Carleton College: 1. Wait for October. 2. Walk in the Arb. 3. Look up.

    Photo:

    Berett Wilber '14

    Tags:

  • Squirrel!

    Squirrel!

    Stay gold, Ponyboy.

    Photo:

    Jason Magaziner '16
  • Best Friends

    Best Friends

    I was in the Arb the other day and a man, with his dog tethered to his waist, and cross country skis on his feet, whooshed past me. They were having a blast!

    Photo:

    Marika O'Connor Grant '14
  • August Morning

    August Morning

    I spent the summer working in the Carleton Arboretum. We spent most of our time removing invasive plants in order to reclaim the landscape and restore native ecosystems. On this particular morning, I happened to pause and notice the dew that had not yet evaporated from the grass. It was uplifting to find a moment of beauty and peace in the place we had been destroying to rebuild.

    Photo:

    Samantha Sharpe '14
  • Falling

    Falling

    During my first year, I was endlessly delighted by the evolving colors of leaves in fall.

    Photo:

    Samantha Sharpe '14
  • First Ski in Upper Arb

    First Ski in Upper Arb

    My first ski in the Upper Arb after a few inches of new snow.

    Photo:

    Robert Hest '13
  • Morning Frost

    Morning Frost

    Nothing quite like the prairie in frost.

    Photo:

    Leaf Elhai '13
  • ...

    Arb in white 1

    Upper Arb.

    Photo:

    Rose Chen '15
  • Arb in white 3

    Arb in white 3

    Lower Arb.

    Photo:

    Rose Chen '15
  • Arb in white 2

    Arb in white 2

    Taken in upper arb.

    Photo:

    Rose Chen '15
  • Arb in white 4

    Arb in white 4

    Taken in lower arb.

    Photo:

    Rose Chen '15

    Tags: