Plan Your Visit

There is no charge to visit the Arboretum. The gardens are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can download a visitor map, or pick one up at Arboretum Headquarters. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm.

Parking is available at several visitor parking lots along the length of the Arboretum. Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday and costs $7.00/car on weekdays. Permit machines in the visitor parking lots accept bills, coins, ATM and credit cards.

Arboretum paths are popular with walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. The main path is a 3.5 mile loop.

The lawns at the west end near Peter J. Shields Grove are perfect for informal games and picnics. Picnic tables are located behind Putah Creek Lodge and in the Redwood Grove.

For the safety of visitors and wildlife, dogs must stay on leash in the Arboretum.

The west end of the Arboretum and the Arboretum Terrace Garden at the east end of the Arboretum are level and most easily accessible to wheelchairs and people with limited mobility. Disability accommodations for programs will be provided with advanced notice. Please call 530-752-4880 or email your request to arboretum@ucdavis.edu at least two weeks in advance.

We also offer PDFs of our educational exhibits for visitors with limited mobility. For the exhibits section of our website, click here.

Arboretum Loop Detour Information

Detours will route visitors walking the “Arboretum loop” around construction zones after December 25. The detours will be in place for approximately six weeks or longer depending on the weather. The areas affected include our California Foothills collection, the Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants and the T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove. You can still visit these areas, but will have to follow the signs to detour around construction zones. LEARN MORE click here.