Fond memories of this scenic walk as it was one of our family's places to escape during the Covid shut-down. We visited the Arboretum more recently, and it was just as serene and beautiful as we remembered. From the Davis Commons, there is an entrance to the trail which follows a small creek to the UC Davis campus. The beginning is paved, so you can even push your baby along in a stroller. Along the way are plants and flowers of different varieties, small bridges, a grove of towering trees, and mallard duck couples obviously bonded for life! There is plenty of shade, benches, and spots to rest, but the full loop is about 3.5 miles, which would also make for a phenomenal run with Mother Nature. read more

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Spent my Saturday afternoon here. It was a bit windy & cloudy but there was some sun off and on. It was so nice to just be outdoors. People were out walking, jogging, enjoying a picnic, reading, etc. parking was a challenge but I parked in the parking structure nearby the Mondavi center. Beautiful views and loved how busy this place was as everyone came out to enjoy the view & some sun. read more

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What a great walking trail! They also have educational factoids throughout so you get to learn too! I appreciate UCD sharing this with the public. read more

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Davis, California

I love this place! It's the perfect place to take a walk away from it all. I'm surrounded by trees, water, and wildlife. It's such a calm and peaceful place to be. There are some benches along the cemented path. It's quiet and a great place to think or just get lost in nature. There's free street parking. read more

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Park at Garrod Drive across from Ruth Risdon Storer Garden. There are gender neutral restrooms close by - adorned with a beautiful ceramic mosaic. This late December visit had a few muddy spots through the Oak Grove portion of the walk but a lot of the trail is paved. Many picture perfect moments - the creek, the trees and if you're lucky some animals along the way. Including blood donor livestock. read more

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Walking the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is pure magic. This 3.5-mile loop along Putah Creek is open every day, free to all. A smooth, well-kept path winds through gentle slopes, welcoming walkers, hikers, strollers, and wheelchairs alike. Parking is easy, and every step feels like an open invitation to explore. Here, the world blooms before you--California natives, bold Australian species, and graceful East Asian flora--each marked with signs that share their stories. The garden is a sanctuary, pristine and lovingly protected by UC Davis. It's calm. It's quiet. It's peace. Dogs on leash are welcome. Restrooms await at the Gazebo, Headquarters, and Terrace Garden. I highly recommend it! read more

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Despite all the rave reviews, we unfortunately did not experience any of the amazing vegetation, flowers, and wildlife that others have highlighted. I'm assuming we just came at a bad time of the year during the summer, as the campus was closed and most of the vegetation appeared to be dead. Parking is available in the Davis Commons lot for two-hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Or use the parking garage at F and First streets, above Holiday Cinema, which is free for three hours on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On campus, visitor parking is free on weekends, but $9 per day, per car, on weekdays. read more

The walking trail for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden starts at the parking lot of the Davis Commons Shopping Center. It's a great place to talk a walk before or after eating at one of the great restaurants at the Davis Commons Shopping Center. There is a paved trail that leads you along Putah Creek that runs through the UC Davis campus. You should be able to walk to the UC Davis Arboretum within a mile or so. It's a peaceful place to walk, ride your bike or walk your dog. You will see plenty of wildlife and various plants/trees along your walk. This trip we probably only walked about 0.5 miles and turned back around as my mother-in-law was getting tired. If you are in Davis, you should stop by and take a stroll to enjoy nature. Like through most of Davis, watch out for bikers and people on motorized scooters/bikes. read more

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The UC Davis arboretum is an approximately three-mile long loop full of plants from all around the world, all surrounding a small segment of Putah Creek. The entire trail is paved, accessible, and cycleable. This is one of my favorite arboretums. I've been coming here for many years. Redwoods? Check. Cacti? Check. Acacia? Okay, I can't think of very many plant names, but there are lots here. Visitor maps are available at: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/uc-davis-arboretum-visitor-map I usually park somewhere in Davis, and enter the arboretum through the Terrace Garden, which is located just behind Davis Commons Shopping Center. After passing through the shovel sculpture, the arboretum pathway passes through a variety of plants and groves, including redwood, redbud, oak, and acacia groves, countless flowers, and all of the wildlife in the creek. Almost every time I've come to the arboretum, I've seen ducks, turtles, herons, loons, geese, rabbits, hummingbirds, butterflies, bluebirds, etc. On a few occasions, I've seen otters. If you are looking for an Instagram worthy photo backdrop, you are sure to find it here. The Arboretum is also a great entry point for the Davis bike trails. Arboretum entry is free, but there is a parking fee if you choose to park on campus. The arboretum is beautiful any time of year, but the best time to visit is early to mid spring, which is when the most plants are flowering, and the most baby animals can be spotted. read more

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Service- none. Selection- I guess you can choose where you want to go? Putah Creek Lodge? Walk down to the other end, aka Davis Commons? Or you can choose to sit on the grass. Value- varies. It can be free if you find the correct parking space. Or, pay using whatever app-based parking service that UCD has going. Bike there and it's free as well. There are placards at some plants with titles and scientific names of those plants. The arboretum is a larger place and it seems like the vet school is at one end. Getting too chilly to park it and have a picnic but still a great place for a walk. read more

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Quiet trail in the morning along the creek. Renovations are underway to make a multi benefit land repurposing project and the creek is dry in some places and weirs are being created. Lovely to see wet portions and ducks. read more

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I drove from Stockton to check this out before it gets too hot and all the flowers are gone. The Aboretum is pretty great. I went on Saturday so I didn't have to pay for parking. I'll be back again before it gets too hot. It was wonderful and free! read more

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I've always seen signs about the UC Davis Arboretum and only now had a chance to visit. I was a little confused at first looking at the website. I was trying to figure out what time they closed on Sundays, only to discover it is an outdoor walkway with nature and plants - open 24/7. It's not a botanical garden with specific hours and admission. Good to know! Haha We enjoyed the abundance of wildflowers along our walk. We didn't go through the entire route, so I'm sure we missed some good things. But I hope to be back again when the weather is more mild to enjoy the sights. read more

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Love the arboretum! I try to go for a walk here at least once a month. They have been working on the whole arboretum to improve the environment of their little ecosystem. It's an absolutely beautiful place to walk, read, study and relax. read more

Loved my experience... a visual feast of nature in its divine beauty. Well reserved and enjoyed reading about the history and names of blossoms and trees. read more

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden - Blue Blossoms - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Davis, California

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Scenic, with lots off shade and the paths are smooth and even. they have lots of placards describing plant types and a bunch of nice architecture, like the cute little museums or theatres and a little stage thing with a piano read more

Really enjoyed walking around with the family around the arboretum trail. Walking/bike path with a lot of people enjoying g the beautiful day. Lots of old trees to help shade the path. Weekends looks like you can park for free vs the weekdays you pay for parking. read more

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden - Boys with their "walking sticks" - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Davis, California

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Stunningly Beautiful! This place was gorgeous and calming. You can read a book, pray, walk, run, or do any other activity that makes you happy and relax. You have to pay for parking, which was a little confusing to find. I love it though even in the rain! read more

What a wonderful park-garden-walkway! Lots of placards explaining nature aspects of plants and the seasons. It feels like 5 gardens/woods patched together. Walkways, bikeways and mini dirt hikes meander here. There is a pond with a creek running by. There is a large parking lot. There is some construction going on but it will only leave you with 1 minute detour on the path. It also connects you to the town of Davis along the creek route. Lots of ducks and at dusk, spotted a bunch of wild turkeys! read more

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My boyfriend and I decided to take a stroll of the garden for a romantic date idea. Being fall the flowers weren't really in bloom, but we still explored lots of plants, beautiful trees and nature around us! One of the cutest things we saw was on the beautiful bridge. Love locks are placed by couples on the fence, with their initials and dates, to show their inseparable bonds and keys are then thrown in the water so they cannot be unlocked. I would highly recommend visiting this garden your next visit to UC Davis, we'll definitely be returning to explore more and who knows, maybe leave a lock! ;-) read more

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden - Love locks are placed by couples on fence with their initials & dates to show their inseparable bonds! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Davis, California

The Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is a beautiful collection trees, flowers, cacti and animals. So many unique gardens to explore along the acres of pathways, creeks and trails. Visit the tranquil Native American Contemplative Garden which was the first UC Davis garden project to honor Native Americans. For thousands of years, the banks and creeks of these gardens were lined with villages and homes of the Patwin tribes. Today, there are three federally recognized Patwin tribes, the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community, the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, that are committed to the stewardship of this land. It was so nice and quite unexpected to take a walk through the garden and discover the the Animal Science GATEway Garden on an early Saturday morning. Pass through the steel animal silhouettes that flank the entry to explore a horse viewing area and learn more about animal agriculture from interpretive signs. The deck is built out of California rewoods that needed to be removed due to the health of the trees and a bench is an upcycled old tractor seat. So lucky to have the horses come over to visit as well. How can you not love a quiet walk through the soaring California redwoods? So beautiful to see the morning light come through the cathedral like spires. Coastal redwoods can grow to over 350 feet tall. They can live for over 2,000 years. The trees found along the river trail were planted in this forest in the 1930s. The California redwoods are only found naturally along the coast of California and southern Oregon. The clouds of fragrant, fluffy yellow blossoms in Acacia Grove were so pretty. They looked so unreal, like something out of a children's book. Interesting to read more about these plants that are native to Australia, Africa, and the Americas. There is also a Mediterranean collection filled with medicinal herbs, a dessert collection with blooming cacti and a California foothill collection filled with native plants. Spend a few hours or a day. The gardens and arboretum are always free and open to explore. read more

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Such a beautiful experience. There are parks dotted along the walking paths. My kids and I bring carrots, celery and apples for the horses.

*** Open 24 Hours *** Shelter in place doesn't mean you can't go out and experience the outdoors. Just remember to wear face coverings when you see people coming and physically distancing isn't feasible. So if avoiding someone means jumping into Putah Creek, it might be easier just to bring a face covering. DOS: Walk, run, or bike ride and take pictures of the different regions. My favorite is the T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove. If you start your walk there and make the entire loop to return here, it's probably a little more than 2 miles. You can park in Lot 5, but I believe you need to pay for a parking pass. I suggest parking on the outer edge of campus on A Street. Weekends, you don't need a pass and you get 3 hours of free parking. A Street to the Redwoods is only about a 5 minute walk. DONTS: Smoking, unleashed dogs, or feeding the ducks. PHOTOSHOOTS You won't find a better place in Davis for all your amateur and professional photo shoots. You can pretend you made a trip to Muir Woods National Park and hang out at the picnic tables in our Redwood Grove. Keep going for another 15 minutes and you'll find yourself in the East Asian Collection overlooking awesome views of Lake Spafford. In the Winter and Spring, cherry blossoms and fragrant daphne are abundant. In the Fall, ginkgo and zelkova trees provide great color. Looking for a prickly backdrop. The Desert Collection features cacti and succulents as well as fan palms and mesquites. Bottom line: Plenty of open space to explore and no better place to refuel your joy levels. Never closed, rain or shine. The arboretum is THE gem of town. read more

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This is an absolute gem of a public garden! It's free to enter and easy to navigate with a path that runs on either side of a peaceful creek. As you walk along the water's edge, there are other small side gardens with different plants based on various areas of the world (New Zealand, Mediterranean, California natives and more!). There's even a small redwood grove to explore. Herons, ducks, cranes, turtles and other small wildlife can be seen along a walk through the gardens. It's quite a spacious area and it would be a lovely spot to go on regular walks if you're a local. I've enjoyed all my visits. It's not been intentional, but I've wound up here each time in summer. I'd like to come back in different seasons to see how the garden changes. Similar to UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley gardens, Davis offers a wonderful slice of peace and nature in a busy campus area. Very nicely done by those who care for and maintain it. read more

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I loved walking around the Arboretum. The only issue was finding parking, which I finally did find hourly parking thru an app. I loved all the available seating areas and how the Arboretum is centered around the river. read more

I love taking walks through the Arboretum! There are so many plants and animals to see and it all changes from season to season. The path is really easy to walk and you'll find students, families, staff, locals and even people with their pups walking along the path. There are also some picnic tables and benches along the way, if you want to enjoy coffee or lunch or just watch the water and animals. The path also goes from campus to downtown Davis and it's perfect if you want to pick up food at one of the local restaurants and then enjoy it outside. Watch out after we have heavy rain though, the path can get a little muddy in some areas, but it's easy to avoid. If you're visiting UC Davis or if you're nearby this is definitely worth checking out. read more

On any given day you can find people walking their dogs, children playing in the grass, people napping in hammocks or just laying down enjoying the sun. Whether you're a Davis student or someone just passing through the area, this is a great spot to take a stroll or to just sit down and relax. There are paths for walking but also plenty of room to lay on a blanket and nap or sit on a bench for some much needed me time. During my undergrad years I used to come here all the time to get a little mental break during midterm and finals. The lake and all the trees make it a perfect spot to reset. Who would have know years later I'd find myself moving back and able to enjoy this serene spot again. read more

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For sure my favorite place to go in Davis!! Very nice for pictures as well; there is a redwood grove and the actual lake to hangout on as well. Very nice destination; dog friendly :) read more

Free parking for a free park. No complaints here. It's a chilly 40° Saturday morning in February and the blooms and leaves are yet to appear but there's enough color and vegetation to peak one's discerning interest in. Folks with telephoto lenses, runners, couples and families with kids & dogs are the core demographic here. It was Biodiversity Museum Day at UCD with students manning stations showcasing collections and activities for all ages. We even sampled acorn coffee which tasted nutty of course. Renovations are currently undergoing for various pathways and we can't wait to come back here for late spring. read more

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I went here recently. I spent time in the East Asian Collection, T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove, and the Mary Wattis Garden of California Native Plants areas. I was impressed with the layout of the area and the mix of trees. I liked the mix of walking paths made up of concrete, dirt, and bridges. I also liked the water feautures. read more

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This place was recommmeded to us by our cousins and it did not disappoint! I'm not sure which side we were on but it had a nice picnic table surrounded by trees. It felt like we were having a picnic in the woods! So relaxing and serene! After eating, we were able to explore the rest of the arboretum and it was such a nice stroll. Even though it was a weekend, we didn't see too many people. We loved seeing all the different greenery/blooms and plan to come back to picnic by the water. Highly recommend giving this place a try for a low-key picnic type of day! read more

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Beautiful area !! very zen and relaxing . Enjoyed the weather and the live animals that were walking near by because of UC Davis veterinary area read more

Sure the the UC Davis Arboretum is visually stunning - there are countless ways I could describe it to you. I could show you hundreds of photos that would prove it. But I will tell you right now that you won't know the beauty of this arboretum until you find a patch of grass, roll out a blanket, lay down, and close your eyes. I would explain further, but who would I be to rob you of experiencing it yourself. So I will so no more than "go". read more

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Definitely a must visit, the UC Davis Arboretum is wonderful for a quick walk, long stroll or jog, and for spreading out a blanket on the expansive lawns and enjoying a picnic. There are various sections to explore and you won't feel crowded at all. When we visited, it was a beautiful sunny Saturday. The gardens are very well maintained and have their "Top 100" plants noted throughout, which means they are plants you can be assured to have thrive in the local NorCal climate and environment. Great for helping to decide what you might want to put in your own garden. We enjoyed our lunch out under a huge grove of oak trees, overlooking the main lawn area. Even with a number of other people having lunch out there, we felt like we were almost alone. Not crowded at all. Afterwards, we strolled the path that surrounds the lake, and watched the ducks and turtles. It's a well maintained asphalt path with benches along the way to sit and ponder life while overlooking the lake. Really a nice place to keep on your radar... read more

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The gardens are amazing. The artwork throughout is amazing, The oak grove was incredible with the mosaic work labeling every tree. We enjoyed our time there m. I would love to go back. read more

She's a beauty! I'm a new UC Davis student and my sister, a current student, told me I had to come by. I'm a photographer and did a couples session here, and the photos turned out gorgeous. The ducks, the lighting, the plants- everything is just immaculate (aside from the graffiti on the picnic tables). I also came on another occasion for a picnic and it was just *chef's kiss*. I can see why a lot of people take pictures here! read more

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Need a study break? Maybe a space to meditate and reflect? Look no further. The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is what you're looking for. No matter what time of year it is, the area is filled with people relaxing and enjoying the peacefulness of the area. Preserve the wildlife and please do not try to feed any of the animals you might encounter. Please pick up your trash and leave the area better than when you came (both physically and metaphorically, because you'll likely remember why this planet of ours is so fragile and important to take care of). I'm good love, enjoy. read more

I had a friend that was visiting who attended and graduated from UC Davis 10 years ago, but said she has never been to the UC Davis Arboretum. So this was a nice experience to share with it being both of our first time to this experience. It's a little confusing trying to find parking, but you essentially are able to park in the "C Parking Lots" and you register and pay for parking through the ParkMobile App. This is the only time consuming part of your visit, so plan accordingly. Once you find the Arboretum trail, it's basically lined with different plants and you get to enjoy the outdoors. I would highly recommend this experience for those that enjoy being outside, can handle the allergy season and for someone who just has an appreciation for plants. read more

I'm an Aggie Alumni and I have never taken advantage of spending time walking or running around the Arboretum. It's a close walk from downtown but parking may be difficult since it is located on campus, over the weekend you don't have to pay for parking however the weekdays are a different story. I recently visited during the Winter while it was raining and it was still a nice little stroll that's very well kept. A nice place to take children to walk around. read more

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The most beautiful place to be when college is stressing you out and nobody cares! Very scenic and relaxing ,check it out! read more