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Hours and Admission

Garden Etiquette

Please help us maintain the peaceful atmosphere people have come to enjoy. For fire safety and the health of other visitors, there is no smoking.

To protect our collection, endangered species, and educational materials: There is no collecting of any plant or animal material of any kind dead or alive. This also means no collecting of any seeds or cuttings. We are required to mention that collecting tadpoles, harassing or touching the federally protected red-legged frogs is against federal law. Adult supervision of children is required. Take only notes (not labels or flowers), leave only footprints.

For your safety: Please stay on concrete or dirt paths to avoid poison oak, spines, uneven footing and to avoid compacting the soil over tender roots or trampling small plants. Mountain lion sightings are extremely rare, but read the signs about how to stay safe.

No Pets - UCSC does not allow dogs on campus, which includes the Arboretum.

Help protect our rare plant collections by staying on paths, supervising children, and leaving pets at home.

Hours  

  • ARBORETUM GARDENS 

    • OPEN DAILY - 9am - 5pm

    • The UCSC Arboretum will be CLOSED for Winter Break: Dec. 23, 2024 - Jan. 1, 2025 
  • NORRIE'S GIFT & GARDEN SHOP 

    • OPEN Tuesday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm

  • CLOSURE DATES for 2024:
    • July 4, Nov. 28 & 29, Dec. 23 through Jan. 1, 2025 
    • The Arboretum will re-open on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

Admission 

  • $10 adults                                            
  • $8 seniors 65+
  • $5 youth 4-17
  • free to kids under 4

How to PAY:

  • pay online at shopucscarboretum.com
  • Pay with cash or checks payable to UC Regents & deposit into brown PAY HERE Tubes in Visitor Parking
  • Pay at gift shop during the shop's OPEN hours

 Enjoy Free Admission if you are:

  • A Current Arboretum Member (with membership card)
  • A current UCSC student 
  • A member of participating AHS/ROAM/NARM Reciprocal Admission Program Garden or Museum with card + ID
  • Those ONLY shopping or picking up an online order at Norrie's Gift & Garden Shop
  • Everyone on Community Day - all day, the first Tuesday of each month 

Group Visits:

Visiting with a school class or a larger group?

Reserve Space for a Self-Guided Group Visit

Accessibility, Tours, Pets:

  • No Pets allowed 
  • Many of our pathways & trails are wheelchair, stroller & walker accessible. See map
  • See available Tours and Self-Guided Tour resourses here
  • If you wish to visit our small botanical library, please inquire with the office. 

Health & Well-being

To continue to protect others and yourself, please:

  • If you are sick, stay home
  • Out of courtesy, maintain 3-6 feet of space whenever possible 
  • Bring your own drinking water (recommended though we do have 2 drinking fountains)
  • Practice good hygiene at all times