Getting to the Garden

TEMPORARY DETOUR to ARBORETUM - Directions and Map BELOW

Starting July 7, 2025

The Front entrance to the UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden will be closed from July 7 to July 25, or perhaps longer, while crews make much needed repairs to the retaining wall that supports our entry road. During the closure, all visitors, including drivers, pedestrians, and bikers, can access the Arboretum through the UCSC Main Campus Entrance.

DETOUR to ARBORETUM

There will be signs posted along the detour route which include driving onto a dirt road to access the Arboretum.

See detailed DIRECTIONS under the MAP 

DETOUR DIRECTIONS

ENTER the Main Entrance to campus by driving onto Coolidge Drive (Bay Street becomes Coolidge Drive at the main entrance intersection). Proceed up the hill and turn LEFT onto Ranch View Road, the first signal after entering campus. See map.

There will be a stop sign where the Bike Path crosses Ranch View Road - look to make sure there are no cyclists before continuing straight. 

Continue and enter the small Ranch View neighborhood. You will then leave the asphalt and the Ranch View neighborhood and drive onto a small gravel road with the UCSC Farm on your right and the Arboretum on your left. PLEASE MIND THE 5 MPH SPEED LIMIT.

Turn left into the Arboretum's Visitor Parking Lot - you made it!! Welcome!!

High Speed Traffic on Empire Grade:

If you have driven to the normal Arboretum Entrance on Empire Grade, you can use the UCSC West Entrance to safely turn around and return to the Main Campus Entrance at Bay & High Streets.

TO EXIT 

For exiting, you will use the same gate at the end of our parking lot, but will turn left onto the gravel road and follow signs to Hagar Drive. Again be careful crossing the bike path at the flashing STOP sign by looking both directions. Continue straight on then turn RIGHT onto Hagar Drive. Down hill at the signal, turn RIGHT onto Coolidge Drive and exit through the main entrance to campus.

Planning your trip - Getting to the UCSC CAMPUS:

APPROACHING VIA HIGHWAY 17 FROM THE NORTH
OR HIGHWAY 1 FROM THE SOUTH

• As you approach Santa Cruz, follow signs to "Half Moon Bay / Highway 1 North"
• Highway 1 stops being a divided highway and becomes Mission Street in Santa Cruz. Remain on Mission St./Highway 1 for about a mile
• Turn right onto Bay Street (there's a traffic light) and drive to the UCSC Main Entrance, intersection of Bay and High Streets.