U.C. Davis Arboretum

U.C. Davis Arboretum

1 Shields Dr.
Davis, California 95616
Visit Website
Local Phone: (530) 752-4880
E-mail: arboretum@ucdavis.edu

UC Davis Arboretum dog
Tooki exploring U.C. Davis Arboretum.
Photo Credit: kellybelly110
The U.C. Davis Arboretum is 100 acres of teaching and research gardens stretching across campus on the banks of a languid creek. Beautiful at any time of year, the gardens include 18 planting areas showcasing fauna from various regions of the world as well as specific types of trees and other plants.

Large trees shade a paved, multi-use trail popular with joggers, dog-walkers and cyclists. It stretches the length of the arboretum; walking from one end to the other and back is 3.5 miles. Lawns, picnic areas and benches are scattered along the way. 

• Dogs on leash welcome on arboretum paths. Please pick up after your friend!
• Admission: Free
• Hours: Open daily around the clock.
• Parking is free on weekends, $7 during the week.

See arboretum map to locate various points of entry, and refer to the arboretum website for directions, which can be confusing for those not familiar with the U.C. Davis campus. Visitor Lot 47 near Mondvai Center and Arboretum Headquarters is one of the largest and easiest to find. 

davis, uc davis arboretum, dog-friendly paths, gardens, nursery, plantings, teaching, research, exhibit, display, flowers, trees, oaks, redbuds, redwoods, white flowers, mediterranean gardens, australia, california natives

A delicate floral nose...
A delicate floral nose...
Sometimes a lovely May day beckons with a leisurely stroll, rather than a full-on hike. For DogTrekkers who enjoy spring blooms, few places bring richer rewards than the UC Davis Arboretum, 100 acres of meticulously curated botanical gardens bordering a  paved path that runs for almost two miles along Putah Creek, a scenic stream burbling through the university campus on the edge of dog-friendly Davis. With so many plants in flower, you’ll have as many aromas to sniff as your dog, whose nose will naturally gravitate to places yours doesn’t. more »
Toad Hollow Dog Park
Toad Hollow Dog Park, Davis, CA. Photo Credit: Eileen (CC)
In Yolo County, Interstate 80 runs right past the UC Davis campus and within ball-throwing distance of Sudwerk, one of the state’s pioneering craft breweries. It’s worth making a DogTrekking date with both. On campus, take a stroll through the UC Davis Arboretum, 100 acres of meticulously curated botanic gardens along the banks of Putah Creek, which flows through the sprawling campus. more »
dogs on a bench
Not all botanical gardens are dog-friendly, but we know some that are—and if you’re into tulips and other early-blooming florals, now’s the time for the two of you to watch spring springing into action. more »
Dallying in Davis
The drive east on Interstate 80 from the San Francisco Bay Area to points beyond can hardly be described asscenic, but you don’t have to go far off the road to immerse yourself in an oasis of cool, leafy beauty. more »
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