UC Davis Arboretum

Eu adoro este lugar. Não existe nemhum lugar assim no mundo, do lado de uma universidade como UCD. Um excelente local para tomar um café e passarinhar.

Such a beautiful arboretum. I felt like I was transported to a forest, unaware that I’m surrounded by a UC campus.
The park is actually more like a long walk following the Putah Creek which runs through the southern half of campus. It didn’t look like the cleanest water, but it’s probably cleaner when school is in session and there are people actively cleaning it.
The pathway along the creek is long enough for a relaxing jog or bike ride, which I’m sure many students do.
I’d like to come back here in springtime to see all the trees and flowers in bloom!

I had the pleasure of talking to the nice woman that helps care for the ecosystem in the UC Davis Arboretum, and I must say it’s incredible how much goes into this place. There are so many cool species of plant life here, on top of being incredibly scenic and beautiful. Certainly worth seeing the West-​end where the creek really opens up.

Lovely for a stroll. They’ve got all sorts of different micro-​environments, if you can call them that. Redwood trees in one part, a really nice lake in another, and all sorts of different plants! It’s a quiet place to enjoy nature and the weather when it’s nice.

A refreshing place indeed! If you want peace and relax this is the place. Full of greenery. There are redwood trees, a section of native plants from Australia and New Zealand, many native North and South American species as well as Asiatic. Lot of information available on the placards placed in all sections. A trail loop of around 3 miles. One can have a view of the UC Davis campus and the famous Mandovi Centre in the way.
The water in the old Putah Creek is greenish due to green algal scum floating on it. You can sit near the lake Spafford in the centre of the Arboretum or sit in the hidden seats placed in between the trees.
Nice place to relax, picnic or have fun.

Gorgeous, relaxing, uncrowded place to stroll and enjoy nature. Within walking distance to Amtrak so it makes a great day trip from the East Bay!

Beautiful 3-​mile mostly shaded place for stroll. Great spot to enjoy nature, and not melt in the summer heat. Random, interesting facts posted along the path. Also trees, plants, pond, redwoods, and a cute mural to enjoy. Lovely place for an afternoon walk :)

A lovely break from the chaos of college life! I was visiting a friend in Davis when we biked through here, and the serenity of the location was definitely commendable. We saw geese as well as a large assortment of beautiful flowers.
One note if you have allergies like me: make sure you have allergy medication! The flowers are plentiful, but this also applies to pollen.

Marking to check out and add to list.

Had a very lovely stroll around the arboretum earlier today. It’s great how a number of species of plants (including multiple types of gooseberries) are labeled as well.
Saw a few turtles swimming or sunning themselves also.

The arboretum is beautiful and relaxing in all seasons. It’s great for sitting down to relax, walking around, or biking through pretty much whenever. Bring a light if you bike at night though.
There are turtles, ducks, herons, some interesting acacia trees with yellow flowers that smell like makeup, and little mushrooms that start off white and turn brown as they age, and which turn yellow when bruised. (Don’t eat them though!) The western rosebuds are particularly beautiful, and the redwood grove is reminiscent (as you’d guess it should be) of actual redwood forests here. Everything is also very clean… occasionally I’ve seen a bag or something floating in the water, but mostly everything looks perfect.
There are informational panels and labels throughout the arboretum if you’re curious about any of the plants or mini-​environments.

Beautiful walk/​run/​bike path and it has many varieties of trees and flowers. Love the cleanliness and peaceful setting. Place is well maintained for people of all ages to enjoy.
It’s an educational experience as well, along the trail there are numerous little plaques explaining where the plant/​tree originates from.
Only con is watch out for duck poop. My coworker and I walked the path two days in a row and we both got pooped on. The ducks by the pond have a habit of flying off and aiming to poop on your head. It’s best to bring a hat.

UC Davis Arboretum
Wow! What a beautiful place to go and relax with friends, have a picnic or just have a great walk.
I’m always looking for inspiring places and the Redwood Grove in the Arboretum is definitely a place I’ll come back too.
Instagram @faithmari
Curator @visitsacramento

Beautiful place to take a stroll and see lots of different flora. I love that the plants are labeled so you can learn their names and sometimes even things about them.
The new smoking ban makes the arboretum much more enjoyable. If you are looking for a bit more privacy follow the trail beyond campus it is much quieter there. My favorite part of the arboretum is the moon viewing garden, which is between Vet Med and the freeway, absolutely the best place to spend a summer evening.

Amid the noise, distraction, and daily chaos of University life, I often find myself trapped in a recurring cycle of self neglect and depression. As mind numbing midterms start to creep up and pretentious professors continue to pile a sky-​high work load on top of my already busy schedule, I start sinking into a bottomless pit of negativity and pessimism. The struggle can definitely be too real sometimes.
But the Arboretum, through its beauty, simplicity, and sheer awesomeness, makes me forget all this, shining hopeful rays of sunshine through the shadows of my struggle. It’s a great place to run, walk, sit, sleep, forget, reset, and just BREATHE.
With just a couple steps from Mrak Hall, or down the road from Tercero, you can enter this beautiful sanctuary, home to a wide variety of plant flora, a lovely family of ducks, and the ever-​present community of Davis squirrels. The Arboretum is fantastically convenient, and is definitely my favorite place on campus to escape and clear my head.
Before your visit, keep in mind:
* Bring a blanket if you plan on picnicking or napping, the grass can be icky.
* Bikers come through here as well, so be careful when you’re going through tunnels.
* Plant sales take place here each year during Spring, offering hundreds of different kinds of unique locally grown garden plants.
* Folk Music Jam Sessions every Friday from 12 – 1 pm on the Wyatt Deck.
* On Wednesdays you can join the Superintendent, Emeritus Warren Roberts, for an engaging noontime exploration of the West-​end gardens.
* The Putah Creek Lodge as well as the Gazebo can be a great place to hold an event. Contact Davis Conference and Events Services to arrange it.
So essentially,
If you’re looking for a place to reconnect with your sanity, head to the Arboretum. If you’re finding the typical track scene a bore and need a new running route, go to the Arboretum. If you’re looking for a quiet place to study or read, there’s no better place than the Arboretum.
You’ll be amazed at what a little dose of nature can do for you.

The UC Davis Arboretum is a 2.5 mile long botanical study area and nature trail that’s great for picnicking, biking with kids, walking your dogs or just getting away from the noise. You’ll find a peaceful redwood grove, a large collection of native California flora, a small duck pond and several lawn-​covered, shaded glades where you can relax or even catch a nap.
Props to Knowles Ryerson, the UC farm director in 1936 who oversaw the beginnings of this restful place. It’s survived staffing and budget cuts, and according to locals, some WWII test bomb detonations! Again, Ryerson (and others) to the rescue, in the form of the private fundraising efforts of Friends of the Davis Arboretum. Hopefully they’ll be able to clean up the water in Putah Creek — it’s in need of a major de-​crapping.
If you’re interested, there is currently a Groupon for a one-​year membership to Friends of the Davis Arboretum. Check it out if you’d like to help keep this tranquil place open and maintained.
To visit, park in the Whole Foods lot where you can start your walk. It’s a five mile round trip to the gazebo and back.
The roundup:
Setting: 4 — Tranquility… even the students hanging out are peacefully quiet.
Value: 5 — It’s. Free.
Date worthy: 4 — Bring a picnic lunch.
Dogs: Dogs, bikes, books, you name it!

Love this wonderful trail! A beautiful place to relax, take a walk, run, bike, or just enjoy nature. Located on the south end of UC Davis campus the Arboretum is a great place to visit. It’s a great place to learn about native plants and appreciate the beauty. The animals are friendly believe it or not. Along the western part of the trail there is a horse ranch and you can walk up to the fence. On the day we went the horses walked up to the fence and we were able to pet them. They were gentle and majestic.
Parking is free on weekends, park in the visitor parking lot 5 near Wyatt pavilion. Easy walk onto the trail and easy to exit the campus. Weekdays parking is $ 8 and the machine only takes credit card.

I love this place. If you are in Davis, come here. If you call yourself an Aggie, you MUST spend at least half an hour taking a nap or appreciating the nature here. For anybody else, this destination is one of the most natural preservation in Davis.
The arboretum runs along the UC Davis campus. There are multiple ways for you to get here. If you come from the School of Law and the Business School of Management, there is an entry to walk by the river. If you are at the center of the campus aka the Quad, walk towards the Shields Library and Mrak Hall. There is an entry on the left side of Mrak Hall to the center of the arboretum.
Since I don’t have a parking permit, I usually come here with my boyfriend on Sunday! On Sunday, campus parking is free everywhere. We usually park our car behind the library. During summer time at Davis, the weather can get as high as 100 degree. Napping or resting under the shades of giant trees is always a smart choice! Sometimes, you will see ducks and squirrels walking by and saying hi. Squirrels especially want to be more than just your friend if you have good-​smelling food. As many warned me, you are not supposed to feed them. They will come back for more and eat all your food! Besides relaxing here, the arboretum is a great destination for biking and hiking. Although the terrace is not very «hilly», the path is long enough for a not too intensive work out session. Lastly, because the campus is technically closed during the weekend, the closest restroom is in the Shields Library. If there are more, please let me know!
Here are some of the recommended things to bring for a picnic at the arboretum:
— sunscreen
— picnic food
— picnic towel to lay down
— a lot of water!
— bikes if you have them :)
— love locks with your names and date if you want to make memories on one of the bridges!
I hope you will enjoy this Davis attraction as much as I did!

Now we’re talking! err actually you’re reading and I’m typing. This place shows exactly how i like my plants, in the ground and not in my mouth. The arboretum is truly a sight to see. Beautiful, calm scenery with a diverse assortment of plants; it’s the one place where tree-​huggers, hipsters and normal people can just get together and enjoy nature’s true beauty. There’s nothing quite like relaxing at the Arboretum on a nice, warm, sunny day with a gentle breeze that sways the vibrant green trees and lets your mind be at ease. So relaxing it even brought out my inner poetic side, that’s some deep stuff. Seriously braah, this is the perfect place to relax yourself after a stressful day or if you’re just looking for a nice place to chill and be one with Mother Nature.
PS. Oh and don’t forget the #instagram (not that you would), ‘cuz your visit is worthless unless you instagram this place. #yolocountyswag.

Spring time! Flowers blooming, animals canoodling. (ahem)
I love this place! Great place for a picnic, a jog, outdoor reading, and even taking wedding/​group photos.
It is such a diverse area: There is a redwood tree section, a gazebo, a pond area, Australian/​New Zealand plant section, and even an Asian plants section. It’s a peaceful little park that significantly contributes to why UC Davis is such a beautiful campus.
A little birdy told my boyfriend that there were bio-​illuminating flowers in the Arboretum. So we tried to find them in the middle of the night, and they were no where to be seen! Probably not true? I’ve tried Googling this so perhaps it’s just a myth.
It’s not too far from Shields Library. Why not take a study break and lie in the sun at the Arboretum?

It’s quite a beautiful place! I’m kind of sad I didn’t get to walk around the whole thing and see all the gardens. We were unsure of the parking, thinking we only had an hour time limit, but it’s free on Saturday and Sunday. If only we knew beforehand. I guess this means I need to make another visit in the future!
My friend bought some bread along hoping to feed some ducks, but we didn’t really see any. We spotted a pair of squirrels and he tried throwing bread at them, but they weren’t having it. There were many joggers and bicyclists enjoying the day here. It’s a nice place to have a picnic too or just a place to spend some time outdoors.