Opening Hours

The University Arboretum is open to the public every day of the year, including holidays, from sunrise to sunset.

Please plan accordingly if you anticipate needing restroom facilities, as the nearest public restrooms are located inside the Sacramento State Welcome Center and are only available during its operating hours (see Nearby Facilities).

Finding the Arboretum

The Arboretum is located on Arboretum Way with the main entrance on the corner of State University Drive and J Street.

To enter the Arboretum from the main campus, follow the path just east of the Welcome Center through the pedestrian tunnel beneath Arboretum Way. Once past the tunnel, you will find the main entrance on the left.

For your safety, please use the tunnel and avoid crossing Arboretum Way directly.

Parking

Daily visitor parking is available in any space marked Student on Levels 3 and 4 of Parking Structure 5 (PS5), located directly across Arboretum Way from the Arboretum.

Parking permits may be purchased in advance through University Transportation and Parking Services (UTAPS) or from the permit kiosks located next to the double elevators on Levels 3 and 4 of PS5.

Visitors making a brief stop may also use the limited 30-minute parking available in Lot 1C, located in front of the Welcome Center.

For current parking rates and permit information, please visit the UTAPS website.

Nearby Facilities

The nearest public restrooms are located inside the Sacramento State Welcome Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Welcome Center can be reached at (916) 278-6011.

Please note that there are currently no public restrooms available in or adjacent to the Arboretum on weekends.

Take a Tour

We offer guided tours for school groups, community organizations, and the general public. Current tour options include:

• General Arboretum Tour
• California Native Plants Tour
• Elementary School Tour

Tour availability varies throughout the year based on student staff availability.

To request a tour, please email arboretum@csus.edu and include:

1. Your name and organization (if applicable).
2. The number of participants and their approximate age range.
3. Your requested tour type
4. Your preferred date(s) and time(s).
5. Any accessibility accommodations or special requests that would help us create an enjoyable experience for your group.

Self-Guided Visits

The University Arboretum is home to more than 1,400 plants representing a wide diversity of species from California and around the world. Most specimens are labeled with their scientific name, family, and native range, making it easy to explore at your own pace.

We are currently developing themed self-guided walking routes. In the meantime, we invite you to enjoy the Arboretum using the existing plant labels and interpretive signage.

Help Us Care for the Arboretum

The Arboretum is both a public garden and a living museum.

If you notice a fallen branch, broken irrigation, vandalism, damaged signage, or another issue that needs our attention, please let us know by emailing arboretum@csus.edu.

We ask all visitors to help us care for the Arboretum by following a few simple guidelines:

• Pack out or dispose of your trash using the receptacles located near the center of the Arboretum and by the Giant Sequoia cross-section.

• Confetti, including products labeled as biodegradable, is not permitted. Confetti is extremely difficult to remove from planting beds and natural areas, and every year our staff and volunteers spend many hours cleaning it up.
• Please leave logs, rocks, and other landscape features where they are as we continue restoring planting beds.
• Help protect our collections by not picking flowers, collecting plant material, pruning, or damaging plants.
• Please stay on paths whenever possible to protect sensitive plantings.
• Dogs are welcome but must remain on a leash, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.