Accessibility

Terrain and Accessibility:
We welcome all visitors and are actively working on accessibility improvements. However, due to the Garden’s naturally varied topography, portions of the Garden may not be accessible. The UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley was developed in its current location within Strawberry Canyon 100 years ago and features a range of wide to narrow paved, gravel, and dirt paths that vary from flat to steep inclines over 13% grade. The grounds include areas of trails that can include stairs and be rocky, uneven, or steep. View our map to plan your best route.

For accessibility questions, please contact our Visitor Experience team at (510) 643-2755 (CA Relay Service(link is external)) or garden@berkeley.edu.

Parking:
There are three accessible “blue” parking spots available on the lowest level of the main Garden parking lot. You must have a blue disability placard/license plate  to park in a “blue” space and are required to pay for parking (rate is $1.50 per hour).

Shuttle:
The Campus Hill Line stops at the Garden, and Campus shuttles are wheelchair accessible. The Hill Shuttle runs weekdays only, Monday through Friday, with the exception of UC Berkeley holidays.

Restrooms:
All restrooms in the Garden are accessible. The upper restrooms near the front of the Garden are accessible via a ramp. The lower restrooms are accessible from the main path and feature push-bar access.

Maps and printed material:
Large print Garden maps are available upon request.
A 3D map illustrating the diverse topography in our Garden is located at the entrance.

Wheelchairs, scooters and other Power-driven mobility device access:
The main path loop of the Garden is completely paved, but has inclines in sections that may not be appropriate for those with mobility devices. There are multiple benches and resting points along the main path. Please refer to our Garden Map and use the Legend to determine the terrain of various routes to help prepare for your visit and decide which paths are right for you.

If your mobility device is electric and requires charging, please make sure you have a full charge before your visit.

Please note that there are no wheelchairs, scooters, or devices available on site to rent.

Service Animals:
Pets are not allowed in the Garden due to the sensitivity of the plant collection. Only trained service dogs are permitted, but must first check in and be cleared at the Front Entrance by Garden staff. The Garden follows these Campus guidelines in regards to Service animals:

“A Service Dog (or miniature horse) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. In other words, a Service Dog must be trained to perform specific tasks – “the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.”

The Garden is committed to providing a fully accessible website experience for all users of all abilities, including those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, screen enlargement software, and alternative keyboard input devices to navigate the web.

If you are using assistive technologies and are having difficulty using our website, please email us at garden@berkeley.edu, or give us a call at (510) 643-2755 (CA Relay Service). We will do our best to assist you and resolve issues.

If you require accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in any of our programming, please contact Marykaren Mrowka at least 7-10 days in advance of the event at (510) 664-7606 (CA Relay Service) or gardenprograms@berkeley.edu.