California-native botanic garden and living museum

Regional Parks Botanic Garden

About 1.5 miles straight-line from the train station; use the garden's separate Wildcat Canyon Road arrival

Trade the station platform for a free 10-acre living museum of California native plants, Wildcat Creek, redwood shade, and weekend docent tours.

The place

About Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a 10-acre living museum of California native plants within Tilden Regional Park. It is owned and operated by the East Bay Regional Park District, not Redwood Valley Railway, and the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden provides supplemental support, programs, plant sales, and visitor information.

The collection organizes trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, rare plants, and plant communities from across California in a canyon around Wildcat Creek. The Friends describe the garden as a sanctuary for rare and endangered plants. Monthly plant guides and the current official page help visitors focus on seasonal features instead of expecting a single peak-bloom moment.

Admission and parking are free. Current summer hours are daily 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. from June through September; October through May hours are 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The garden closes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Free docent tours meet at the Visitor Center Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; capacity is limited, and regular weekend tours do not require advance registration.

The garden was built into a canyon, and the official accessibility guidance is appropriately specific: much of the terrain is steep with narrow paths, while premium displays are arranged along fairly level or gently sloping routes that most wheelchairs can reach. Surfaces still vary, and the Friends advise having an attendant. Public restrooms are across Wildcat Canyon Road from the main entrance; dogs, bicycles, balls, skateboards, and rollerblades are not allowed inside.

What stands out

Cross California in plant communities

Move among redwoods, chaparral, desert plants, mountain species, and coastal communities without leaving the ten-acre garden.

Follow Wildcat Creek

Use the creek, bridges, stonework, and canyon contours to read how water and terrain shape the living collection.

Join a free docent tour

Let a weekend guide connect seasonal plants, conservation stories, and garden history within the limited-capacity tour.

Plan for seasonal change

Consult the monthly plant guide so a late-summer or fall visit is framed around what is active now rather than spring bloom expectations.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Redwood Valley Railway trip

This ranks second because it is not another railway, but it creates a substantial and low-cost second half of a Tilden day. Drive the separate 1.5-mile straight-line gap, use the free Wildcat Canyon Road parking, and choose a conservative route if steep paths or varied surfaces are a concern.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • HoursJune 1–September 30 daily 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; October 1–May 31 daily 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • ClosuresClosed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
  • Admission and parkingBoth are free
  • Docent toursFree Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; meet at the Visitor Center; regular tours require no reservation but capacity is limited
  • AccessibilityMuch of the canyon is steep with narrow paths; some gently sloping display routes suit most wheelchairs, but surfaces vary and an attendant is advised
  • RestroomsAcross Wildcat Canyon Road from the main garden entrance
  • TransitAC Transit Route 65 stops at Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Shasta Road, followed by about a half-mile downhill walk; verify the live transit schedule
  • Visitor rulesNo dogs, bicycles, balls, Frisbees, skateboards, or rollerblades inside the living collection; do not collect plant material

Add a second Tilden train

Add Golden Gate Live Steamers

On Sunday, compare Redwood Valley's 15-inch railway with a volunteer club's smaller-gauge public ride below the station.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Regional Parks Botanic Garden cost?

Admission and parking are free. Paid reservations apply only to certain private organized uses, not an ordinary garden visit.

When is the garden open?

It is open daily 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. June through September and 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. October through May, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Are there free guided tours?

Yes. Current docent tours meet at the Visitor Center Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Regular weekend tours need no registration, but capacity is limited.

Is the garden wheelchair-accessible?

Some fairly level or gently sloping display routes are reachable by most wheelchairs, but much of the canyon is steep, paths can be narrow, and surfaces vary. The Friends advise an attendant.

Where are the restrooms?

Public restrooms are in the parking lot across Wildcat Canyon Road from the main garden entrance.

Can I bring a dog or bicycle?

No. Dogs, bicycles, balls, Frisbees, skateboards, and rollerblades are prohibited inside the living plant collection. A bike rack is near the parking lot.

How long should I allow after the train?

Allow about 60–90 minutes for a self-guided loop, or longer for a docent tour, seasonal guide, photography, or a deliberately conservative mobility route.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-15. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.