09/15/2026
🍂 September is a time when many folks visit the cemetery for the first time, particularly new students and people seeking some seasonal spooky time. Greeted by the dazzling dahlias, the turning of the leaves, and the meandering brick pathways, it’s easy to get lost in the magic of The Woodlands and forget, despite the towering monuments, that these 54 acres are not a public park, in function or funding.
🪦 The Woodlands has been an active, private cemetery since 1840. This year alone, 18 people have been buried at The Woodlands, and three burials are scheduled in the coming month. To protect mourners' privacy, we do not publicize burials, funerals, or celebrations of life on the events calendar; we place a sign at the front entrance whenever a burial is taking place.
♥️ If you notice an interment or funeral happening while visiting the site, please keep your distance and respect the mourners. To help this space remain a respite for both the living and the dead, please remember our key rules:
• Do not climb, sit, or lean on headstones—they are heavy and historic
• Dogs must be on a leash at all times, with no exceptions
• Biking is allowed on paved roads only—do not bike on the dirt running path
• Help protect our trees and flowers! Do not climb trees, swing on low branches, use hammocks or slacklines, or pick any flowers from the grounds
• Children and youth under the age of 14 must be with an adult at all times
• The cemetery is a ‘leave no trace space.’ Take your trash with you, and pick up after your dogs—a bin is available outside the front gates
• Parking is allowed for Woodlands visitors only. Please park alongside the curb, allowing for other vehicles to pass. Avoid parking at a turn in the road, or in front of the bollards to maintain emergency vehicle access
• The Woodlands is a no-smoking site
• The site is open daily from dawn until dusk. When you see UCD lights flashing or the sun beginning to set, make your way to the gates—don’t get locked in!
