With over 48,000 undergraduates, UCLA has more students than any other UC campus. That many Bruins can mean a lot of foot traffic, especially on common paths like Bruin Walk and during busy seasons like midterms or finals. Here are a couple of campus shortcuts that can save you a little time on your way to your destinations.
Los Angeles Tennis Center
The words “Los Angeles Tennis Center,” displayed on a short wall near the tennis courts, serve as a guide at the entrance of the pathway. Instead of walking up the Hill at the end of the day, cut left at Pauley Pavilion and go through the Los Angeles Tennis Center. This is the same tennis center where UCLA holds its annual Spring Sing and Bruin Bash!
Stairs next to the tennis courts lead up to the top of the Hill. A quick jaunt up the stairs will get you from Pauley Pavilion to the Hill in seconds. This shortcut can be great for getting to 8 a.m. classes on South Campus, where every extra minute of sleep counts.
An elevator resides below the stairs of the tennis courts. If it’s been a particularly long day and even the stairs sound daunting, there’s an elevator to take you up to the top floor.
Stairs to Royce Hall
A small stairway leads from Wilson Plaza up to Royce Hall. Always forget which step to skip on Janss Steps? Take this shaded, secluded side staircase to the left for a bit less foot traffic and superstition.
A North Campus shortcut to the Hill
Several groups of square tables and chairs sit in a courtyard near Bunche Hall. Trying to get back to the Hill from North Campus? Walk down through this courtyard that offers not only great outdoor study spots but also tons of vending machines and even ATMs if you are looking for one on campus.
A stairway leads down toward another courtyard. Keep walking down past the circle of statues and the Northern Lights Cafe, which is another great spot to study or grab some food.
A student walks across a bridge that leads toward the Anderson School of Management. Cross this bridge as you enter the part of campus that houses the business school. Walk across the top of the building until you reach the staircase.
A staircase leads down to the passageway between Anderson School of Management and Kaufman Hall. Once again you are given the option of stairs in front of you or an elevator behind you to your left.
A view from the bottom of the staircase that leads to the passageway between Anderson School of Management and Kaufman Hall. At the bottom of the staircase, going left will take you through to the center of campus and toward Ackerman Union.
A student walks toward the steps that lead up to the Marion Anderson Courtyard. Alternatively, you could take these steps, which will take you to Anderson Café, a good spot to grab coffee or avocado toast.
Cars ride along a stretch of Sunset Boulevard; a “Go Bruins!” sign hangs from a lamppost to the left of the road. If you skip the coffee this time and stay straight on your path, you will find Sunset Boulevard. This road will lead you all the way up to the Hill. This shortcut is a nice alternative route especially if you’re on wheels, because Bird scooters are disabled on Bruin Walk.
Behind Royce Hall
A person in the distance walks down a wide pathway, with several lampposts holding “Go Bruins!” signs on each side of the path. To avoid the craziness of Royce Hall graduation photos, LinkedIn headshots and events, you can take this side path behind Royce Hall and Haines Hall, which will lead you to the same bridge over to Anderson School of Management.
Back entrance to Ackerman Union
A small flight of stairs leads up to an outdoor seating area of Ackerman Union; the words “Ackerman Union” are displayed on a wall next to the stairs. Coming from South Campus, this back entrance to Ackerman Union can allow you to grab a quick snack without having to walk all the way around the building.
