SOUNDwalk is an immersive work of public art that presents custom soundscape compositions linked to different sections of the Garden’s 86 acres of native plants. CalBG, in collaboration with project director and composer Andres R. Luz, has commissioned eight local composers to write short works directly inspired by the Garden’s grounds and plants. Visitors are invited to download a free app, put on headphones, and listen to the musical environment change as they walk. The composers have crafted works that draw on acoustic and electric instruments and field recordings at the Garden and beyond. Inspirations for the compositions range from birds to water to trees to California ecosystems to poetry. The composers featured include: Bill Alves & Ben Alves, Ian Dicke, Christian Dubeau, Dana Kaufman, Christine Lee, Andres Luz, Alexander Elliott Miller, and Isaac Io Schankler.

SOUNDwalk is free with admission to California Botanic Garden and can only be experienced inside the Garden grounds. The walk will be available starting on Friday, September 26, 2025 and will stay active indefinitely. In order to access SOUNDwalk, visitors will need to download the ECHOES app via the Apple App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) on a smartphone or portable device, bring headphones or earbuds, and use a QR code available at the Garden entrance to access the walk.