Saint Mary’s College brings a touch of classic California collegiate beauty to Moraga. The campus is open to visitors, and it’s worth a wander — Spanish Mission-style architecture, palm-lined walkways, and views of the surrounding hills.
What to See
The Chapel
The heart of campus, architecturally and spiritually. The Spanish Mission-style chapel is beautiful and typically open to visitors during the day.
The Grounds
Wander the palm-lined paths, admire the mission architecture, and enjoy views of the hills. It’s a peaceful escape, especially during summer when students are away.
De La Salle Hall
The main administrative building, an Instagram-worthy example of California mission architecture.
Gaels Athletics
Saint Mary’s competes in Division I athletics (West Coast Conference). Basketball is the big draw — the team has made multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Check the schedule for:
- Men’s and Women’s Basketball
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Tennis
Best Times to Visit
- Mid-June 2026 — The Deep Summer Hush Begins: The Class of 2026 graduated May 21–22, the K–12 graduations across Lamorinda are wrapping this week, and the SMC campus is at its quietest stretch of the year. Mid-June through July is the contemplative window — minimal foot traffic, chapel and grounds open during daylight hours, and visitor lots reliably wide open. The hills around the campus are just past peak green, transitioning into the classic California gold that holds through August. Pair the walk with a coffee from Town Bakery Cafe on the way in (closed Mondays — Tuesday–Sunday if you want the pastry stop) or a slice from Pennini’s after.
- Mid-June Through Mid-August — Long Evening Light: The palm-lined walkways glow at golden hour, and sunset is currently past 8:30 PM — the photographer’s window is roughly 7:30 to 8:15 PM, when the chapel’s bell tower catches the last warm light against the eastern hills. Weekday and weekend mornings both work; late-afternoon golden hour is the photographer’s pick.
- Thursday Evenings (June 11 – Aug 20) — Pair with the Sun Kings: The Moraga Commons Summer Concert Series is six minutes down Moraga Way. A late-afternoon SMC campus wander into the 6:30 PM concert is one of the best Moraga summer evenings you can stitch together.
- Mid-August Reset: The summer hush breaks when new students arrive for orientation. If you want the contemplative version of campus, mid-August is your last reliable window.
- September–October: Students return in full, campus energy rebuilds, and the weather is consistently in the 70s with crisp mornings. Football and soccer seasons get going.
- Basketball Season (November–March): Catch a Gaels game at McKeon Pavilion for local atmosphere. Men’s basketball draws the biggest crowds, especially when the West Coast Conference rival Gonzaga rolls through.
- March–April: Spring brings blooming flowers and lush green hills surrounding campus. The combination of California poppies, Spanish architecture, and palm trees is peak California beauty.
Local Lore
Saint Mary’s College has been in Moraga since 1928, but the institution itself dates to 1863 — making it one of California’s oldest colleges. Before settling in Moraga, the school moved multiple times: San Francisco, Oakland, and even a brief stint in Martinez. The Moraga campus was chosen for its isolation and beauty — the Christian Brothers who run the college wanted a contemplative setting away from urban distractions.
The campus’s distinctive palm-lined walkways weren’t just aesthetic choices. The palms were planted in the 1930s by students as part of campus beautification, and they’ve become one of the most photographed features of the grounds. The main quad, with its mission-style buildings and mountain backdrop, has appeared in films and commercials seeking “classic California college” scenery.
Fun fact: The campus sits in what was once the Moraga Rancho, a Mexican land grant from 1835. The Moraga family — descendants of José Joaquín Moraga, who led the expedition that founded San Francisco — owned these hills for generations before selling to developers and the college.
Visitor Logistics
SMC is a working college campus, not a tourist site — but it has been welcoming visitors for nearly a century and the practical setup is unusually friendly. Here is what locals know and what most first-time visitors wish they did.
Parking
- Visitor parking is free on weekends and during the summer recess (mid-May through mid-August), in any unmarked or visitor-designated space.
- Weekdays during the academic year (late August through early May), use the visitor lot just inside the main entrance off Saint Mary’s Road — the small lot to the right of the gatehouse. Daily passes are available at the gatehouse during business hours.
- Best lot for chapel and main quad access: the upper lot above De La Salle Hall. You walk down into the quad rather than uphill, which matters in August.
- Best lot for athletic events and the Soda Center: the McKeon Pavilion lot, off the southern campus loop.
- Overflow on big basketball nights: Moraga Road street parking and the Rheem Center lot are the standard overflow when McKeon is full.
Restrooms, water, accessibility
- Public restrooms are reliably available at De La Salle Hall (main administrative building, ground floor) and at the Soda Activity Center during open hours. The chapel itself does not have public restrooms.
- The campus is on rolling terrain. The main quad and chapel are accessible via paved paths from the upper lot; the lower athletic fields and creek areas involve grade changes. The chapel has a step-up at the main entrance with a side ramp.
- Drinking fountains are at the Soda Center, near the Rheem Center field, and outside the library. Bring water in summer — the upper campus paths are exposed.
Dogs
- Dogs on leash are welcome on the outdoor walkways, athletic fields when no game is scheduled, and the perimeter paths.
- Dogs are not permitted inside the chapel, the library, the Soda Center, or any classroom building.
- The campus is a popular weekend dog-walking destination for Moraga families — the perimeter loop along Saint Mary’s Road is the most-used route.
Photography
- Personal photography is welcome anywhere outdoors. Wedding and engagement shoots require a permit from the SMC Conference and Event Services office — the chapel and palm-lined approach are popular enough that this is enforced.
- Drone use is not permitted on campus without prior authorization.
Campus Walking Loops
Three distinct walks, each with a different feel — pick by what kind of morning you want.
The Chapel Quick Loop (15–20 minutes, flat)
From the upper visitor lot: down through the palm-lined main approach, past the chapel facade, around the main quad (De La Salle Hall on one side, library on the other), and back. This is the postcard SMC walk and the one to do if you only have time for one. Best in the morning before 10 AM or in golden hour after 7 PM.
The Perimeter Loop (45–60 minutes, mild hills)
From the main entrance: clockwise around the full campus, past McKeon Pavilion and the athletic complex, behind the residence halls along the eastern hillside, down through the creek corridor at the southern edge, and back up through the chapel approach. This is the Sunday-morning regulars’ route — the same dozen Moraga residents are doing it at the same time every weekend. Bring water in summer.
The SMC-to-Lafayette-Moraga-Trail Combo (90 minutes, mostly flat)
Start on campus, exit at the main gate, walk west on Saint Mary’s Road for half a mile to the Lafayette-Moraga Trail connection at Bollinger Canyon, do a short out-and-back on the trail, and loop back. This is the long-version Sunday walk — combines the contemplative campus stretch with the eucalyptus-tunnel trail and is a favorite of the post-Moraga Farmers Market crowd between 10:30 AM and noon.
The Soda Center and Campus Events
The Soda Activity Center is the campus’s modern student center and hosts a steady calendar of events that are, in many cases, open to the public: speaker series, concerts, art exhibitions in the Hearst Art Gallery (located on campus, free admission, exhibitions rotate). Check the SMC events calendar during the academic year — the Hearst Art Gallery in particular is one of Moraga’s overlooked cultural assets.
Hearst Art Gallery — Located on the southwest side of campus, the gallery is free and open to the public Wednesday–Sunday during exhibition runs. It is closed between exhibitions and during semester breaks (typically late May through August), so call ahead in summer.
Good to Know
- Campus is open to visitors — just park in visitor areas
- The setting is beautiful — bring a camera
- Chapel is worth stepping inside
- Basketball games are fun local entertainment
- College town energy during the school year
- Summer weekends (mid-June through mid-August) are the quietest, most visitor-friendly window
- The Hearst Art Gallery is free and worth checking when in season
Explore More in Lamorinda
- Moraga Guide — Full overview of the town this sits in
- All Things to Do — More Lamorinda outings, parks, and venues
- Real Estate in Lamorinda — Buying or selling in Lafayette, Moraga, or Orinda