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Pulgas Water Temple – Portola Road loop from Belmont

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Pulgas Water Temple – Portola Road loop from Belmont

Hard

4.8

(1451)

19,479

riders

Pulgas Water Temple – Portola Road loop from Belmont

04:21

66.8km

810m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

44 m

Belmont CalTrain Station

Highlight • Rest Area

Once part of the Southern Pacific Railroad, this station is now served by local and limited-service Caltrain operations.

Tip by

676 m

Twin Pines Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Pleasant Belmont park with a network of paved bike trails and gravel trails.

Tip by

5.90 km

Sheep Camp Trail (Gravel Connector between Belmont-Cañada Roads)

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Great way to get over 280 heading either way. Not too steep. Mostly dirt, but some parts are loose gravel. Should probably have at least 32mm tires for this one.

Tip by

8.98 km

San Francisco built Pulgas Water Temple as a monument to the engineering marvel that brought Hetch Hetchy water more than 160 miles across California from Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay Area. The Hetch Hetchy Project took 24 years to build through the Great Depression at a cost of $102 million.
On October 28, 1934, the roar of Hetch Hetchy mountain water greeted everyone gathered at Pulgas Water Temple to celebrate its arrival. With vivid memories of the fire that had raged after the Great Earthquake of 1906, the city rejoiced in its new secure, plentiful supply of high quality drinking water. The frieze above the columns expresses the city’s relief: “I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people.”
Pulgas Water Temple was designed in the Beaux Arts style by William Merchant, a San Francisco architect trained by Bernard Maybeck. Merchant’s design featured fluted columns and Corinthian capitals to reflect the architecture of ancient Greeks and Romans, whose engineering methods were used to build the new water system. Artist and master stone carver Albert Bernasconi brought Merchant’s drawings to life.
Pulgas Water Temple is located about one-half mile south of the Cañada Road trailhead.
Open free to bikers & pedestrians every day, car parking opens only M-F 9-4
sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=93
Biketrail with more highlights and annotated photos at komoot.com/tour/11413421

Tip by

17.3 km

Woodside

Highlight • Settlement

Woodside is a historic town-turned upscale community along the old wagon path from San Francisco to Santa Clara. The downtown is a great place to take a break from your ride and features a few quaint shops, a market, bakery, and outdoor seating.

Tip by

21.9 km

Portola Road

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

This is a beautiful stretch of road going through Portola Valley. It's a great place for a shaded ride on a winding stretch of road.

Tip by

28.1 km

Rossotti's Alpine Inn

Highlight • Pub

This fantastic tavern, founded in 1852, is the second oldest in the state. It features a large, beer garden-style outdoor area with plenty of shade. An extensive beer and food menu makes it a perfect stop to enjoy a brew and some great food after a ride.

Tip by

58.2 km

Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir

Highlight • Lake

Crystal Springs Reservoir, nestled in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains, consists of two artificial lakes formed along the San Andreas Fault and is ideal for hiking and wildlife viewing. Originally named Laguna Grande, the southern lake was submerged to create Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir in 1877, while Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir was formed by the construction of Crystal Springs Dam in 1888. Although no water activities are allowed, visitors can enjoy the reservoir’s natural setting and spot local wildlife, including bald eagles.

Tip by

66.8 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

33.7 km

15.1 km

12.0 km

3.51 km

2.35 km

116 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

60.7 km

3.77 km

1.49 km

791 m

131 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 31 August

20°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Pulgas Water Temple – Portola Road loop from Belmont

Belmont CalTrain Station

Twin Pines Park

Sheep Camp Trail (Gravel Connector between Belmont-Cañada Roads)