Pulgas Water Temple – Woodside Store (Historic Site) loop from Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
Pulgas Water Temple – Woodside Store (Historic Site) loop from Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
5.0
(4378)
6,198
riders
Pulgas Water Temple – Woodside Store (Historic Site) loop from Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
01:44
29.1km
240m
Cycling
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
Get Directions
1.48 km
Pulgas Water Temple
Highlight • Monument
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
3.15 km
Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir
Highlight • Lake
Tip by
4.98 km
View of Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir
Highlight • Lake
Tip by
16.6 km
Woodside
Highlight • Settlement
Tip by
17.0 km
Woodside Village Church
Highlight • Religious Site
Tip by
19.1 km
Woodside Store (Historic Site)
Highlight • Historical Site
Tip by
29.1 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
21.3 km
6.20 km
1.28 km
220 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
28.9 km
145 m
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Elevation
Highest point (170 m)
Lowest point (90 m)
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Today
Sunday 10 May
19°C
11°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 29.0 km/h
to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route
Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.