Picturesque and breathtaking views of Pulgas water temple.I was visited this place on July/5/20.There are few different ways to get in to the Pulgas Water Temple.Driving,hiking and biking.But the parking lot is closing right now because COVID-19.Hiking in was my way.It is not difficult, it is a little over 2.5 miles each way from the parking lot of Crystal Spring trail head,or you can find parking in the side road. That would be the best if it is too hot outside.In this place beside the pretty of Pulgas Water Temple, I can learned about Hetch Hetchy.The history of Crystal Spring water.It is so peaceful, very good place for walking, picnic, reading....I definitely will come back with my daughters next time.

Cool place to visit but local government has closed the gate so no vehicle access.. Its turned into a parking trap where sheriff office patrols veraciously for citation revenue.I and my girlfriend got cited today for stopping by for less than 10 minutes. We also witnessed other visitors getting into confrontation with the ticketing officer, who parked right across the road in the shade. A gross waste of police resources and harassment to people who just want to stop and visit...

What a cool place to visit. This location is fairly easy to find. It has a pretty small parking lot for about 20-30 cars. There is a short walkway from the parking lot to the field, pool and “temple”. There is a large open field with a shallow reflecting pool lined by trees. At one end is a short wide pedestal to look down the pool and to the large structure at the other end. The large structure was built to commemorate where the waters lead down into the San Francisco and Bay area. It is a very neat hidden gem of a park for the area. Very Peaceful.

This place is like a little fairy land with the trees and scenery. The water temple is breathtaking. I have been visiting this place for years and it is always fun to share with others!! Would make a beautiful wedding setting!

The temple itself is quite beautiful but that is all theres to it. If youre in town definitely drop by to check it out and snap a few photos but I personally think its not worth it if youre coming here just to see the temple. There really isnt much to do or to see around the area. The temple is also a bit smaller than expected. Dont get your hopes up then maybe youll enjoy it more.

What a wild and beautiful spot, I came upon this place by accident. There is a very tasty drinking fountain with clean fresh water as well as the insanely gorgeous temple and well. I was really blown away by the magnitude of the structure. I would love to visit the reservoir up the mountain

A peaceful green space with a rectangular water pool (no wading allowed) ensconced by sky-reaching cypresses. This temple has some deep tree shade off to the sides (the cypress shade can be cool and lovely but one may be in the way of picture-takers if present). During a weekday afternoon there were plenty of parking spots but it’s good to know the gates close at 3:30 and parking is limited to 30 minutes.

Amazing scene with some nice history. It isnt too difficult to get to even with midday traffic. Very peaceful and such a wonderful place to explore. Not full of ridiculous puzzles or rooms where you have to fight off your shadow.

This a beautiful location. The history of being the beginning of a water shed for much of the Bay Area is amazing. And- there was a beautiful pool below the temple itself.Nice place to picnic. Also, though the parking lot ws closed on weekends, there is a pedestrian gate on the left side open for visitors to wander about.Definitely worth the visit! Next time I swing by I will bring a picnic.

This is definitely a nice stop if youre in the area. It has a bit of history and some information placards around the temple. The grounds are very well kept and has some really inviting grass to lie on after a long ride. I stopped by on a bikepacking trip and refilled all my water bottles.

Nice little stop if you happen to be in the area, for example while biking through Cañada road in Redwood City. Can be difficult finding the right time to visit since they are mostly opened during business hours. Otherwise there is a nice water temple with a great scenery.

This was a cool little stop but I dont think it is worth the trip if you are only visiting the water temple. I would recommend pairing this visit with a trip to Filoli. Dont visit on Sundays as the roadway access is usually closed for Bicycle Sundays. Parking is limited. This place is fairly wheelchair accessible, the ground does get soft after rain however.

This place never disappoints for a quick stop when in the area. Just as beautiful as my partner remembers from when he was just a kid and came here with his family. Parking is for only a half hour, so bust out the camera, take some pics, fill a water bottle or two and be on your way.

Parking is free - for 30 minutes. Your visit probably wont take that long. Very scenic, depending on when you get there you can make the most of photo opportunities.

Great place for a stop on the way to somewhere to refill water bottles.

Interesting. The trees need trimming, made it harder to get really good photos. There are a lot of displays which explain the history of this monument. Keep in mind, it is porta potties that they have for the general public

Beautiful location. Over 20 years in SF and never heard of this place. It’s gorgeous and peaceful here.

The Pulgas Water Temple its truly beautiful. Its peaceful and lovely. When I went there wasnt a lot of people there and the parking lot wasnt full. There is a 30 minute time limit in the parking lot, but its a short walk to see it. There are plaques with historical information about this site and a water fountain with a water bottle fill station. Its a great destination to bike to and a great place to relax. The well has a grate in it to prevent people from dropping stuff in it so it makes it a little hard to see the water, but you can see the aqueduct really well.

I photographed at wedding at Pulgas Water Temple and it was absolutely beautiful! All the guests & the bride and groom loved the venue :)

The water heater comes from the hetch hetchy water system owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. You can fill your water bottle whats the best tasting water ever.

Such a beautiful place, relaxing, great for wedding of special event photography.

A relatively small monument given how important this feat of engineering is to the entire Bay Area. Nice lawn to relax and stretch after a ride or run on Cañada road.

Great spot for pre or post wedding pictures.

Small trail. Good for picnic

The small and nice place to visit and spend a day. The amazing water view and wonderful area . I went with my friends and spend a hour there it was a well spend day for me . i cant wait to go again . It is in nice and quiet area and nice temple architecture in long time ago . Great place to stop and relax. Wish we would have planned a bit better to have brought lunch to sit and relax around the stairs or grass area.Highly recommended .

Less crowded. Nice architecture. Great for photoshoot!!!

Great place for photos & a water break.

Interesting monument to the Hetch Hetchy water going into the Crystal Springs reservoir that supplies San Francisco.

Really nice, would recommend. it can be busy with instagram influencers. but its beautiful.

It’s pretty, but some trees seem to losing their shape... but still, a fantastic place.

A beautiful, serene and well-kept park and surroundings. Visited weekday at noon few people, good place for a picnic in the grounds. Markers are very informative. Highly recommended to visit might see some wildlife too

Peaceful, historical, pastoral all at once. Worth a brief trip.

Great place to enjoy a family outing where you can enjoy a super short walk, or a long bike ride. Bring a camera!

Perfect pit stop during a bike ride.

An amazing place, beautiful and serene. It is an amazing place for a wedding or just a nice romantic stroll. The parking lot is often closed and locked, but you can park on Canada road and walk in (or better yet, ride your bike there on Bike Sunday.) It has the freshest, best water (and its free) that you can get. And restrooms. But go there for the views and atmosphere.

Brings back a lot of memories. We used to party here in high school and hold 1/4 mile drag races at night back in the 70s.Too bad you can no longer park here. P.S the grate over the incoming water under the temple was added later after some knuckle-heads drowned after jumping in and getting launched out the tube towards the reservoir.

Surprising historical spot. Stop by if you pass by during open hours (sometimes only until 3:30 pm).

Serenity - gorgeous hidden gem

Peaceful surroundings as you learn about the trials that led to the Hetch Hetchy Project that carries water via an aqueduct from over 160 miles away. Beautiful!

Its really gorgeous! Wish they were open on the weekend

This is a beautiful space and monument for the achievements of the engineering in Californias past. This seems to be a very popular place for those around the area, especially for portrait photographers. Its also a nice pitstop for those biking cañada during the weekdays. Stop by if youre in the area.

Short stroll to a very quiet, peaceful historic site. The downside is the 30 minute time limit for parking.

Very nice stop on a weekend bike ride to fill your water bottle and relax for a few minutes. The pedestrian/bicycle gate is open during daylight hours even if Google says its closed.

Beautiful Temple and grounds. Closed on weekends but a perfect stop those days for a bike ride on Cañada Road. Even has Porta potties available

Staycation: beautiful surroundings in Redwood City and Woodside Area. On Sunday’s, Canada Road is closed to automobiles and open to avid walkers, cycling and rollerblading. The Pulgas Water Temple is a beautiful place to relax, picnic and take selfies!

Great place to stop when biking along Cañada road. Well shaded, water fountain to refill your bottles and nice scenery to enjoy.

Lived in San Mateo my whole life and never knew this was here. Great place to take a picnic and relax

Interesting historical landmark celebrating the provision of water to the Bay Area via Hetch Hetchy reservoir. Beautiful setting and an ideal spot for photography. Some informational signage posted around the pathways provides helpful historical background and supplementary facts about local flora and fauna. There are no hiking trails connected to this site, and parking is limited to 30 minutes, but in slow seasons this is not as strictly enforced.

Lovely place to hang out, takes approximately 30 minutes and is only open on weekdays till 3.30pm. Great pictures on a clear sunny day. Thought we’d be the only ones there, but instead found quite a few people and a wedding party taking pictures. The temple structure is nice.

Gorgeous! Such beautiful views. The perfect place to take pictures or sit on the grass and relax.

Very simple yet beautiful scene!

Beautiful spot with lots of awesome nature shots to me taken! Bring a camera!

A super fantastic place that you definitely need to come! Its a little paradise :) Remember that it doesnt open on weekends and close early on weekdays.

Cool little park with a nice monument

Great pit stop!

I love this area! Good place for picnic and hiking.

Such a lovely, well-kept park. Lots of open space and beautiful scenery.

This is a really pretty spot to check out... Kinda feels like a slice of Greece.

Cool spot for history, and serene for chillin on a nice day. Hard to find open times, only during work hours.

This is one of the great magical experiences of the bay area. Virtually unknown to the residents of the Bay Area, the Pulgas Water Temple marks an artery, pumping vital life sustaining fluid the inhabitants.Closed on weekends, only open 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday

A tranquil spot off the highway. The grounds are big enough for a short stroll, but you probably won’t need more than the parking max of 30 minutes to explore and take pictures. Only open on weekdays so plan accordingly.

Used to stop in here on the way home from San Jose every weekend as a kid. That was before 280 was built. Was a real treat, btw, dont remember that cover over the water....huuum? Just the force of the watching the water in the middle well area was facinating. Never forgot it

My son had his wedding here and it couldnt have been more perfect. There were small planes flying over that distracted from the ceremony, though. But everything else was idyllic. Beautiful setting!

Picture perfect place, great for a picnic or a quick walk around after visiting Filoli Garden.

Unexpected side of the road monument very close to Filoli (whats that people asked?) A long walk when the Cañada road is closed on Sundays 9-3pm

Nice place for a short term visit as the parking limit is only 30 minutes. It was good enough for our takeaway picknick.Please LIKE if this review was helpful for you.

Its a really nice peaceful place.There was not a lot of people.

A great place to come and find peace and serenity.

Beautiful place to stop during your bike ride. You can fill up with delicious water at the water fountain too.Appropriate for anyone looking for a pleasant time.

Beautiful place to visit. Free. Good place for a picnic. Parking lot, portable toilets. Good fresh water

This place is a must see, when visiting the peninsula. Its what my dad calls, Gods country. One of the most beautiful parts of the entire Bay Area, by far... Definitely check it out

It has a certain type of energy around it and its great for a date

Top 10 must visit on the SF Peninsula. A beautiful tribute to the area from the water district and the City of SF. The area is a testimony to the beauty of our creator. This Temple design is a photographers dream. I love the outdoor educational panels of the protective natural plants and animals. The pool as a prelude to the temple is such a great design. Be careful and watchful for all the bicyclists on Canada Rd.

Was here for a wedding, was a beautiful location. Got sunny and a bit hot. The programs had handles so they doubled as fans and it worked out well.

A hidden gem of Silicon Valley - stop for a moment and enjoy it

Beautiful neoclassical temple to a great public works project!

Check the hours before going! Even if you only have 29 minutes its worth the stop. I could spend hours here relaxing. Hard ro describe, its a must-see away from the hubbub.

Quiet retrospective place. Interesting to see the source of water and learn the history. Good place for a picnic or break from cycling.

Beautiful area. Very peaceful. Learning about Bay Area water resources.

My husband and I went here for photos after our wedding at City Hall. The place was perfect! We could not be happier with how the pictures turned out. We went at 3:30 on a Wednesday so no one was around and we had the whole place to ourselves. The only downside was that the park closes at 4:00 so we had to get the shots and leave quickly.

Calming, relaxing, uncrowded, beautiful and inspirational. Bathrooms are outhouses. Good clean water available if you bring a container. (CLOSED during pandemic)

Beautiful hidden gem near San Mateo/Redwood City

Great place for a quick visit during week days!

I wouldnt go out of my way to visit, but if youre in the area then its definitely worth a quick visit -- perhaps on a trip to Filoli (stop at the Temple first), or bike ride, or on your way to or from one of the nearby hiking trails. A pleasant, peaceful setting with a bit of Bay Area water history. The water doesnt flow through here like it used to, but theres a reflecting pool, some walking paths, and of course the temple. Parking is limited to 30 mins, and thats about all youll need. Theres drinking water and some portable toilets, but no other infrastructure. Accessible (some assistance would be helpful), family-friendly, no dogs. The parking lot is closed on weekends, but theres a pedestrian gate thats open.

Beautiful and so peaceful! Save 15 to 30 minutes to see this. Parking is only open on weekdays.

Beautiful setting. Happened to go there because Filoli was closed. Who knew we had such a lovely site so close to San Francisco?

Pretty spot.

The water used to run through the Temple with a clear view of the flow.Now, thanks to some nanny-state functionary in the Water Dept., the main pipe and 5 foot waterfall was rerouted 50 feet away behind a fence.Pointless.

A must stop on the way to Filoli! You get to learn where most of San Francisco gets its water from. Bring extra empty water bottles!

Nice stop during our bike ride on Canada road, not a major attraction, but worth a look.

Great place to fill your water bottle when road cycling. The water quality is above state and national tap water standards!

A hidden gem of the bay area. Not very many people outside the immediate radius know about this place. The area is well kept. Great for pictures ! Not a place for long distance hiking for it is only the main temple and a plot of grass. Be sure to bring a water bottal to fill up for the tap ! Closes promptly at 4:30pm and be careful as many people miss the entrance because its hidden by the bushes.

What a treasure. I never knew this was here.

A tranquil, historical spot.

This was a beautiful site to see. The Park Ranger was kind enough to give us 20 minutes before a wedding started their setup since we were from out of town. Absolutely gorgeous

Nice quick stop, the signs say parking is 30 minutes only? Not sure why...

This is a small japanese garden but it feels refreshing though. Walking in the garden is nice and when i visited (december 2018), it was not crowded. The tributes to japanese culture help understand what is so special about maintaining a good garden. I grew up coming here and now love to take my own children. I never tire of the stone paths, coi fish, the teahouse. The gorgeous plants and flowers and of course the arched bridge.But, more importantly, it was the site of many a teenagers quest for submarine races, back in the day....or so I have been told. Nowadays, the gates close at 4:00 pm and it remains a beautiful, peaceful monument surrounded by green lawn and a reflecting pool.

This is an incredible little place when I showed up they had photographers taking pictures of models on the actual columns that were there it was kind of strange so I never got to walk right up to the columns but I may go back because this is a very beautiful spot some people are having lunch at one end of the pool its not a pool that you can swim in or at least they dont want you to I almost slipped and fell in its only a couple of feet deep! This is a very difficult spot to find if youre not looking at a map on Google because its not really advertised at all, but there is a nice parking lot, they have some porta potties that were clean and it would be a good spot if you lived in the city to go unwind I dont live in the city I live in the Santa Cruz mountains but I love cruising around and checking out spots Ive never been to in all the years Ive been here. The sign says you can only Park here for 20 minutes but Ive been back here several times now and nobody ever checks that Ive seen but the sign does say 20 minutes only.

Beautiful place to take pictures!!

Nice quiet and serene area. Good place to just sit and rest. Manyb cyclists come here to rest, refill their water bottles, and to use the porto potty