Pulgas Water Temple – A Charming Hidden Park

Pulgas Water Temple is a beautiful monument that leaves people in awe whenever they see it. To be honest, I came across a picture of the temple through Instagram and knew I had to visit. Just as if it was straight out of a mansion in a movie, you can see a reflection pool lined with cypress trees and a dome with marble columns.

Pulgas Water Temple is excellent for a quick stop as you travel through the Peninsula. It was built to commemorate the completion of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which supplies water to San Francisco and the Peninsula.

Visiting Pulgas Water Temple –  What to Expect

• Visiting Hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (open 7 days a week) 
• Parking Lot is closed on the weekends except for events (ie. weddings)
• There is no entry fee and parking is also free.
• Similar to the Palace of Fine Arts, there is not much to explore other than the monument itself and there are no trails for hiking.

Hetch Hetchy Water System History

To understand the importance of this monument and what it symbolizes, we’ll take a brief look at how water is supplied to San Francisco and its surrounding counties. Melting snow water from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Yosemite National Park supplies the water for San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties. The Sierra Nevada averages 400 inches of snow a winter. The melting snow water is stored in the Hetch Hetchy reservoir and flows 300+ miles to reservoirs, such as Crystal Springs Reservoir in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Getting To Pulgas Water Temple

Driving

The Pulgas water temple is a half-hour drive south of San Francisco. After you reach exit 34 on 280 South, you’ll need to continue an extra 2.5 miles to Canada Road. The entrance is not well marked and it’s easy to miss the turn in. Canada Road is a two-lane road and the entrance to Pulgas Water Temple is on the right when heading south.

Parking and Getting To Pulgas Water Temple On the Weekend

Once you get there, you will see a small parking lot with about 20 spaces that are open only during the weekdays. On the weekends, however, the park is open, but the parking lot is closed. To visit Pulgas Water Temple on the weekends, you would need to park by the entrance of Canada road. You may find this parking spot on Google Maps by searching “Canada Rd Cycling Parking Area”. From here, you would need to walk the 2.5 miles on Canada road to the Pulgas Water Temple entrance.

Getting to Pulgas Water Temple by Uber & Lyft

Taking an Uber or Lyft from San Francisco is always a great option to eliminate the stress of parking or car break-ins. Given that it is close to San Mateo, it would be easy to find a match for a ride pickup. As for leaving Pulgas, there is cellular signal even though it’s in an isolated area. One thing to consider if you’re coming from San Francisco is to take the Bart to Millbrae, or the Cal Train to Belmont.

If you can choose, Cal Train is the better option but does not come as often as Bart so be sure to check the timetable. Taking an Uber from either of these locations would be cheaper than coming all the way from San Francisco.

Things To Do At Pulgas Water Temple

Pulgas Water Temple is a popular spot for visitors. Many take the trip out there for the photo backdrop. With this being the case, you will often see many professional photographers out there, with clients having photoshoots. You usually won’t see a large crowd, so you will also have a chance to take pictures too. There is a small lawn next to the temple where you can have a nice picnic. It is a relaxing spot for individuals to enjoy and take in the beautiful view of the temple.  If you bring your own water bottle, you can experience the taste of Hetch Hetchy water using the water stations! This spot is also a hit for wedding ceremonies.

Local Tips

With an abundance of grass meadows and a scenic reflection pool, it’s a great destination for a picnic or a peaceful reading afternoon. It’s a hidden gem and many locals I know haven’t been here themselves. It’s a perfect destination if you’re looking for a quiet getaway.  

Nearby Attractions

Sawyer Camp Trail

The Sawyer Camp Trail provides a paved trail along the Crystal Springs reservoir. At 5 miles North of Pulgas, it’s a popular hiking spot for locals. While Pulgas Water Temple is open until 4, Sawyer Camp Trail is open until sunset. Check here to read more about the Sawyer Camp Trail.

Purisima Creek Redwood Preserve

Purisima Creek Redwood Preserve is right around the corner if you are looking to do a hike. There are multiple trails to choose from a .6 mile out and back to a 7-mile loop through the Redwoods.

Filoli Historic House & Garden

Right next door is the Filoli Historic House and Gardens, which is a country estate and botanical garden. https://filoli.org/visit/ Filoli charges admission from $15 for children to $25 per adult.