On this page
North of Woodside, Cañada Road leaves the horse farms behind and runs up a wide valley past Filoli to the shore of Crystal Springs Reservoir, with the forested ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains on the left. It is one of the prettiest roads on the Peninsula. On Sundays it gets better: San Mateo County closes 3.8 miles of it to cars for Bicycle Sunday, a tradition that turns a fast county road into a park for bikes, joggers, skaters and strollers.
This page covers two ways to ride it. Strong riders can go from Palo Alto through Woodside and back, a half-day ride. Families and newer riders can drive to the closed stretch and ride only the car-free part. For the bigger hill rides that start from Woodside, see our road cycling climbs page.
Bicycle Sunday, as the county publishes it
These details come from the San Mateo County Parks Bicycle Sunday page and its October 2026 notice:
- When: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: a 3.8-mile segment of Cañada Road along the Crystal Springs Regional Trail, between the Filoli entrance and Highway 92, is closed to vehicles. Cañada Road between Edgewood Road and the Filoli entrance stays open to cars.
- Cancellations: the county cancels Bicycle Sunday on holiday weekends because of staffing shortages. For the rest of 2026 that means November 29 (Thanksgiving weekend) and December 27 (Christmas weekend). It can also be cancelled for weather, conditions or staffing.
- Allowed: jogging, bicycling, hiking, roller skating and walking. Strollers are welcome. Ball and frisbee games are not.
- Rules: wear a helmet and protective gear, keep right, pass on the left and call out before passing. Ride single file in groups and do not speed. Large organized groups need an event permit.
The San Mateo County Parks Foundation has long helped pay for the park aides who staff the event. Peninsula Velo's Beat the Clock time trials also use Cañada Road and send part of their proceeds to Bicycle Sunday. Check the club's site for its next season.
The ride from Palo Alto at a glance
We traced the route on OpenStreetMap with a cycling router and sampled U.S. Geological Survey elevation data. The figures are estimates.
| Section | Approximate distance |
|---|---|
| Palo Alto station to Woodside via Sand Hill and Whiskey Hill roads | About 7.5 miles |
| Woodside village to the Filoli entrance on Cañada Road | About 4.5 miles |
| Car-free stretch to Highway 92 | 3.8 miles (county figure) |
| Round trip from Palo Alto station | About 32 miles, 1,500 to 1,800 feet of climbing |
| Car-free stretch only, out and back | About 7.6 miles, rolling |
Turn by turn from Palo Alto
- Palo Alto station to Sand Hill Road. Ride up Palm Drive, turn right on Arboretum Road and left on Sand Hill Road.
- Sand Hill Road west. Climb gently past Stanford Hospital, Sharon Heights and SLAC, then cross Interstate 280 at its interchange.
- Whiskey Hill Road. Near the west end of Sand Hill, turn right onto Whiskey Hill Road and follow it about 1.4 miles to Woodside Road.
- Woodside village. Follow Woodside Road a short way into the village center and turn onto Cañada Road, which heads north.
- Cañada Road north. Ride past Edgewood Road and up the valley. This section is open to cars on Sundays too.
- The closed stretch. At the Filoli entrance, the car-free section begins on Bicycle Sunday. Ride north beside Crystal Springs Reservoir to the end of the closure near Highway 92.
- Home. Turn around and ride back the same way, or return through Woodside on Woodside Road and Sand Hill.
Driving in, parking and Caltrain
If you only want the car-free part, the county says to park along Edgewood and Cañada roads or north near Highway 92. Do not use the Filoli parking lot or restrooms; the county asks visitors to leave them to the estate's guests. Parking fills on sunny Sundays, so arrive near 9 a.m.
By Caltrain, the long ride starts and ends at Palo Alto station. Electric trains have two bike cars. There is no station near Cañada Road itself.
Surface and traffic
Cañada Road is smooth and wide by local standards, with long sightlines. That is exactly why drivers go fast on it the rest of the week. On Bicycle Sunday the closed stretch is calm, but expect a mix of fast road riders, kids learning on balance bikes and skaters, all on the same road. Keep right and call out before you pass.
The open sections need more attention. Sand Hill Road carries steady traffic and fast merges at Interstate 280. Whiskey Hill Road is narrow. Cañada Road between Woodside and Filoli stays open to cars on Sundays. Drivers heading to the event also park along its edges. Watch for opening doors.
Water, restrooms and a cafe in Woodside
- Water: the county says to bring your own. There is none on the closed stretch.
- Restrooms: the county lists restrooms at Edgewood Park, about 1.2 miles away, as well as at the Pulgas Water Temple. Our Pulgas guide notes the temple has portable toilets only. Its parking lot is open only on weekdays, but you can walk or bike in on weekends.
- Coffee and breakfast: Buck's of Woodside at 3062 Woodside Road lists hours from 8 a.m. daily on its website. The Village Bakery a few doors away lists its bakery counter as open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Our Woodside food guide covers both.
Closures we checked
- Bicycle Sunday cancellations: November 29 and December 27, 2026, per the county's October 13, 2026 notice.
- Crystal Springs Regional Trail: the county listed the northern San Andreas segment as closed through November 2 for water line repairs by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. That is north of this route.
- Edgewood Park: no closures listed, but the county warns of rattlesnakes year-round and of fast cars on Edgewood Road.
- Filoli holiday lights: the estate runs its lights from November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Expect more evening traffic at the entrance on Cañada Road.
Safety
Good to know
- Helmets: the county asks every Bicycle Sunday rider to wear one. State law requires them for riders under 18.
- Three feet: on the open roads, California law requires drivers to give at least 3 feet when passing a cyclist.
- Lights: required after dark. On the ride home in winter you may need them before 5 p.m.
- Closing time: the road reopens to cars after 3 p.m. Be off the closed stretch by then.
Seasons
Bicycle Sunday runs most Sundays of the year, apart from holiday weekends and bad weather. Winter rain can cancel it. The county may call it off at short notice, so check the county page on the morning. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers along the reservoir. Summer is warm and often breezy, with fog sometimes spilling over the ridge in the afternoon. Fall is often the clearest season. For more on the area, see our Woodside and Atherton guide and our weather guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bicycle Sunday on Cañada Road?
San Mateo County Parks lists it on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The county cancels it on holiday weekends because of staffing. Its October 2026 notice named November 29 and December 27, 2026 as cancelled dates. It can also be cancelled for weather or conditions.
Which part of Cañada Road is closed to cars on Bicycle Sunday?
The county closes a 3.8-mile segment between the Filoli entrance and Highway 92 to vehicles. Cañada Road between Edgewood Road and the Filoli entrance stays open to traffic, so ride that part with care.
Where do you park for Bicycle Sunday?
The county says to park along Edgewood and Cañada roads or north at Highway 92. It asks visitors not to use the parking lot or restrooms at Filoli. Restrooms are at Edgewood Park and Pulgas Water Temple.
Is Bicycle Sunday good for kids?
Yes. With no cars on the closed stretch it is one of the best places on the Peninsula for children to ride a real road. The county welcomes strollers, joggers and skaters too, but bans ball and frisbee games. The road rolls, so small riders may want to ride part of it and turn back.
How far is Cañada Road from Palo Alto by bike?
By our estimate it is about 12 miles from Palo Alto station to the Filoli entrance by way of Sand Hill Road, Whiskey Hill Road and Woodside. Add the 3.8-mile closed stretch and the ride back and the round trip is about 32 miles with roughly 1,500 to 1,800 feet of climbing, approximate.