On Sunday, September 22 a portion of Highway 84 will be closed to vehicular traffic for the Niles Canyon Stroll & Roll. This event allows pedestrians and cyclists to explore a portion of beautiful Niles Canyon that is normally off limits. Niles Canyon is located in an unincorporated area of Alameda County, between the Niles District in the City of Fremont and the Town of Sunol. The canyon's steep slopes, stunning vistas, dense vegetation, and wildlife have made it a destination for visitors for more than 100 years.

The Stroll & Roll was started in 2015 by Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty and Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle to give residents greater access to the area. Participants in the 2019 event will be able to discuss proposals for a Niles Canyon trail with staff from Alameda County and the East Bay Regional Park District. A project study completed in 2017 suggested that a 10-foot-wide paved pathway running mostly along the north side of Niles Canyon Road would be the preferred way to enhance access to the Canyon for pedestrians, bicyclists, and possibly equestrians. Proposals for a public trail through Niles Canyon are driven by the canyon's breathtaking scenery, which is accessible only via Niles Canyon Road, a winding two-lane portion of State Highway 84.

Over the years, regional planners have decreased public access to Niles Canyon from Highway 84 as awareness has grown about the need to protect the water resources of Alameda Creek. At the same time, there has been an increase in traffic along the highway. The decreased public access and growing traffic have inspired various groups to advocate for expanded public access to Niles Canyon for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians.

"Bicyclists have repeatedly called for a trail due to safety concerns related to sharing the narrow roadway-which includes no shoulder space in some sections-with automobiles," according to the Office of Supervisor Haggerty. "Recreation enthusiasts point out that hiking access to the Canyon is limited and that a trail would provide a vital link between trail networks in the Tri-Valley and Alameda County's bay-front corridor. An in-depth environmental review of the trail proposal is now being planned, with the study expected to begin early next year."

The 2019 Niles Canyon Stroll & Roll is another opportunity for people to bike and walk safely through the scenic and historic canyon with their friends and family. The road will be closed to all vehicles starting at 7 AM, when cyclists are invited to explore Niles Canyon with fellow cyclists only until 8 AM. All other visitors are welcome to attend the event between 8 AM and 2 PM. Free parking will be available to participants.

According to the Project Study Report, trains operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad brought residents of San Francisco and Oakland to recreational destinations within the Canyon in the early part of the twentieth century. Niles Canyon is not only beautiful but also has a fascinating history. "Niles Canyon is the setting for several films produced in the early twentieth century," the report notes. "In 1912, George Spoor and Gilbert 'Bronco Bill' Anderson established the Essanay Film Company in Niles. While many of the films were western themed, in 1915, Essanay hired Charlie Chaplin, a popular comedic actor of the time. Chaplin shot the movie, The Tramp in the canyon using various locations including the hobo camp at Farwell."

For more information about the Niles Canyon Stroll & Roll and to see road closure points, please visit www.84strollroll.com.