History
Niles Canyon is located in an unincorporated area of Alameda County lying between the Niles District in the City of Fremont and the Town of Sunol. Formed by Alameda Creek, the Canyon’s steep slopes, stunning vistas, dense vegetation, and wildlife have made it a destination for visitors for more than 100 years.
With an increased awareness in protecting water resources of Alameda Creek, regional planners have decreased public access to the Canyon from Highway 84. This coupled with an increase in traffic along the highway sparked interest from groups to advocate for expanded access for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians within the Canyon.
Spearheaded by former Alameda County District 1 Supervisor Scott Haggerty and the late District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle, the Niles Canyon Trail is a long-term initiative that is exploring options to create a class 1 trail through the canyon. The initiative as well as the Stroll & Roll event is continued on by current Supervisors David Haubert of District 1, and Elisa Márquez of District 2.
In 2015, a community event "in the field" was organized in order to give community members an opportunity to provide input on the trail studies that have been conducted. On Sunday, October 11, 2015 thousands of people participated in the first ever Niles Canyon Stroll & Roll and had an opportunity to walk and bike through Niles Canyon without any vehicular traffic.