San Jose - Mission Art Portals: eBike Tour with SA River Foundation

Dates & Times:

• October 4, November 20 • 8:30 AM–11:30 AM

Meeting Point: Mission San Jose —

Capacity: 10 adults (18+) • Free • E‑bikes provided by reservation. Registration closes the day before— but will likely fill up fast. Waitlist available. If you cancel, please email us at least 2 days in advance.

Mission Art Portal Bike Tour: Mission San Jose Loop

Meeting Location: Mission San Jose, 6701 San Jose Dr.

The Mission Art Portal Bike Tour, presented by the San Antonio River Foundation, is split into two unforgettable routes—because there's just too much beauty, history, and art to cover in one morning. Choose the loop that fits your adventure, or ride both! We alternate routes each month, and each ride begins at the designated BCycle station with expert guide Theresa Scheets leading the way.

Ready to ride through 300+ years of history? The Mission San Jose Loop takes you to the only functioning colonial aqueduct in the U.S., a UNESCO World Heritage site, and stunning public art that marks the intersection of culture, ecology, and design.

Beginning at Mission San Jose, this guided bike tour takes you along the southern half of San Antonio’s Mission Reach, a feat of ecological restoration and cultural reconnection that has garnered national attention as the largest urban river restoration project in the country. This isn’t just a bike path—it’s a living corridor that links centuries of indigenous movement, colonial history, and contemporary art.

Led by expert guide Theresa Scheets, whose deep knowledge of the missions breathes life into every stop, this ride is designed to spark reflection as much as admiration. You'll ride past soaring native grasses and restored wetlands, following the river as it curves toward Mission Espada, where you’ll pause to view the Espada Aqueduct—a 300-year-old engineering marvel and the only Spanish colonial aqueduct still in operation in the United States.

But the highlights don’t end there. Scattered throughout the landscape are public artworks that connect you to the land in unexpected ways—from monumental sculptural “portals” that realign our sense of place, to art benches by local San Antonio artists that provide rest, beauty, and reflection.

Come ride with us. Be part of the story.

Already rode the Mission San Juan Loop? Don’t miss the Confluence Park Loop! This northern route starts at the award-winning Confluence Park and highlights river engineering, striking architecture, and art portals that connect the Missions to downtown.

Register for the Confluence Park Loop here:

Route & Highlights:

• Begin and end at Mission San Jose Bcycle eBike Station.

• Bike the southern half of the Mission Reach.

• Visit Mission Espada and see the Espada Aqueduct, built between 1731–1745

• View other public artworks—portals and benches—linking the Mission’s human and ecological stories.

• Alongside art, learn about the tortilla legacy, mission agriculture, and applied engineering.

What You’ll Learn:

• About the San Antonio River Foundation's four pillars: Culture, Ecology, Education & Recreation.

• The enduring legacy of Spanish missions—architectural, cultural, ecological.

• Insights from the 300-year-old irrigation canal still serving farmland today

• The story of the 300-year-old Espada Aqueduct, still functioning today.

• How the Mission Reach became the largest urban river restoration project in the U.S.

• The significance of public art portals that connect the river to historic mission sites.

• The restoration of native landscapes creating vibrant wildlife corridors.

• Insights into nationally important ecological, historical, and artistic features found right here in San Antonio.

• Expert stories and tips from guide Theresa Sheetz, shared via your personal earpiece.

• How easy and fun it is to ride an e-bike with SA BCycle—no account needed!

What to Bring

• Sunscreen

• Bring water

• Light snacks if desired

• Weather appropriate layers

Registration required.

Waitlist available if full.

Please email if plans change at least 48 hours ahead.

Look out for our event reminder email and an email the night before if the weather looks like we might need to cancel.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher San Antonio River Foundation