The Komen Walk Closes the 163 on Sunday — and There's a Flatter Route If You Need It

Overview

The 2026 Komen San Diego MORE THAN PINK Walk is this Sunday, November 1, in Balboa Park. The walk steps off at 8 a.m.

And here's the thing most people don't realise until they're standing on it: the main route goes down State Route 163.

Two and a half miles along a closed freeway, through the Cabrillo Bridge canyon, on a Sunday morning with no traffic on it. That's a rare thing to get to do in this city, and it's most of the reason the route is worth the early alarm.

But it comes with a catch, and this is the practical heart of this article.

There is a steep incline at the Quince Street exit ramp.

If that's not going to work for you — and for a lot of people at this particular event, it won't — there is an alternate 1.5-mile route through Balboa Park that avoids both the freeway and the hill.

It's published on their own site and it's barely advertised. Nobody has to choose between turning up and finishing.

The Schedule

Sunday, November 1, at Balboa Park — Sixth Avenue and El Prado:

• 6:30 a.m. — on-site registration opens, site opens
• 6:45 a.m. — Sign the Promise Flag
• 7:10 a.m. — survivors and people living with metastatic breast cancer meet at Hope Village
• 7:20 a.m. — Opening Ceremony
• 8:00 a.m. — the walk begins
• 9:45–11:00 a.m. — post-walk celebration, and a Mascot Dance Off

Survivors and people with metastatic breast cancer collect a gift bag and a 2026 Walk medal at the Hope Village tent.

The Two Routes

The main route — about 2.5 miles

• Routed along SR 163
• A steep incline at the Quince Street exit ramp

The alternate route — about 1.5 miles

• Through Balboa Park
• Avoids the freeway and avoids the incline

This is a walk, not a run — no running option is published. Pick the route that fits the morning you're going to have, and know that the shorter one exists before you arrive rather than after.

Registering

Registration is open, through their site, as an individual, by joining a team, or by starting or re-forming one.

As of now the San Diego walk has raised $471,276 against a $600,000 goal.

On fundraising: there is no stated minimum to take part. The published incentive thresholds are:

• $1,000 or more — a Top Fundraisers sponsor gift
• $2,500 or more — the Komen Legends Club

Two earlier thresholds have already closed — the $100-by-October-4 Walk T-shirt and the $4,500-by-October-12 Top Teams tent invitation. If you register this week you've missed both, which is worth knowing so it isn't a surprise.

One logistical note that trips people up: there is no packet pickup. T-shirts are mailed by USPS — nothing to collect beforehand and nothing to collect on the day. Just turn up.

How to Go

• When: Sunday, November 1, 2026. Site opens 6:30 a.m., walk begins 8 a.m.
• Where: Balboa Park — Sixth Avenue & El Prado, San Diego, CA 92103
• Distance: 2.5 miles on the main route, 1.5 miles on the park alternate
• Register: through the official MORE THAN PINK Walk page
• No packet pickup — shirts come in the post
• Survivor check-in: Hope Village, from 7:10 a.m.

Good to Know

• The 1.5-mile park route exists. If the freeway ramp is a problem, take it and don't think twice.
• Be there well before eight. Registration opens at 6:30 and the ceremony starts at 7:20.
• It's a walk. No running category is published.
• Nothing to pick up. Shirts are mailed.
• Survivors go to Hope Village at 7:10 for the gift bag and the medal.
• Parking in Balboa Park on a Sunday morning is the real constraint — the park fills up, so leave margin.
• Carlsbad's street faire is the same day, starting at 8 a.m. and running to 4 — see below.

Why It's Worth It

Walking down a closed freeway with a few thousand people is a strange and good experience, and the 163 through the Cabrillo Bridge canyon is the prettiest stretch of road in San Diego.

But the reason to be there at 6:30 in the morning is the Hope Village tent at 7:10, and the people walking out of it. Everything else about the morning is built around that.

Register, pick your route honestly, and get there early.

One more thing if you're planning the day: the walk wraps by 11 a.m. and the Carlsbad Village Street Faire runs until 4 the same afternoon. Both are doable with a drive up the 5 in between.

For more things worth doing, browse our events calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Komen San Diego walk? Sunday, November 1, 2026. The site opens at 6:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 8 a.m.

Where does it start? Balboa Park, at Sixth Avenue and El Prado, San Diego, CA 92103.

How long is the route? The main route is about 2.5 miles along SR 163. There's also an alternate route of about 1.5 miles through Balboa Park.

Is there a route without hills? Yes — the 1.5-mile Balboa Park route avoids both the freeway and the steep incline at the Quince Street exit ramp.

Is it a run or a walk? A walk. No running option is published.

How much does it cost to register? Komen doesn't publish a registration fee on its San Diego pages. Check the registration page for current amounts.

Is there a fundraising minimum? No minimum to participate is stated. Incentives begin at $1,000 for a sponsor gift and $2,500 for the Komen Legends Club.

Where do I pick up my packet? There's no packet pickup — T-shirts are mailed via USPS.

What happens at Hope Village? Survivors and people living with metastatic breast cancer meet there from 7:10 a.m. and receive a gift bag and a 2026 Walk medal.