Alpine Lake–Bon Tempe Lake, 11 sights is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Fairfax, CA. The route passes Alpine Lake, Bon Tempe Lake and Lake Lagunitas. It climbs 2,002 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi197 – 1,070 ft · steepest grade: 18%13.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Bon Tempe Dam Road 37.95929, -122.60997
Nearest town Fairfax, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Alpine Lake–Bon Tempe Lake, 11 sights
12.9 mi · ▲ 2,002 ft · 5 hr 18 min
Elevation 199–1,070 ft
Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed
Trailhead: Bon Tempe Dam Road · 37.95929, -122.60997
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 90°F / low 59° · precip 0% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:19 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Bon Tempe Dam Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miPass Alpine Lake.
- 50 ftPass Bon Tempe Lake.
- 100 ftBear left onto Shadyside Trail, heading S.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Lagunitas-Rock Spring Fire Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miPass Lake Lagunitas.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Filter Plant Road, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftBear left onto Bald Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miReach Alpine Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading S.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Filter Plant Road, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Lagunitas-Rock Spring Fire Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Shadyside Trail, heading SW.
- 1.4 miBear right onto Bon Tempe Dam Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
43% dirt57% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 90°F59°
Precip0%Wind12 mphUV8Humidity51%
Hourly temperature
90°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:19 PM
Tue
80°59°
Wed
80°54°
Thu
93°53°
Fri
98°54°
Sat
99°51°
Sun
93°52°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~75 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 8:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Bon Tempe Dam Road Trailhead
- Colier Spring–Alpine Lake, 9 sights 7.7 mi · ▲ 1,440 ft
- Helen Markt Falls–Alpine Lake, 7 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,933 ft
- Serpentine Point–Alpine Lake, 8 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,044 ft
- Mount Tamalpais East Peak–Colier Spring, 11 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 2,299 ft
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