AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Mt. Tamalpais's eastern peak from the Bon Tempe Lake dam. - panoramio.jpg
Richard Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Alpine Lake–Bon Tempe Lake, 11 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 2,002 ft · 5 hr 18 min

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
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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 Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bon Tempe Dam Road, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miPass Alpine Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Bon Tempe Lake.
  4. 100 ftBear left onto Shadyside Trail, heading S.
  5. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Lagunitas-Rock Spring Fire Road, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miPass Lake Lagunitas.
  7. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.8 miTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  12. 1.3 miTurn right onto Filter Plant Road, heading N.
  13. 150 ftContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SW.
  14. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading W.
  15. 0.4 miBear right onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading NW.
  16. 100 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  17. 0.4 miBear right onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading NE.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 450 ftBear left onto Bald Hill Trail, heading NE.
  21. 0.3 miReach Alpine Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 450 ftTurn left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SE.
  24. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading S.
  25. 150 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading S.
  26. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading S.
  27. 100 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SW.
  28. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  29. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Filter Plant Road, heading SE.
  30. 150 ftTurn left onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  31. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading N.
  32. 0.2 miTurn left onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading SW.
  33. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading NW.
  34. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  35. 0.2 miTurn right onto Lagunitas-Rock Spring Fire Road, heading W.
  36. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Shadyside Trail, heading SW.
  37. 1.4 miBear right onto Bon Tempe Dam Road, heading NE.
  38. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/alpine-lake-bon-tempe-lake-out-back-4-lakes-23-km

Trail surface

43% dirt57% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:12 PM

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

Hikes near Fairfax, California