Shady Rock–Platypus, 9 rocks is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Sanborn County Park near Saratoga, CA. The route passes Lake Ranch Reservoir, Lyme Disease Rock, Parking Lot Rock and 2 more before reaching Shady Rock at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 2,981 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,450 – 3,153 ft · steepest grade: 22%15.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Ambrose Road 37.22160, -122.04738
Nearest town Saratoga, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Shady Rock–Platypus, 9 rocks
15.1 mi · ▲ 2,981 ft · 6 hr 31 min
Elevation 1,451–3,154 ft
Out & Back · Sanborn County Park
Trailhead: Ambrose Road · 37.22160, -122.04738
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 93°F / low 72° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Ambrose Road, heading W.
- 1 miPass Lake Ranch Reservoir.
- 100 ftBear right onto John Nicholas Trail, heading W.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Skyline Trail, heading NW.
- 2.2 miPass Lyme Disease Rock.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Castle Rock Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miPass Parking Lot Rock.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Chew Tooth.
- 50 ftPass Platypus.
- 450 ftReach Shady Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto Castle Rock Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Skyline Trail, heading S.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto John Nicholas Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 1.8 miBear left onto Lake Ranch Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 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
54% dirt46% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 93°F72°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity45%
Hourly temperature
95°70°
Sunrise 6:15 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue
89°70°
Wed
90°53°
Thu
101°51°
Fri
102°58°
Sat
103°60°
Sun
100°51°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.3 mi in (~209 min). Leave by 4:26 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Ambrose Road Trailhead
- Lake Ranch Reservoir & Ambrose Road via John Nicholas Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 514 ft
- Castle Rock–Balancing Rock, 7 sights 11.8 mi · ▲ 2,353 ft
- Castle Rock Falls–Saratoga Gap Viewpoint, 8 sights 13.2 mi · ▲ 2,850 ft
- Parking Lot Rock–Lyme Disease Rock, 8 sights 14.1 mi · ▲ 2,912 ft
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