Shadow Cliffs Lake–Lake Boris, 4 lakes is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area near East Pleasanton, CA. The route passes Lake Boris and Shadow Cliffs Beach before reaching Shadow Cliffs Lake at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 305 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Shadow Cliffs Lake–Lake Boris, 4 lakes
9.4 mi · ▲ 305 ft · 3 hr 17 min
Elevation 278–393 ft
Out & Back · Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
Trailhead: 37.66762, -121.84020
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:14 PM
Transit-accessible: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area stop 580 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Lake Boris.
- 50 ftPass Shadow Cliffs Beach.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Iron Horse Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Lilienthal Road, heading SE.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
- 2 miReach Shadow Cliffs Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.9 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Iron Horse Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 8:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area stop 580 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Shadow Cliffs Lake–Lake Boris, 3 lakes 2.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Lake Boris–Shadow Cliffs Beach, 3 beaches 7.4 mi · ▲ 135 ft
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