Shadow Cliffs Lake–Shadow Cliffs Beach, 3 beaches is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area near East Pleasanton, CA. The route passes Shadow Cliffs Lake and Shadow Cliffs Beach. It climbs 281 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi279 – 394 ft9.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 37.67071, -121.84410
Nearest town East Pleasanton, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Shadow Cliffs Lake–Shadow Cliffs Beach, 3 beaches
9.3 mi · ▲ 281 ft · 3 hr 14 min
Elevation 278–393 ft
Out & Back · Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
Trailhead: 37.67071, -121.84410
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:14 PM
Transit-accessible: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area stop 114 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Shadow Cliffs Lake.
- 50 ftPass Shadow Cliffs Beach.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 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.
- 350 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 350 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
6% gravel94% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:14 AMSunset 8:14 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 8:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area stop 114 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Shadow Cliffs Beach & Lilienthal Road via Iron Horse Trail 3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Shadow Cliffs Lake–Shadow Cliffs Beach, 3 beaches 3.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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