Shadow Cliffs Lake–Shadow Cliffs Beach, 3 beaches is a 3.5-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 is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi335 – 384 ft3.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 37.67071, -121.84410
Nearest town East Pleasanton, CA
Directions
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Shadow Cliffs Lake–Shadow Cliffs Beach, 3 beaches
3.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 11 min
Elevation 336–383 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 SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Lilienthal Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Shadow Cliffs Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Iron Horse Trail, heading SW.
- 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.
- 400 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
15% gravel1% paved84% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:14 AMSunset 8:14 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 7:17 PM for the 8:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
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 9.3 mi · ▲ 281 ft
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Hikes near East Pleasanton, California