Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
The Shade Tree–Black Hills Trail, 4 sights
11 mi · ▲ 3,269 ft · 5 hr 18 min
The Shade Tree–Black Hills Trail, 4 sights is an 11-mile out-and-back in Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed near Ulmar, CA. The route reaches The Shade Tree at the turnaround, 5.5 miles in. It climbs 3,269 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
The Shade Tree–Black Hills Trail, 4 sights
11 mi · ▲ 3,269 ft · 5 hr 18 min
Elevation 533–2,168 ft
Out & Back · Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Trailhead: Canada Trail · 37.80032, -121.75078
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 73°F / low 57° · precip 7% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Canada Trail, heading SW.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Whipsnake Loop, heading N.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Volvon Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Condor Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Volvon Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach The Shade Tree, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right onto Condor Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Volvon Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Whipsnake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading SE.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Canada Trail, heading SE.
- 1.7 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 4.6 mi in (~178 min). Leave by 4:16 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Canada Trail Trailhead
- Canada Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,128 ft
- Black Hills Trail–Canada Trail, 3 sights 9.9 mi · ▲ 3,186 ft
- Frog Pond–Black Hills Trail, 6 sights 12.1 mi · ▲ 3,424 ft
- Whelk Pond–Cowlick Look, 7 sights 15.4 mi · ▲ 4,294 ft
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Hikes near Ulmar, California