Heteromeles arbutifolia 02.jpg
Miguel Vieira · CC BY 2.0

The Shade Tree–Treebeard, 7 sights is an 8.8-mile out-and-back in Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed near Tassajara, CA. The route passes Frog Pond, The Shade Tree and Treebeard. It climbs 1,654 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi512 – 2,074 ft · steepest grade: 21%9.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Volvon Trail 37.81848, -121.79476
Nearest town Tassajara, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Shade Tree–Treebeard, 7 sights

8.8 mi · ▲ 1,654 ft · 3 hr 46 min

Elevation 511–2,072 ft

Out & Back · Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed

Trailhead: Volvon Trail · 37.81848, -121.79476

Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 67°F / low 52° · precip 6% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 200 ftTurn right onto Condor Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miBear left onto Coyote Trail, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftPass Frog Pond.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Condor Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.3 miBear left onto Volvon Trail, heading N.
  7. 50 ftPass The Shade Tree.
  8. 0.2 miPass Treebeard.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto Hummingbird Trail, heading NW.
  10. 400 ftBear right onto Blue Oak Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left onto Miwok Trail, heading E.
  12. 1.9 miBear right onto Adobe Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.8 miSharp left onto Oak Savannah Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.7 miReach The Shade Tree, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.7 miSharp right onto Adobe Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.8 miBear left onto Miwok Trail, heading NW.
  17. 1.9 miTurn right onto Blue Oak Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.2 miBear left onto Hummingbird Trail, heading W.
  19. 400 ftTurn left onto Volvon Trail, heading SW.
  20. 0.4 miBear right onto Condor Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Coyote Trail, heading W.
  22. 50 ftBear right onto Condor Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 150 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

81% dirt19% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 67°F52°
Precip6%Wind12 mphUV7Humidity69%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:41 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:34 PM
Sat 71°51°
Sun 66°50°
Mon 80°48°
Tue 85°56°
Wed 87°60° 15%
Thu 92°66°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~30 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Volvon Trail Trailhead