Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
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About The Park
A haven for swimming and fishing can be found at Shadow Cliffs, only a mile from downtown Pleasanton on Stanley Boulevard.
Shadow Cliffs, formerly a gravel quarry, was donated to the Park District by Kaiser Industries, and its assessed value of $250,000 was used to obtain a matching grant for development of the park from the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.
With this start, the Park District has developed a 266-acre park including an 80-acre lake and a four-flume waterslide, with ample parking and picnic grounds. There are facilities for persons with disabilities.
Besides the main lake, Shadow Cliffs has an arroyo with a chain of smaller lakes and ponds. No swimming or boating is allowed here; the shady areas and quiet waters make for a peaceful retreat on hot summer days.
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Park Activities
Water Slide
The Rapids Waterslide, located at Shadow Cliffs but privately owned and operated, is open on weekends in the spring and fall, and daily during the hot summer months. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall. See www.shadowcliffs.com for more information, or call (925) 829-6230.
Swimming
The swimming beach has a bathhouse and refreshment stand, open on weekends in spring and fall, and daily during summer months. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, but swimming is allowed throughout the year in the designated area, at the swimmer's own risk. For lifeguard service schedule, visit the Swim Facilities page. Beach wheelchairs, intended to provide a means for wheelchair-bound individuals to travel across the beach, are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Pets and glass containers are not allowed on the sand portion of the swim area. Swimming is not allowed in the arroyo areas.
Fishing
Trout and catfish are planted weekly at Shadow Cliffs lake, and anglers can also try for bluegill and black bass. Fishing derbies are held annually. A Park District Daily Fishing Access Permit is required to fish in the lake. For details on fishing in the Park District, see the Fishing section of this site.
Boating
Visitors may launch their own boats; size limit is 20 feet and only electric motors are allowed. No jet skis or gas engines are permitted. Boat rentals are also available. See Boating and Sailing page for more information. Please note boating is not allowed (Float Tubes allowed) in the Arroyo areas.
Picnicking
Reservable picnic areas are available. For reservations or information, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1. Please note that alcoholic beverages are not permitted at Shadow Cliffs.
Birdwatching
Numerous waterbirds may be sighted throughout the year in the more secluded back lakes area of the park.
Park Accessibility
There are wheelchair accessible parking, trails, picnic tables and restrooms in the park. Beach wheelchairs, intended to provide a means for wheelchair-bound individuals to travel across the beach, are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. They require an assistant to push and are not intended to enter the water. To arrange for use of a chair, call the main gate kiosk at (925) 846-3000. Arrangements will be made to bring the chair out to the beach. It takes approximately 15 minutes to prepare the chair. Staff will give a brief orientation to the chair and arrange a time for the chair to be returned. The bathhouse is also accessible to wheelchair users.
Trail Accessibility Reports
- Levee Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
- North Arroyo Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
To Reach The Park
From I-580 in Pleasanton: take the Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road Exit and turn south, towards Pleasanton. Continue southward on Santa Rita Road to the intersection of Santa Rita Road and Valley Avenue. Turn Left onto Valley Avenue. At the intersection of Valley Avenue and Stanley Boulevard, turn left onto Stanley Boulevard. Proceed on Stanley Boulevard to the first stop light; the park entrance is on the right.
Public Transportation:
Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority WHEELS #10 (from the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and downtown Livermore) stops at Shadow Cliffs daily. To confirm bus schedule: (925) 455-7500 or 511 (TDD/TTY 800-448-9790; website: www.transit.511.org).
Trail Map
Click the map image below to see an enlarged version.
When the enlarged version of the map opens click on the 'Full Expand' icon in the lower right hand corner of the map to see the 'Actual Size' map.
When the 'Actual Size' map is viewable, you can 'Click-Hold and Drag' the mouse button (left on a PC) to reposition the map, as desired.
'Single-Click' on the 'Enlarged' or 'Actual Size' map to return to the park page.
Park Info
- Address
- 2500 Stanley Boulevard
Pleasanton, CA 94566 - Download Brochure
- Phone Number
- (510) 544-3230
- Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4557
- Local Weather
- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Yahoo Map
- Park Hours
- Jan.: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Feb./Mar.: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
- April.: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
- May 1-Labor Day: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
- post Labor Day-Sept.: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Oct.: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Nov.: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Dec.: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Park Events
- Click here for upcoming events
- Parking Fee
- $6 per vehicle. $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
- Dog Fee
- $2 per dog. Guide/service dogs free
- Boat Launch Fee
- See the Boating/Sailing page
- Camping Reservations
- No reservable campgrounds
- Picnic Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757