Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area

2500 Stanley Boulevard, Pleasanton, California 94566, United States

 

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area is a regional park bordering Pleasanton, California, and Livermore, California, part of the Stanley Blvd East Bay Regional Parks (EBRP) system. The lake was once a gravel pit, but then it included a sandy beach with swimming, water slides and supports fishing and recreational boating. The water slides have now been removed and are now planned to be replaced by the Interpretive Center. The park is also a popular picnic area.

 

Shadow Cliffs, a former gravel quarry, was donated to EBRP by Kaiser Industries, formerly the quarry operator, and opened as a park in 1971. The U.S. Office of Outdoor Recreation granted a grant of $250,000 for the development of park facilities. Thus financed, the EBRPD has developed a park of 266 acres (1,080,000 m2), comprising 80 acres (320,000 m2) of lake, picnic facilities and a large parking lot.

 

 

Park Activities

 

Swimming

The swimming beach has a bathhouse and a refreshment stand, open during the spring and fall weekends and during the summer months on a daily basis. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, but swimming is permitted throughout the year in the designated area at the risk of the swimmer. Visit the Swim Facilities page for the lifeguard service schedule. Beach wheelchairs, designed to provide a means for wheelchair users 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 of the swimming area. Swimming is not permitted in the arroyo areas.

 

Fishing

Trout and catfish are planted weekly at Shadow Cliffs Lake, and anglers can also try bluegill and black bass. Fishing derbies are held every year. Park District Daily Fishing Access Permit is required for fishing in the lake.

Boating

Visitors may launch their own boats; the maximum size is 17 feet and only electric motors are allowed. No jet skis or gas engines are allowed. There are also boat rentals available.

 

Birdwatching

Numerous waterbirds can be seen throughout the year in the more isolated back lake area of the park.

 

Park Accessibility

Shadow Cliffs offers wheelchair accessible parking, trails, picnic tables and toilets. A wheelchair accessible fishing pier is located near the launch of the boat and can be reached by a paved trail. The bathhouse is also accessible for wheelchair users.

 

Beach wheelchairs, designed to provide a means for wheelchair users to travel across the beach, are available free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. They require an assistant to push, and they are not intended to enter the water. To arrange for a chair to be used, call Shadow Cliffs Lifeguards at (925) 484-1986. The staff member will bring the chair to the beach. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare the chair. Staff will give a brief orientation to the chair and arrange for the chair to be returned.

 

To Reach The Park

From I-580 in Pleasanton: take the Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road Exit and turn south to Pleasanton. Continue south on Santa Rita Road to the intersection of Santa Rita Road and Valley Avenue. Take a left onto Valley Avenue. At the junction of Valley Avenue and Stanley Boulevard, turn left onto Stanley Boulevard. Follow Stanley Boulevard to the first light stop; the park entrance is on the right.