California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Shadow Lake

Shadow LakePhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
4.0 mi
round trip
488 ft
climb
7,561 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Shadow Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Shadow Lake is a moderate hike in the Pacific Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The route is about 4 miles long, with a one-way gain of roughly 490 feet, and it follows a natural-surface trail that also allows horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tahoma put July highs around 77°F with lows near 46°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the lake run cooler. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 37°F. Red Peak (15E08.2) lies about a mile away, and the Loon Lake Trail is about 1.8 miles off. Loon Lake Campground and the paddling on the Rubicon River are both within about 2.5 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Loon Lake Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 2.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Chambers Landing Bar and Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 11 mi
  • If it rains

    Baldwin Home

    Museum

    Museum · 13 mi from Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Shadow Lake

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 22°

    2. Feb

      38° / 22°

    3. Mar

      43° / 25°

    4. Apr

      49° / 27°

    5. May

      58° / 34°

    6. Jun

      69° / 40°

    7. Jul

      77° / 46°

    8. Aug

      76° / 46°

    9. Sep

      69° / 41°

    10. Oct

      58° / 34°

    11. Nov

      44° / 27°

    12. Dec

      38° / 21°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 11.2 mi away at 6,315 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

      Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service

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Red PeakPhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lawrence LakePhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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