The Fiske Creek Trail is one of the best undiscovered gems in Yolo County. Breathtaking views of Blue Ridge, a cool creek, and expansive glades of Blue Oak make this a pleasure to hike.
Starting from Rayhouse Road, the trail starts off fairly level, then begins to drop down to the creek. The creek is about one and a half miles from the trailhead, mostly downhill (remember that you have to climb up this hill on your way back, however!). Once you reach the creek, you never really leave it. You cross the creek at least half a dozen times, and there are plenty of opportunities to splash in the water!
It is four miles to the end of the trail at Fiske Creek Road.
From Rayhouse Road to the trailhead it’s two and a half miles (one way). The Fiske Creek Trail is another four miles (one way). The trail starts at elevation 1540 at Rayhouse Road, drops to 1200, and slowly rises to 1740 at Fiske Creek Road.
Directions:
From Yolo County, Woodland and Davis, take Highway 16 up to the Capay Valley. Once you pass the town of Rumsey, you begin to enter the Cache Creek Canyon. The road will narrow and you will be driving with the creek on one side and the canyon walls on the other. When you see the Cache Creek Regional Park sign on your left, turn into the parking area there. This is the Lower Park site, one of three that Yolo County runs as park of Cache Creek Regional Park system.
Usually you can park in the parking lot (there is a day-use fee, but it’s nominal). During the seasons when the park is closed, you can park at any number of dirt pullouts on Rayhouse Road / Road 40. Note: This road is closed to vehicle traffic while discussions over maintenance and low-water bridge issues continue. Because the road is closed, you cannot drive the two and a half miles up to the trailhead. You’ll have to walk it or go on horseback.
Walk down Rayhouse Road/Road 40, past the gate, then down to and across the low water bridge. The trailhead has a sign, and the best way to make sure you don’t miss it is to look for the rusty metal cylinder (the old Sulphur Spring) on the right-hand side of the road, at about the three mile mark. The trailhead will be on your left.