The Frog Pond Trail hike takes you through oak woodlands to a small pond where you’ll find some very large frogs living in and around its shores. The five-mile route lassos around to form a nice partial loop, giving you views of Cortina Ridge, Glascock Mountain, and the blue oak woodlands that blanket the area. It’s one of the better short hikes in the region, and if you arrive on a hot day in early summer, the pond itself is actually swimmable.

Getting there requires some navigation. From Woodland or Davis, take Highway 16 up the Capay Valley past Rumsey, where the road narrows as it enters Cache Creek Canyon with the creek on one side and canyon walls on the other. Watch for the sign for Cache Creek Regional Park, Lower Site, on your left and turn into that parking area.

From the Lower Site, locate Rayhouse Road (also called Road 40). You can’t drive it currently for safety reasons, so you’ll hike, bike, or ride horseback up the road past the gate and down to a low-water bridge. Cross the bridge and continue following the road until you spot a stone house and barn. The Frog Pond trailhead sits about a tenth of a mile beyond the stone house and is marked with a sign.

The hike itself is straightforward once you find the trailhead. The oak woodland scenery is genuinely nice, and the pond is a legitimate destination rather than just a puddle. In spring and early summer, the area comes alive with wildlife sounds. Dogs on leash are welcome, and the usual rules about cleaning up after your dog apply. The trek in on Rayhouse Road means you won’t encounter crowds here like you would at more popular regional trails.