Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Frog Pond–Black Hills Trail, 6 sights
12.1 mi · ▲ 3,424 ft · 5 hr 45 min
Frog Pond–Black Hills Trail, 6 sights is a 12.1-mile out-and-back in Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed near Ulmar, CA. The route reaches Frog Pond at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 3,424 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Frog Pond–Black Hills Trail, 6 sights
12.1 mi · ▲ 3,424 ft · 5 hr 45 min
Elevation 533–2,168 ft
Out & Back · Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Trailhead: Canada Trail · 37.80032, -121.75078
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 74°F / low 57° · precip 7% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Canada Trail, heading SW.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Whipsnake Loop, heading N.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Volvon Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Condor Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miPass Frog Pond.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Coyote Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Condor Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Volvon Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftReach Frog Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Condor Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Coyote Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Condor Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Volvon Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Whipsnake Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading S.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Canada Trail, heading S.
- 1.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.5 mi in (~180 min). Leave by 4:14 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Canada Trail Trailhead
- Canada Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,128 ft
- Black Hills Trail–Canada Trail, 3 sights 9.9 mi · ▲ 3,186 ft
- The Shade Tree–Black Hills Trail, 4 sights 11 mi · ▲ 3,269 ft
- Whelk Pond–Cowlick Look, 7 sights 15.4 mi · ▲ 4,294 ft
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Hikes near Ulmar, California