Frog Pond Wetland Preserve

Frog Pond Wetland Preserve is a 17-acre protected parcel that is what remains of what was once a much larger wetland ecosystem. The signed trailhead is located on Canyon Del Rey Road (Hwy 218) across from Via Verde, with limited parking along the shoulder. 

The trail features 3 footbridges and a boardwalk over the wetter areas, and makes a loop around the perimeter of the preserve, circling very close to Frog Pond itself. An observation platform and benches on the pond offer a quiet, peaceful place to watch for the resident and migratory wildlife at the preserve. These can include the tiny tree frog, deer, hummingbirds and many other bird species, and lizards. The best time to spy denizens of the preserve are in the early morning and toward dusk. 

This is also the habitat for wildflowers like the Big Leaf Periwinkle, and part of the trail passes through a shady woodland populated by Coastal Live Oak, Arroyo Willow and Monterey Pine, along with sage shrubs and mushrooms. 

Dogs on leash are welcome here, but there are no amenities like water, waste bags or receptacles, so be sure to carry in everything you need, and carry out all you bring in. The observation platform is a fine place to enjoy a snack or lunch with your furry friend, but please refrain from feeding the birds or other wildlife, which can upset the ecosystem's delicate balance. 

A gentle walk around the pond and through the grassland surrounding it is an excellent way to exercise your fur-pup and end a busy workday, or begin a weekend morning. This trail is popular with the humans living nearby and is open only to pedestrians, so you're likely to encounter other walkers and their pooches. Please be respectful of their right to be on the trail, too.

The Monterey area is packed with natural resources competing for your time, but a walk with your pooch at Frog Pond Preserve offers a special kind of appreciation for the fragile wetland environment and the flora and fauna that rely upon it.