I’d seen all the dreamy pictures: turquoise lakes, dramatic red cliffs, and panoramic views that some people even liken to Jiuzhaigou in China. So naturally, when I was in Penang, I decided to hike Frog Hill — a (very) hidden gem in mainland Penang that’s been quietly gaining attention among adventurous types and Instagrammers.
So, I went. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out the way I hoped.
I got lost. I followed Google Maps, wandered along a bumpy dirt road, sweated under the afternoon sun, and eventually climbed… a hill. Not the hill (I guess?). I stood there, surrounded by ponds and scrubby brush, trying to convince myself that maybe this was it.
I’ll tell you what happened, but let’s start from the beginning.
Quick Info
Location: Kampung Guar Petai, Tasek Gelugor, Penang
Drive from George Town: ~40 minutes
Hike difficulty: Easy
Best time to go: 7–9 AM or 5–7 PM
Facilities: None — it’s a wild site, so come prepared
So, what is Frog Hill?
Frog Hill, or Bukit Katak, is an abandoned tin mining site near Tasek Gelugor, about 40 minutes from George Town, Penang. It’s technically located in Kampung Guar Petai, on the mainland side of the state. Over time, rainwater filled the old quarry pits, creating a patchwork of blue and green ponds surrounded by rugged red soil and overgrown vegetation.
It’s completely undeveloped, with no signs, no entry gates, no safety rails. There are rumors saying that Frog Hill might be closed off to the public soon. Since it’s located on private land — a former quarry site — there’s talk that mining operations could resume in the future. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but if you’ve been thinking of visiting, better go sooner rather than later.
Best time to visit Frog Hill, Penang
The best times to visit Frog Hill are early in the morning (7 – 9 AM) or late afternoon (5 – 7 PM). That’s when the lighting is most flattering, with soft golden hues that make the lakes glow blue-green, and the weather is cooler. Midday gets scorching hot with no shade, so unless you love sweating buckets, avoid that window.
As for the best months, try to aim for the dry season, which is (supposedly) from December to March, when the skies are clearer and the dirt roads are easier to navigate. But do keep in mind that the weather in Malaysia is very unpredictable. It can rain anytime, dry season or not.
How to get to Frog Hill / Bukit Katak, Penang
Frog Hill is located on mainland Penang, not on the island. It’s not served by public transport, so the only realistic way to get there is by car, motorbike, or Grab.
Note: You might be able to get a Grab from nearby towns, but return rides can be tricky. Signal is weak in the area, so don’t rely on booking a ride back. If you’re not driving, try to arrange return transport in advance.
If you’re driving from Penang Island, cross either Penang Bridge or the Second Bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge), head towards Tasek Gelugor, then to Kampung Guar Petai. A few other blogs mentioned a red brick factory that was supposed to be our key landmark, but we couldn’t — for the life of us — find it. Whether it was no longer there or we were just blind, I have no idea.
But we did eventually find the entrance to the trail. There’s a bit of space at the start of the road where you can park your car:
Coordinate for the parking area: 5.442677, 100.473271
Apparently, from there, you can drive further up the unpaved dirt road for another 1.5 km to get to another clearing. But the road just seemed too muddy; my friend wasn’t confident she could drive through that, so we decided to park at the entrance and walk the rest of the way.
Mistakes I made when hiking Frog Hill, Penang
#1 Going there after rain
My friend and I were only in Penang for a short while, so our itinerary was a bit tight. That meant we didn’t really have the luxury of picking the best time to go to Frog Hill. It had to be squeezed in on our last day, on our way back to Kuala Lumpur.
I’m not sure if it had rained in the morning or the day before in Tasek Gelugor, but it must have, because this was how the dirt road looked like:
And then, this:
We saw a few trucks going in and out, so maybe there was a brick factory or some kind of factory somewhere in the area that we may have missed because we were too occupied trying not to slip in the mud.
So, if you can, check the weather before going, and go only if it hasn’t rained earlier in the day or the night before. Unless you don’t mind playing with mud, of course.
#2 Not wearing the right kind of footwear
We (dumbly) thought it was just going to be an easy, pleasant stroll in the countryside, with views of rice fields, and a nice cooling breeze. So we showed up in our regular sneakers, not expecting that the actual terrain was going to look like this. Five minutes into the hike, our shoes seemed to have blended nicely with the environment.
I think a pair of sturdy sandals would have done a better job. Or — of course — proper waterproof hiking shoes or wellington boots if you have them. Good thing my sneakers weren’t spanking new, or I’d probably have turned back.
#3 Going on a weekday
The well-known perk of going hiking anywhere on a weekday is there’s less crowd and you get to enjoy the place in peace and quiet, walk at your own pace, and spend as much time as you need without getting in other people’s way (and photos).
Except that, for people like us, who aren’t “true hikers” and have an appalling sense of direction to boot, having other hikers around would be very helpful. Instead, there was no one else there at Frog Hill that we could follow.
#4 Not doing enough research beforehand
The main cause of all of our problems was probably not doing enough research about the place. Which was why we didn’t know what kind of trail to expect, what kind of shoes to wear, and how to actually get there. We saw some nice pictures on the internet and thought we could simply type in the location and just follow the GPS.
Well, it wasn’t as simple as that.
The phone reception in the area was patchy at best. Our Google Maps just kept loading and loading, and it was too late to start reading blogs or hiking guides. So, we went on what we assumed to be the right path.
And we did get rewarded by a sneak peek of the quarry:
#5 Going there when the sky is gloomy
Maybe it was because it had just rained and that had somehow affected the color of the water. Maybe because the sky above was too gloomy, and didn’t reflect nicely on the water surface. Maybe because we didn’t get to a high enough vantage point to view the lakes. Or maybe these weren’t actually the lakes we were supposed to be looking for.
Well, whatever it is, they just didn’t look as attractive as what we saw in the pictures. They just looked like… some random puddles after rain?
#6 Arriving too late
We got a little carried away with our foodie adventure on Penang Island (don’t blame us; it’s Penang!), so by the time we finished eating, it was already around 3 or 4. Then, we still had to drive 40 minutes to Tasek Gelugor, and with all the wrong turns and getting lost along the way, we probably didn’t arrive until around 5.
As we were walking (and getting lost again), the sky was all the while looking grey and gloomy. We didn’t bring an umbrella with us and certainly didn’t fancy getting caught in the rain or in the dark, so as soon as we got a glimpse of the quarry, we debated whether we should keep going.
And finally, we decided that the water was probably not going to turn any bluer the longer we waited or the further we walked, so it was best to turn back.
#7 Being a little too paranoid?
When we were walking, there was a man passing us on a motorbike. He then stopped ahead of us, just a little further from where we stopped for the pictures, and just sat there near the bushes and smoked. He was another reason why we decided to turn back.
Call us paranoid but we had been watching too many crime thrillers.
Maybe the area is totally safe and everyone there is kind and it’s just me being a scaredy cat, but honestly, I don’t think it’s an area where I’d be comfortable going hiking alone as a woman, especially on a weekday when there’s no one else around.
It was really secluded and we saw no other vehicle other than the few trucks, presumably from the factory, and that man on the motorbike.
What you should do instead
If you’re planning to go to Bukit Katak, here’s how to avoid my mistake:
- Check the weather before you go. And maybe the sky too. I think the lakes would look best when the sky is blue.
- Set your Google Maps to the coordinate I shared, then either park there, or if you don’t mind your car getting dirty, drive a bit further to park at the other clearing.
- Wear sturdy sandals, wellington boots, or old shoes you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Screenshot your map before you arrive, in case your internet doesn’t work when you’re there.
- Go in the early morning or late afternoon, for better lighting and to avoid heat, but not too late that it’s almost dark.
- If being alone in a secluded area bothers you, go on a weekend. It’s apparently a popular spot for local tourists.
Additional tips
- Keep in mind that it’s not a designated tourist attraction or hiking spot — which means it exists in that murky “visit at your own risk” category.
- There are also no signage, shops, or other facilities like restrooms. Make sure you take care of your needs before going.
- Bring sunscreen and a hat if going on a hot day — there’s not much shade.
- Bring water and snacks, if you’re always feeling snackish (like me).
So is the Frog Hill / Bukit Katak, Penang worth visiting?
Judging from the many pictures on people’s blogs and online reviews, definitely. We just hadn’t timed or planned our visit well enough, so that’s on us.
However, if you’re looking for a nature walk in the woods with lots of trees and jungle trails, this is not it. It’s mostly just open ground with muddy red soil. “Hiking” Frog Hill is really more about finding that lookout point than doing a proper hike. Those who reach the “summit” say it’s just a short, steep scramble to the top.
Would I go again?
Sure! The fact that I failed the first time only makes me feel fired up to try again. But maybe not on a rainy day.
Have you been to the Frog Hill, Penang? What did you think about it? Drop your comments below!
