FROG LAKE
WINTER NAVIGATION & SAFETY

Castle Peak Trailhead 7240’, Lat/Long: 39.3401, -120.3502  

3 ½ miles one way with 1500’ of elevation gain and 1100’ of elevation descent. Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale: Complex This route begins at the Castle Peak Snowpark located on Boreal Ridge Road on Donner Summit. A CA snowpark permit is required for parking at this location which can be purchase at several outdoor stores or online. This route offers near treeline high elevation travel with complex terrain options and should only be attempted by experienced backcountry users with appropriate avalanche conditions. Start at Castle Valley road and follow for a short distance before turning off into the large Castle Valley meadow to Castle Creek. Crossing Castle Creek could encounter open water and may be challenging to find a suitable crossing especially in late spring conditions. Move through treed rolling terrain while heading north, ultimately gaining an open broad ridge which leads up to the furthest Castle Peak pinnacle to the East of the true peak. As you near the base of this rock ridge, contour towards the east side in open bowled terrain. At the top of the bowl, the route will continue toward the top of Frog Lake Cliffs on gentle rolling terrain.

Up to this point, the terrain is easy to negotiate with little avalanche terrain if you remain on route. As you near the top of Frog Lake Cliffs, the terrain turns complex from this point down to the hut with multiple overlapping avalanche paths and terrain traps. It is imperative that you have appropriate avalanche conditions to move through this terrain. Large corniced ridgelines are common on the top of Frog Lake Cliffs and adjacent ridges and should be avoided. Poor visibility during storms could severely impede traveling through this terrain safely. The most straightforward route to the hut splits the steep NW side of Frog Lake Cliffs and a short steep avalanche path to the west. There are also additional small and short avalanche paths that are scattered lower in this drainage as you descend to the notch.

Once you reach the prominent notch, descend a gully down towards Frog Lake. The gully is steep, at around 40 degrees at the top, and flanked by additional avalanche terrain on both sides on E-SE-S aspects in near and below treeline terrain. Some of this avalanche terrain is commonly wind loaded along with large cornices on the ridges. Once through the steeper part of the gully and over a bench in the terrain, traverse towards the hut.

Johnson Canyon Trailhead 6400’, Lat/Long: 39.3332, -120.2910

4 ½ miles one way with 1900’ in elevation gain and 650’ in elevation descent.

Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale: Simple Take the Donner Lake Exit on Interstate 80, about halfway between Donner Summit and Truckee. At the bottom of the off ramp, head North (uphill) about 300 yards to the trailhead where there is a large parking area. The Johnson Canyon route consists of mostly easy below treeline terrain and starts off on an existing summertime dirt road that leads up the main canyon on mostly low angle terrain. You will pass to the south of peak 7695’ and continue along the snow-covered road towards Summit Lake which parallels Interstate 80. You will reach a notch in the terrain where another summertime access road heads north at just over the 2-mile mark. At this point, you will head north and start to contour the upper headwaters of the South Fork of Prosser Creek. Treed and rolling terrain will open as you near the creek.

You will begin to see the steep S-SE slopes that gain the ridge with the Frog Lake Basin on the other side. Continue downslope near the creek, to around 7000’ before contouring up and around on to SE/E aspects which will provide the lowest angle route to move through this terrain. Isolated small areas of avalanche terrain could be encountered through this section, but with careful route finding, most all avalanche terrain can be avoided with limited exposure. Once the ridge is gained, rolling terrain will lead you to the Frog Lake Hut.

Donner Summit Rest Area Trailhead 7240’, Lat/Long: 39.3429, -120.3400

3 miles one way, with 1450’ of elevation gain and 1050’ of elevation descent

Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale: Complex Begin at the Donner Summit Highway Rest Area on the West Bound side of Interstate Highway I-80. There is no long-term parking here and this trailhead is for a drop off starting point only. This route offers near treeline high elevation travel with complex terrain options and should only be attempted by experienced backcountry users with appropriate avalanche conditions. Behind the rest area, head up through spaced treed terrain and large granite outcroppings to a broad ridge. This will join the route from the Castle Peak Snowpark Trailhead in this area. Move through treed rolling terrain while heading north, ultimately gaining an open broad ridge which leads up to the furthest Castle Peak pinnacle to the East of the true peak. As you near the base of this rock ridge, contour towards the east side in open bowled terrain. At the top of the bowl the route will continue toward the top of Frog Lake Cliffs on gentle rolling terrain.

Up to this point, the terrain is easy to negotiate with little avalanche terrain if you remain on route. As you near the top of Frog Lake Cliffs, the terrain turns complex from this point down to the hut with multiple overlapping avalanche paths and terrain traps. It is imperative that you have appropriate avalanche conditions to move through this terrain. Large corniced ridgelines are common on the top of Frog Lake Cliffs and adjacent ridges and should be avoided. Poor visibility during storms could severely impede traveling through this terrain safely. The most straightforward route to the hut splits the steep NW side of Frog Lake Cliffs and a short steep avalanche path with a corniced ridge to the west. There are also additional small and short avalanche paths that are scattered lower in this drainage as you descend to the notch.

Once you reach the prominent notch, descend a gully down towards Frog Lake. The gully is steep, at around 40 degrees at the top, and flanked by additional avalanche terrain on both sides on E-SE-S aspects in near and below treeline terrain. Some of this avalanche terrain is commonly wind loaded along with large cornices on the ridges. Once through the steeper part of the gully and over a bench in the terrain, traverse towards the hut.