Backcountry Huts and Trails at Frog Lake
Following the completion of our two-year, $14+ million campaign for Frog Lake, Red Mountain and Carpenter Ridge, NSP and our partners moved full steam ahead on plans to renovate these properties for public use. Below are some of the recently completed and ongoing projects:
Trail to Frog Lake: The first project completed by the Truckee Donner Land Trust (TDLT), the new owner of Frog Lake, was the Red Dot Trail, which enables hikers to reach Frog Lake from Donner Summit. From the north side of I-80, hikers can follow the Pacific Crest Trail to the Warren Lake Trail. Near the Frog Lake Cliff, the new Red Dot Trail turns off to Frog Lake. The hike to Frog Lake is 8-10 miles (round trip), depending on your exact departure point on Donner Summit. Detailed directions to Frog Lake can be found here.
Backcountry Huts: TDLT and its architects, engineers and contractors recently completed renovations on the nearly 100-year-old Eschenbach Stone House and the construction of three new, modular sleeping huts that offer sleeping accommodations for different-sized groups. The huts are modern and comfortable in the tradition of European huts and feature architecture and finishing designed to blend into the natural surroundings. All huts include a commercial-grade kitchen is available for preparing meals, bunks with comfy sleeping pads, LED lighting that lets you keep your headlamp in your pack, outlets for charging your phone, hangers for drying clothes, boots, and skins, flush toilets, and hot and cold running water. These facilities are now open to the public via reservations. More information can be found here.
Frog Lake to Independence Lake Trail: TDLT is also starting work on a trail that will link Donner Summit to Independence Lake for the first time ever! The new 11-mile trail stretch – from the Warren Lake Trail to Independence Lake – crosses lands conserved by our Partnership over many years including: Carpenter Ridge (2006, 2020), Independence Lake (2010), Lower Carpenter Valley (2017), Red Mountain (2020) and Frog Lake (2020). We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many individuals and agencies that contributed to each of these conservation victories. Together, they set the stage for the creation of this wonderful new trail. Because of the challenges of planning, permitting and constructing a trail across private and public lands, the trail will probably not be a reality for another 3-4 years.
Planning Your Visit
The Frog Lake Backcountry Huts are set in a remote backcountry setting – making them both rewarding and challenging to access. Accessing the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts in winter usually takes between two to five hours depending on your route, the fitness of your group, your group’s route finding abilities and, of course, weather and conditions. Conditions can and will vary greatly from season to season and day to day in our mountain environment. All precautions and planning should be done before setting off on a trip to Frog Lake.
Summer Use
Hikers, runners and riders will be able to stay in the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts in the non-snowy months following a trail from Donner Summit down to the shores of the lake, perfect for a dip to cool down before settling in to one of the huts. Click here to find maps, directions and more information for summer routes.
Winter Use
Backcountry skiers, cross-country skiers, backcountry snowboarders and snowshoers will be able to access and stay at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts from numerous directions, offering boundless terrain from the huts’ doorsteps to explore during your stay. All routes involve avalanche terrain, requiring appropriate education and safety equipment. Click here to find maps, directions and safety information for winter routes.
Directions
Castle Peak Trailhead (3.5 miles one way, 1,500 feet gain, 1,100 descent)
This route begins at the Donner Summit Sno-Park located on Boreal Ridge Road off of Interstate 80. A Sno-Park permit is required for parking at this location, which can be purchased at several area outdoor stores.
Johnson Canyon Trailhead (4.5 miles one way, 1,900 feet gain, 650 feet descent)
Johnson Canyon offers a mostly below treeline option following the route of a dirt road up the canyon toward Summit Lake to the west. NOTE: there isn’t a regular plowing/maintenance schedule for parking at Johnson Canyon, park at your own risk.
Donner Summit Rest Area (3 miles one way, 1,450 feet gain, 1,050 feet descent)
Parking at the Westbound Donner Summit Highway Rest Area is subject to California Highway Patrol regulations, so check on acceptable duration for leaving your vehicle, or get dropped off, if using this option. No overnight parking is permitted.
Visiting Guidelines
Frog Lake, Red Mountain and Carpenter Ridge are open to the public from dawn to dusk for day use. Camping, fires, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the property. Dogs must be under voice command on the property and not allowed in the huts. Pets must not endanger wildlife. Drones are not allowed without express written permission from Truckee Donner Land Trust on any Land Trust properties - click here to learn more.