AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mokelumne Wilderness

Frog Lake & Forestdale Creek Trail via Pacific Crest Trail

15.1 mi · ▲ 2,264 ft · 6 hr 10 min

Frog Lake & Forestdale Creek Trail via Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Sorensens, CA. The route reaches Frog Lake. It climbs 2,264 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi7,500 – 9,059 ft · steepest grade: 18%15.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hope Valley Campground Road 38.68921, -119.92863
Nearest town Sorensens, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Frog Lake & Forestdale Creek Trail via Pacific Crest Trail

15.1 mi · ▲ 2,264 ft · 6 hr 10 min

Elevation 7,502–9,059 ft

Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness

Trailhead: Hope Valley Campground Road · 38.68921, -119.92863

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

  1. Start on Hope Valley Campground Road, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Connector Road Spur J, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Connector Road Spur K, heading SE.
  4. 100 ftContinue straight onto Connector Road Spur J, heading S.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Forestdale Creek Trail, heading W.
  6. 3.8 miBear right, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  8. 1.4 miSharp left, heading W.
  9. 1.1 miPass Frog Lake.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  11. 0.6 miReach Frog Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 1.7 miBear left, heading NE.
  13. 1.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Forestdale Creek Trail, heading E.
  16. 3.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Connector Road Spur J, heading N.
  18. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Connector Road Spur K, heading N.
  19. 100 ftContinue straight onto Connector Road Spur J, heading NW.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right onto Hope Valley Campground Road, heading N.
  21. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/frog-lake-frog-lake-out-back-25-km-ef96

Trail surface

20% dirt80% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F51°
Precip0%Wind1 mphUV9Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 82°56°
Wed 82°58°
Thu 86°58°
Fri 86°59°
Sat 86°60°
Sun 86°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.5 mi in (~210 min). Leave by 4:20 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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