Frog Lake Overlook–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 10 lakes is a 14.9-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes Pacific Crest Viewpoint, Chinese Catfish Pond, Lake Angela and 3 more before reaching Frog Lake Cliff at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 3,047 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi6,985 – 8,649 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Sugarbowl Village Path 39.30562, -120.33344
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Frog Lake Overlook–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 10 lakes
14.9 mi · ▲ 3,047 ft · 6 hr 29 min
Elevation 6,984–8,650 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Sugarbowl Village Path · 39.30562, -120.33344
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 500 ftBear left onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
- 50 ftPass Lake Angela.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miPass Azalea Lake.
- 50 ftPass Flora Lake.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Warren Lake Trail, heading N.
- 1.5 miTurn right onto Frog Lake Cliff Spur, heading N.
- 200 ftPass Frog Lake Cliff.
- 400 ftReach Frog Lake Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Warren Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 1.5 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading S.
- 1.6 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.9 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 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 surface
73% dirt27% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 81°F51°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity28%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
82°60°
Wed
82°55°
Thu
85°55°
Fri
85°56°
Sat
86°56°
Sun
87°54°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~38 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Sugarbowl Village Path Trailhead
- Lake Mary 2.6 mi · ▲ 467 ft
- Mount Lincoln Road 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,086 ft
- Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 3 summits 4.2 mi · ▲ 1,068 ft
- Pacific Crest Viewpoint via Pacific Crest Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,197 ft
- Mount Lincoln Viewpoint–Mount Judah Loop Loop, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,375 ft
- Mount Lincoln Viewpoint–Roller Pass Loop, 4 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 1,386 ft
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