Frog Lake – Trailhead is the Carson Pass Visitors Center. If parting lot is full, there is additional parking a short distance down the hill.

Going south on the Pacific Crest Trail/Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, it is 1.2 miles to Frog Lake. These trails split about 250 yards past Frog Lake. You can continue on the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail another 1.3 miles to beautiful Winnemucca Lake. There is very little elevation gain to Frog Lake. You walk through wooded areas with breaks where you get glimpses of some of the wonderful mountain peaks surrounding you. There is a little social trail to the left as you get close to Frog Lake (shown in slide 7). It takes you up to the ridge where you get views of the eastern mountains and Caples Lake (slide 9). I was fortunate to see a cayote behind this ridge.

From Frog Lake, you have wonderful views of all the surrounding peaks including Mount Round Top, Elephant Back, Sisters and more. I recommend you leave the main trail, walk down to Frog Lake and then continue around it counterclockwise. As you get to the eastern side, there is a trail that continues to the edge of the bluff. From there, you can see Red Lake (slide 14) before returning to the trail around Frog Lake. The views across the lake from the eastern side are just gorgeous.

If you continue on the main trail for another 250 yards, you come to the trail marker where the trail splits with the PCT going left and trail towards Winnemucca Lake going straight. I recommend continuing to Winnemucca Lake unless you are also doing the hike from Woods Lake to Winnemucca as I did. Either way, this is not a loop trail so return the way you came.