Castle Peak Trailhead > Donner Lake Rim Trail > Warren Lake > Red Dot Trail | 6.5 miles one-way | Elevation gain: 1,556 feet
I’ve been lucky enough to do a bit of hiking in Europe, and one of the things I’ve enjoyed most is the hut-to-hut experience. Being able to travel longer distances through some of the most stunning mountain landscapes—without carrying a tent or sleeping pad—makes the backcountry much more accessible. After hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc last year, I wondered: could I do something similar in California?
At first, it didn’t seem promising. While Colorado and New Hampshire boast extensive hut systems, Northern California turned up mostly dry—aside from a few Sierra Club huts (which must be rented in full) and a small set of backcountry huts near Frog Lake owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust near Frog Lake. The latter caught my eye. After some digging, I decided to book a two-night trip around the July 4th weekend to check it out.
And I’m so glad I did.
The hike to Frog Lake ended up being one of the most beautiful we’ve done in the Tahoe area. There are multiple routes, but we started at Castle Peak Trailhead, just off the southbound side of I-80 across from Boreal. It begins on a dusty access road—fortunately, that part is short. Soon, we turned right onto the Donner Lake Rim Trail and entered a pine forest scattered with wildflowers (and quite a few mosquitoes—come prepared!).
About two miles in, we reached a junction with the Warren Lake Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. This is where the real climbing starts, though it’s never too steep. Our first surprise came as we crested a small hill: a vast meadow bursting with bright yellow mule ears, backdropped by jagged peaks. It was breathtaking.
As we continued, we passed small pockets of lingering snow and fields dotted with pink, purple, and red wildflowers. Eventually, we reached the ridge, with a short spur to Frog Lake Overlook. We followed the trail across a snowy stretch that blanketed nearby slopes, then began our descent.
A few more snow patches (one of which I slid down on my butt—luckily, soft landing!) and a fast-flowing creek added a bit of adventure. At the next junction, we veered right onto the Red Dot Trail, marked by—you guessed it—red blazes. The descent wound through forest and rocky sections until we popped out onto Frog Lake Road.
A short stroll brought us to a cluster of green-roofed staff cabins and just beyond them, the main lodge and three sleek grey huts for guests. We found Michael, the huttmeister, lounging on the patio. He greeted us with a tour of the beautiful stone lodge and its commercial-grade kitchen, complete with a six-burner stove, griddle, double sinks, and all the pots and pans you could need. I couldn’t wait to use the kitchen and cook our first meal!
Then he showed us to our hut. Each cabin is divided into two sides with a shared bathroom; we were in the smallest one, which sleeps two. Thankfully, we had the place to ourselves. The room was cozy, with large picture windows framing the forest, and a wood-burning stove we didn’t get to use—but I can imagine it’s heavenly in winter.
After unpacking, we stashed our food in the lodge (each group gets a fridge section and a bin for dry goods) and spent the rest of the day relaxing. The lodge library is charming—shelves of books, games, and one unexpected gem: Monopoly Mountaineering Edition, where properties are famous peaks and treks. Chris and I played an intense, rapid-fire game.
We didn’t do much the next dayJust a short walk down to Frog Lake (although another group bushwhacked around the perimeter). We waded in up to our waists before retreating from the cold. The rest of the time? Cooking, eating, lounging, working on a puzzle (had to finish it before we left!) soaking in the views, and enjoying the rare quiet.
On our final morning, I did get up early to see the rising sun turn the cliffs and lake a dazzling gold.
We packed up, ate the last of our food, and left before 9 a.m. We took a wrong turn on the way back and ended up on the PCT instead of the Donner Lake Rim Trail, but we found a connector that got us back on track without too much extra distance.
This isn’t a multi-day hut-to-hut trek like in Europe. And it’s not the kind of staffed lodge where your meals are cooked for you. But it is a 6.5-mile hike into a beautifully designed cluster of huts and a shared lodge where you cook your own meals and hang out in backcountry comfort. It’s not cheap—but the experience is absolutely worth it.