Trail Overview
Frog Lake Butte - FS 2610-220 is an aggressive, steeper dirt and gravel road that climbs directly to the top of the butte. Early on the trail, a downed tree creates a narrow drive-around with steep exposure, serving as an ideal turnaround point for those not wishing to continue. Past this point, the track forms a massive rut that drivers must carefully straddle to proceed uphill. The route features two specific, deep rut-crossing locations that absolutely require the use of a locking differential. Once past these technical hurdles, explorers are treated to a fantastic view of Mt Jefferson opening up on the right side. The deeply rutted path continues upward, offering one more turnaround location along the way. Towards the summit, the ruts dissipate, but the trail pitches even steeper, transitioning into a highly loose and rocky surface. The final destination features ample turnaround space, a tree-obstructed view, and a prominent cell tower. Additionally, the actual Frog Lake Butte hiking trail drops down to the left of the tower.
Difficulty
This route earns a solid Level 4 (Blue) technical rating due to its steep, unrelenting inclines and heavily degraded surface conditions. The trail is characterized by severe washouts and ruts that reach up to 3 to 4 feet in depth. Successfully conquering the ascent requires navigating dangerous, highly exposed sections on the right side by carefully straddling the deep ruts. Furthermore, there are two distinct, highly technical locations where a true High Clearance 4x4 equipped with a locking differential is strictly necessary to cross the deep ruts and maintain forward momentum.
