Upper Frog Lake
Lake · Yosemite corridor
Upper Frog Lake sits at 10,377 feet in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. This glacially-carved alpine lake is sheltered from afternoon wind better than the open basins to the east.
Wind funnels off the lake by mid-afternoon, typically building from near-calm mornings. The 30-day average wind stands at 14 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Head here on calm mornings; afternoon conditions turn blustery and unstable for paddling or photography.
Over the last 30 days, Upper Frog Lake averaged a NoGo Score of 16.0 with temperatures around 24 degrees Fahrenheit and the 30-day average wind of 14 mph. Crowding remains light at 6.0 on the rolling average. The week ahead will track consistent with late-season alpine patterns: early calm windows narrow as afternoon thermals drive sustained wind.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Upper Frog Lake
Upper Frog Lake occupies a cirque basin in the high Sierra along the Yosemite corridor, roughly 50 miles northeast of Yosemite Valley via Highway 120. Access is via the Tioga Pass approach from the east or the Hetch Hetchy Road from the west; neither gateway is close, which keeps base popularity low at 0.25 and visitor counts thin. The lake drains into the Mono Basin system and sits above the tree line, fully exposed to Sierra weather patterns. Elevation at 10,377 feet places it well into the alpine zone where afternoon wind and rapid temperature swings are structural, not occasional.
Conditions here track high-Sierra seasonality closely. The 30-day average temperature of 24 degrees and maximum recorded wind of 30 mph frame a place where winter lingers into late spring and summer arrives briefly. The rolling 30-day score of 16.0 reflects consistent marginal conditions: neither ideal nor blocked, but lean for extended fair-weather windows. Wind builds predictably by mid-morning and peaks in afternoon hours. Crowding averages 6.0 on the rolling baseline, meaning weekday mornings are often solo. Late September through mid-October offers the tightest wind patterns and warmest afternoon temperatures before the basin re-enters snow season.
Upper Frog Lake suits backpackers, alpine photographers, and anglers willing to start before dawn to catch calm hours. Paddlers should avoid afternoon sessions; the fetch on the lake is short but wind-driven chop develops quickly once thermals kick in. Parking is limited and informal; plan to arrive early or accept a short walk from the roadside pullouts. Snow can persist into late June at this elevation, and afternoon thunderstorms are routine in mid-summer. Experienced visitors time arrival for first light, complete their activity by 11 a.m., and depart before wind crests.
The Mono Basin lakes immediately south and east (Mono Lake, Crater Lake, Parker Lake) share similar wind regimes and elevation exposure but lie more open to the southern fetch. Nearby alpine passes and cross-Sierra traverses use Upper Frog Lake as a waypoint rather than a destination; that pattern keeps it quieter than Saddlebag Lake or Gull Lake to the north. Day-trippers from Lee Vining or Mammoth Lakes treat it as a high-elevation alternative when Highway 120 crowding peaks.