Mount Rose, located near a popular ski area, offers an easy 3,000m hike and 360-degree views. [A trip to the US National Parks (39)]
Written by Sayaka Kato
Mount Rose is the highest mountain in the Lake Tahoe area
Mount Rose is a mountain in the northern Sierra Nevada, Nevada, located a few miles northeast of Lake Tahoe
The Mount Rose area is close to Carson City, Reno, and Lake Tahoe and has many ski spots. It is a very popular ski area in the winter, and many people visit from the Bay Area, including San Francisco. It is located about 30 minutes by car from Reno (about a 4-hour drive from San Francisco)
Mount Rose itself does not have a ski slope
The ski resort attracts many skiers and snowboarders in the winter, while the trail to Mount Rose is popular with snowshoers, and in the summer it is a popular destination for hikers and horse riders
It's close to Lake Tahoe and offers stunning views, making it a popular trail for outdoor enthusiasts and hikers
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Mount Rose Trail Information
Access (by car to the trailhead)
Trailhead address: Mt Rose Trailhead or 24705 Mt Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511 (Enter this address in Google Maps to find it.)
*Due to poor signal quality, we recommend downloading the map in advance
What to bring
As for useful items to bring on a hike, as always, prepare the same equipment as you would for a typical hike in the United States
- Drinks (larger in summer, about 2 liters)
- Warm clothing that can regulate your temperature (a windproof shell is helpful)
- hat
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- Snacks to eat during the hike
- If you have any regular medications, bring first aid such as medicines and bandages
- Other than that, your favorite hiking gear
Trail Data
- For intermediate to advanced players
- Season: Best season is from May to October
- Elevation: 3287m (10,785 ft )
- Round trip distance: Approximately 17.12km (10.7 miles)
- Elevation change from trailhead: Approximately 730m (2,395 ft)
- Course duration: Average 5.5 to 7.5 hours
Start hiking from the trailhead
The parking lot is quite large, but when I arrived at 12 o'clock (in June), there were already many cars parked there
There are restrooms in the parking lot, but they were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic
There are no restrooms on the trail, so if you need one, you will need to use an open-air toilet
The Mount Rose trail begins behind the restrooms
It's finally starting
You can see the beautiful blue of Lake Tahoe in the distance as you head towards the future. It's as beautiful as ever
The road is relatively flat at the beginning. The weather is fine, but the wind is already strong, so I was a little worried about how strong the wind would be near the summit, but the beautiful views continued and my mind was soothed
Along the way, I spoke to some hikers coming down, and they all said it was really windy at the top!
The road gradually starts to get steeper, and the peak of Mount Rose, which we will visit later, comes into view diagonally ahead to the right
About 4km into the walk, about 50 minutes in, you will hear the sound of a waterfall
Although it's not that big, a beautiful waterfall welcomes you. Some people were taking a break here. It's a great place to take a refreshing break
We take a short break and then set off again
There is a sign just before the waterfall, and the trail continues behind it
There is also a beautiful stream flowing through it
Mount Rose now appears closer than before
The chirping of birds is also very soothing
There will be signs in several places along the way, but continue towards MT ROSE SUMMIT TH
The flowers are still in bloom and it's a very beautiful trail
As you pass the tree line and approach the summit, the surrounding scenery and visibility become more limited
At the same time, the wind became stronger, so we climbed, bracing ourselves one step at a time
The view is amazing
The final sprint to the summit is the highlight of this trail! The climb continues with a tough climb
The altitude is over 3000m and the trail is quite tough at the end
The summit is in sight. However, the wind is very strong. The windproof shell parka was very useful. The weather was great, but without the shell, it would have been cold
We reached the summit two hours after departure
It offers 360-degree views of Lake Tahoe, the nearby city of Reno, and the surrounding area
The slope just before the summit is quite steep, and the route requires a lot of physical strength towards the end
It was a great workout. We walked a little and then took a break, but the views were amazing and the trail was worth the climb
On the way back, we took the same route down the mountain. The weather was great, and this hike on Mount Rose was definitely worth a try if you're heading towards Lake Tahoe or Reno
Sayaka Kato
Leave your hiking and travel plans for California, including Yosemite National Park, to us. Influenced by my father, I've always loved outdoor activities, and while living in Japan, I started hiking and touring national parks, becoming fascinated by the natural beauty of America and Canada, which ultimately led me to my dream of visiting the United States. Currently, I run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours created together with clients, such as completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. I'll introduce you to special options that I know only because I live in the area. If you're interested, please visit the website below
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