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Mount Rose

⭐ 4.5 (2 ratings)
Incline Village/Reno, NV, Washoe County, Sierra Nevada
Intermediate
Difficulty
10.8
Miles
2,398'
Elevation
Gain
10,776'
Summit
Elevation
No Summit
No
Permit Required?
Fees?
No
Best Season?
☀️🍂
🐕✅

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Overview

      The Mount Rose Trail in Reno takes hikers through stunning alpine scenery, featuring wildflower-filled meadows, a refreshing waterfall, and sweeping views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.

Description

      The Mount Rose hike offers an exhilarating journey through the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Starting at the Mount Rose Trailhead, the trail winds through alpine meadows, dense forests, and rocky terrain, providing a scenic mix of landscapes as you ascend. Along the way, you'll encounter lush wildflower fields, crisp mountain streams, and panoramic views that expand with every step. The higher you climb, the more expansive the vistas become, with breathtaking overlooks of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and the surrounding mountains. The variety of terrain and striking scenery makes this hike both challenging and rewarding.

      Reaching the summit of Mount Rose presents an awe-inspiring view of the Sierra Nevada and the Carson Valley, stretching far into the distance. The summit offers 360-degree panoramic views, including a glimpse of the shimmering blue waters of Lake Tahoe on clear days. This hike provides a true wilderness experience, with a sense of solitude and connection to nature. Whether you're an experienced hiker seeking a challenge or simply looking to take in the spectacular scenery, the Mount Rose hike offers an unforgettable adventure in one of the most scenic regions of the western United States.

Trail Reports

Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
I got unlucky with the fog layer, but I am sure the ocean views are amazing if you happen to get there on a clear day. The elevation profile on this one is interesting, with multiple climbs to get to Rodeo Beach, and multiple climbs to come back to Muir Beach. There's a bunch of surfers over at the Rodeo Beach side. Trails are clean and well marked.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
This is an amazing hike! Fantastic views over the various lakes in Desolation Wilderness. Also offers amazing views over Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay. The scramble at the summit was fun! It looked worse than it actually was. It was cool to see a PCT through-hiker along the way. Trail is easy to follow and well maintained, with the exception of the summit.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
This hike is amazing! Starting off at the desert floor and rising all the way through 4 (I think) different ecosystems with different wildlife, plants, and trees. 10k feet of elevation gain is substantial, but it was surprisingly not that difficult. Exciting hikes like this tend to get my mind wandering instead of paying attention to how much I am suffering. The gondola ride down was a bit scarier than I anticipated. That thing gets moving!
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
Very scenic ocean views and some views of the San Francisco skyline, with the Golden Gate poking over the hills. Relatively easy hike. Well maintained trail that is mostly concrete. Some cool ruins of the old military batteries. There's actually some legitimately great graffiti at the summit.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
The trail is well maintained and starts off very green, and opens up to some rolling hills with views over San Francisco and the surrounding area. You can see Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands fairly well. The summit is rather boring, but the views behind the summit make up for it.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
For being fairly short, the incline is pretty dang good! Very green with turkeys wandering around. The summit is fairly well forested, so the views of the bay are glimpses through the tree-line. Great little hike though! Parking is limited and on a residential dead-end street.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
This is a good little short leg burner. I specifically start down in a residential neighborhood and it makes the hike a little longer and adds some incline. This is a very popular tourist destination and it offers arguably the best views over San Francisco. TONS of people at the summit - as you can also just drive up there. Great little urban hike.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
The views here are incredible! It is a very popular hiking location with a decent size parking lot that absolutely gets filled up as the day progresses. Get there early! The summit is somewhat bland, but the rest of the hike makes up for it.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
Great views and a good little incline hike to train at elevation with. At almost 11,500' elevation it gets the lungs working a bit more than usual. Trail is decently maintained, but there's a section that requires a few ganders at the GPS track to make sure you are on the correct route. Great hike! Plenty of parking.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
This is where I saw my first black bear while hiking! It was ahead of me crossing the trail about 100 yards away. It didn't even look over at me as it kept walking up the mountain side. Boy did my heart skip a beat! It is fascinating to see these monsters roaming around in their natural habitat. Saw a handful of trail runners along the hike, but it was overall fairly quiet as far as traffic is concerned. Fantastic views over Lake Tahoe at a distance.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
The summit offers stunning views over Desolation Wilderness and South Lake Tahoe and all the other surrounding peaks. Don't let the short distance fool you! This hike is a rigorous uphill hike from the start to the summit. A lot of it has burn scars from the previous fire that went through.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
This hike is amazing! Hiking just to Flagpole peak is rather short - adding in Echo Peak makes it substantially longer and offers even better views of Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe. The hike up to Flagpole peak requires some minimal scrambling, but it isn't anything too challenging.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
This is right in my backyard! I have hiked this (and the full length of the Bay Area Ridge Trail) many many times. It can get ticky at times - but it wasn't in February. The hills are still green! This will change as the summer rolls through. Well maintained trail. Easy to follow.
Username:
kyle ryan
Date hiked:
April 5, 2025
Rating:
No rating.
Ah! Mission Peak! This is a VERY popular trail - but luckily the trail is wide for the majority of the hike. This loop is much better than the typical out-and-back from Ohlone College. I have hiked it a plethora of times. Still a good amount of incline for the distance. Definitely gets the calves working!
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***DISCLAIMER*** Hiking involves risks, and trail conditions may change. This website is not responsible for injuries, losses, or damages. Use the information at your own risk—always research, prepare, and hike safely.

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