Mt. Rose Summit Trail Guide

run Mt. Rose (with 10lb weight vest) 10.6 miles 1800 feet elevation gain - summit 1:29:37 round trip 2:42:20

I have run the Mt. Rose summit six times, but never brought a camera, partly because I don't like the extra weight, and partly because I usually run so early that it is too dark for pictures. Today Jen ran the mountain for the first time. We went a little later and I brought my camera so I could put together a photo essay/trail guide.

So here it is:

The sign at the trailhead. I have never actually read it before. So the trail is 10.6 miles and a little over 1800 feet of gain.

View of Lake Tahoe just a few hundred yards from the trailhead.

The trail is sandy with for the first 1/2 mile or so.

Your first glimpse of the goal (about 1/2 mile from trailhead)

You then move into some timber for a couple of miles

Tamarack Lake, view about 3/4 mile from the trailhead

More trail through the timber. About 1 1/2 miles in.

Getting closer.

Your first glimpse of Mt. Rose Meadow (about 2 miles from trailhead)

More view of the meadow. The trail runs under those pines across the valley.

This is where you are headed next. The trail cuts across this hill and starts to get steep. The part you can see is not quite 3 miles from the trailhead.

Waterfall. About 2 1/2 miles in.

Some wildflowers along the creek. Wildflower season is late this year due to all of the snow.

You can go west and hit Relay Peak and the Tahoe Rim Trail,
or forge ahead to the summit (2.6 miles from trailhead)

Halfway there.

Headed up to that steep traverse you saw across the canyon, with you goal in the background. It is usually pretty wet here, expect some wet socks.

Looking back across the valley.

The trail is getting rockier, and steeper.

Getting closer.

More rocks, and steeper. There is a section after the hill traverse that is pretty steep.
You are only 3.5 miles in at this point and beginning to question yourself. Don't worry, it gets a bit easier.

You are now officially in the Mt. Rose Wilderness. Don't pick flowers or ride your mountain bike.

See? It gets better.

It's not that bad, flowers grow here.

Someone wrote 1.4 miles to go on this post. Seems about right.

Your first glimpse of the Truckee/Donner Basin.

A few steep switchbacks in here. There are only 5 or 6, not too bad really.

More Truckee Basin. If you click on the picture and zoom in you can see Truckee, Donner Lake, Prosser Reservoir, Stampede Reservoir and Boca Reservoir and Interstate 80 through Truckee.

Another view towards Truckee.

We made it! Lake Tahoe is in the background. About half the time I am up here the wind is howling so bad you just want to hide behind a rock. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day today - no wind at all.

Lake Tahoe and the meadow that you passed through to get here.

Reno

Truckee/Donner

Nice picture of Jen

Me. The green thing is my weight vest. It is 10 pounds and very comfortable to wear. It reminds you how much harder it is to run when you weigh 10 pounds extra.

More wildflowers on the way down.

There you go. Some final thoughts on the trail. Get there early. The place is a zoo of people mid-day, and you have less chance of high winds in the morning. If you are going to take more than 2 hours round trip, you will probably want to bring water and something to eat. I usually don't take water for a 2 hour run up here, but if I get thirsty I will drink from the two creek crossings. However, most people have been convinced that every mountain stream will get you sick, so they don't like doing that. Maybe I am just acclimated, or maybe the fears are overblown - drink at your own risk. Also, keep a close eye on the weather, it can be a lot colder and windy on the summit (it is 2 miles above sea level and all), so dress appropriately.

I believe Mt. Rose is one of the best hikes available to people in the Lake Tahoe basin. It takes some effort, but isn't brutal, and has a great payoff on the summit. Have fun!