Washoe County High Point Trip Report

Mt Rose (10,776 ft)

Date: October 15, 2000
Author: Edward Earl

When I first learned of Mount Rose, I thought that, being in NV, it was probably the typical Great Basin desert range HP. Actually, it is quite rightfully a part of the Sierra Nevada, and it is much better described as a "Tahoe Sierra" peak; it is not a desert peak at all. In fact, Mount Rose is the third most prominent peak in the Sierra Nevada, after only Mount Whitney and Mount Ritter.

Mount Rose is a classic, often climbed by non-county-highpointers. I parked on NV 431 at 8800' where a gated dirt road branches off to the north. Many other vehicles were parked here also. I followed the dirt road for about 2 miles. Just past a small lake on the left, a signed National Forest trail heads off the road through a gap in the ridge to the right. The trail descends a few hundred feet down a brush-and-meadow valley before climbing to a saddle and gaining the summit. Total distance is 6 miles one way.