Mount Rose, Lake Tahoe CA
• 4-star hike
• 6.0 to 10.1 mile options
• Medium difficulty | Gain 680 - 2,340 ft (Peak 10,776 ft)
• Incline Village, NV | Lake Tahoe
• Driving Directions: Trailhead
Mount Rose is the second tallest peak in Tahoe basin and prominent feature of the northern Lake Tahoe skyline, yet the best adjective to describe the journey to the peak is closer to 'pleasant' than it is to 'challenging' despite the 2,200 feet of elevation gain.
You'll find the trailhead at the 8,900ft Mount Rose Pass on Nevada's state route 431 complete with ample parking and a large block of restrooms. The trailhead is just behind the restrooms. The right-hand route from the trailhead is the most direct route to the summit from here, cutting a path around the north side of Tamarack Peak with weathered pillars of volcanic rock rising on both sides of you. The route eventually leads past a waterfall and into a valley before rising to a saddle then on to the technically easy final assault on Mount Rose.
Mt Rose O&B,
Mt Rose Summit, 
Tamarack Peak Loop Mt Rose Out & Back 4★9.6 mi, Out & Back, Medium, Gain 2,210 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
Mt Rose Summit & Loop 4★10.1 mi, Part Loop, Medium, Gain 2,336 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
Tamarack Peak Loop 3★6.0 mi, Loop, Medium, Gain 680 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
Naturally the views from the top can be incredible on a clear day - peaks all around, highways below you snaking around lakes you never knew existed and the deep-blue expanse of Lake Tahoe to the south. Any time from early summer thru November is a good time to tackle this peak, though the best of the wildflowers in this area can usually be found during late July.
Return the way you came, or consider extending your return journey by just half a mile of mostly level trail by taking the loop around the south side of Tamarack Peak. Known as the old Mt. Rose trail, this route follows the path of the Tahoe Rim Trail for the most part and rewards with excellent panoramic Lake Tahoe vistas.
Tangents:
• Trail Links: Official, Public Map at AllTrails
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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