Mt. Rose Highway winds 35.7 miles through the Sierra Nevada of western Nevada, climbing from the desert floor near Reno to the forested slopes surrounding Lake Tahoe. Designated as both a National and State Scenic Byway, this route delivers one of the most dramatic elevation changes of any drive in the region.
The highway ascends through sagebrush-dotted foothills before entering dense stands of Jeffrey pine and white fir. At the Mt. Rose Summit — topping out near 8,900 feet — sweeping panoramas reveal Washoe Valley, Slide Mountain, and the distant shimmer of Lake Tahoe. Pull off at the summit trailhead for a hike to Mt. Rose peak, where wildflower meadows bloom in midsummer. Farther along, the road descends toward Incline Village, offering glimpses of Tahoe’s impossibly blue water through the trees.
Winter transforms the corridor into a snow-draped passage linking Reno to Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, though chains or snow tires are often required. The ideal time to drive is late June through October, when the road is clear and alpine wildflowers carpet the high meadows.
Allow one to two hours for the full drive, longer if you stop to hike or photograph the views.
Explore Nearby
- Wild Horse State Recreation Area — State Park in Nevada
- Washoe Lake State Park — State Park in Nevada
- Grimes Point/Hidden Cave Archaeological Site — Public Land in Nevada
- Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area — Public Land in Nevada
- Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area — Dark Sky Site in Nevada
