23.8
PDI
16.7 mi
DISTANCE
4,346 ft
GAINED
4.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): John Summerson, The Ultimate Guide to Climbing (by Bike) 2nd Ed.; Ravi Raju, San Jose, CA, USA
INTRO
PJAMM note: This is a VERY BUSY road connecting Reno to Incline Village and Lake Tahoe - most days there will be moderate to heavy truck traffic on the road traveling highway speeds near the bottom. Ride at your own risk.
Mt. Rose East climbs 16.7 miles from the junction of US 395 and Highway 431 (Mt. Rose Highway) south of Reno to Mt. Rose Summit, gaining 4,346 feet at a 4.9% average grade from 4,584 feet to 8,916 feet. By our rankings it is #91 in the US and #666 in the world. It is the harder, busier and less scenic of the two routes to the summit, and it is one of multiple ways to get to scenic Lake Tahoe.
The climb is really two rides. The first 6.5 miles to Galena Creek Regional Park average about 4.1% on a busy highway, with the heaviest truck traffic. From Galena Creek to the summit the road is quieter and the grade builds to about 5.4% over the final 10.2 miles. NDOT bills the summit as the highest in the Sierra Nevada that stays open year-round, though storms close the highway briefly - it shut on Christmas night 2025 when snow blocked the lanes and reopened by midday the next day.
"The east side of Mount Rose Summit in western Nevada near the California border is a big hill and one of multiple routes to get to scenic Lake Tahoe. From Highway 395 the climb begins as a sometimes busy four lane road heading west along gradually increasing grade. After about four miles it reduces to two lanes and soon enters some pine trees...." (This quote is presented with the approval of John Summerson from his book, The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike), 2nd Edition, pg. 192.)
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Mt. Rose East averages 4.9% over 16.7 miles, gaining 4,346 feet from 4,584 feet to 8,916 feet. The grade builds as you climb: the first 6.5 miles to Galena Creek average about 4.1%, and the final 10.2 miles to the summit about 5.4%.
The steepest quarter-mile is 10.2% and the steepest mile 7.5%, and the steepest 5 miles average 5.6%.
Roadway: Two lane highway in good condition, widening to four lanes on the lower miles, with a shoulder to ride in much, but not all, of the ride.
Traffic: Heavy towards the bottom of the climb and moderate to heavy at the top. This is a major connector between Reno and Lake Tahoe and is busy, with commercial trucks and fast moving vehicles, particularly along the first third of the climb. Consider starting at Galena Creek Visitor Center, about 6.5 miles up the road from the start of the climb - traffic is better from there to the top (Map; Street View).
Parking: At the mall at the start of the climb (Map; Street View) or Galena Creek Visitor Center (Map; Street View), which sits inside Galena Creek Regional Park on the Mt. Rose Highway.
Gear: This pass stays open through the winter, so you can ride it throughout the year - sadly, we have been able to do it often in the winter between 2015-2020 due to the drought in the western US. The summit is more than 4,300 feet above the start, so snow, ice and wind are real possibilities outside summer.
Weather: Check our Weather tool for conditions at the time you expect to arrive at the finish to decide what clothing to bring. There are no services on the climb itself, so stock up in Reno first.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
This is one of many climbs in the Lake Tahoe area. Consult PJAMM's Lake Tahoe climb page for bike climbs around Lake Tahoe. This climb is also done as a nice out and back with Mt. Rose West from Incline Village - 48 miles gaining 6,800' (Map).
The Galena Creek Visitor Center, inside Galena Creek Regional Park, has exhibits and trails nearby, which makes it a natural place to regroup. See Routes in the Area for other climbs nearby, including the Old Mt. Rose Hwy gravel climb.
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