Mt. Rose Hill Climb

Mt. Rose Hill Climb

The Mt. Rose Hill Climb is a fundraising trail event for Washoe County Search and Rescue, a non-profit team that provides year-round technical search and rescue services to Washoe County and surrounding mountains, rivers, lakes, and deserts. The event starts at the Mt. Rose Trailhead in Reno, Nevada, and follows the Mt. Rose Summit Trail through National Forest lands and the Mt. Rose Wilderness.

The course is an out and back of just over 10 miles on single-track mountain trail to the 10,776' summit of Mt. Rose. Runners and hikers gain approximately 2,398 vertical feet on the ascent and descend the same amount on the return. The trail passes waterfalls and provides views of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and nearby peaks. The field uses a staggered start so participants can spread out.

Support is limited and the event emphasizes self-sufficiency. There are two water-only aid stations located at approximately mile 2.5 and mile 4 that participants pass on the way up and again on the way down; organizers note they cannot easily refill remote stations. Parking is limited to dirt lots adjacent to the main paved area per USFS permit; participants may be dropped off or required to park farther away if lots are full. Timing is done with stopwatches by search and rescue volunteers rather than professional timers. The event is sanctioned by USA Track and Field. Packet pickup information is to be announced. Sponsorships received before August 1 may be eligible for promotion on race apparel and materials. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.