An awe-inspiring road to Mount Rose Summit in Nevada

An awe-inspiring road to Mount Rose Summit in Nevada

Usa, north-america

Length

39.1 km

Elevation

2,720 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up for the Mount Rose Summit, a real stunner sitting pretty at 8,923 feet in Washoe County, Nevada, practically hugging the California border! Named after an early settler, Jacob S. Rose, this spot is a must-see.

You'll cruise along State Route 431, also known as Mount Rose Highway or the Mt. Rose Scenic Drive—all 24.3 miles of it winding from Reno to Lake Tahoe. The road's fully paved, so no worries about needing a special vehicle.

Get ready for some hairpin curves on both sides of the summit and a few steep climbs, with gradients hitting up to 9%.

Nestled high in the Carson Range, those mountains east of Lake Tahoe, this pass is usually open year-round—though winter can throw a curveball with occasional closures. We're talking up to 400 inches of snow! If you're tackling this route in winter, keep an eye on the weather. Snow tires and chains are often a must.

But the real draw? The views! Alpine lakes, waterfalls, and those unforgettable Lake Tahoe vistas. The summit itself lords over northern Lake Tahoe and the Reno area. Expect company in summer, especially on weekends. You'll be treated to sights of Washoe Valley, Washoe Lake, Lake Tahoe Basin, and those majestic Sierra peaks. And the Mount Rose Summit Parking Area? It's perched at a cool 8,911 feet!

Where is it?

An awe-inspiring road to Mount Rose Summit in Nevada is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 39.9946, -95.7757

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
39.1 km
Max Elevation
2,720 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
39.9946, -95.7757

Related Roads in north-america

Where is Difficult Pass?hard

Where is Difficult Pass?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Difficult Pass in Colorado! Perched way up in the Rockies, this bad boy sits at a seriously lofty elevation. We're talking Gunnison and Pitkin counties, smack-dab in the Gunnison National Forest. Now, this isn't your Sunday cruise kind of road. It's a roughly 8-mile unpaved stretch known as Difficult Pass Road, connecting Richmond Hill Road up to the Goodwin-Greene hut. Speaking of which, this hut is legendary for being remote, built in '76 and named for a climber lost too soon. You'll definitely need a 4x4 with some clearance to tackle this terrain. Oh, and a heads-up: this pass is usually snowed in from October to July! Even July can be dicey, and early October snows can shut it down quick. Plus, it's avalanche country, so keep an eye on conditions. But if you catch it right, the views are totally worth it! Just imagine the scenery around Saint Sophia Ridge... epic!

Station Peakhard

Station Peak

🇺🇸 Usa

Station Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.967m (9,734ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of California. The road to the summit is gravel and rocky. It’s impassable in winters. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. 4x4 required. Stay away if you're scared of heights. Expect a trail pretty steep.  Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click  to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.

Where is Workman Creek Falls?hard

Where is Workman Creek Falls?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Arizona, Gila County to be exact, and you stumble upon Workman Creek Falls. This 200-foot waterfall is seriously epic, and you can practically see it from your car! Getting there is half the adventure. You'll be on Forest Service Road 487, or Workman Creek Road, a 3.2-mile unpaved stretch starting from Arizona 288-Globe Young Highway. Now, a heads up: you'll want a high-clearance vehicle for this one. It's generally 2WD-friendly when dry, but things get interesting after the lower falls. Think steep, narrow, and a little thrilling if you're not a fan of heights. Once you're past the recreation area, it climbs up to 7,746 feet! The final stretch is a single-track forest road that can get a bit rocky. If the gate's open, you can drive all the way to the top! Just keep in mind this section above the Falls Recreation Site is usually closed from December 15 to March 31, snow depending. Now, is it worth it? Absolutely! The views are insane, and the area is teeming with diverse wildlife and plant life. It's gorgeous no matter the season. Just a heads-up: this area has naturally occurring uranium and radium-266. You'll see warning signs. There was mining here in the past, but it's been shut down for decades. The big takeaway is this: DO NOT go into any of the mines! They can have some pretty high radiation levels.

Why is it called Covington Flat Road?moderate

Why is it called Covington Flat Road?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Joshua Tree National Park, in sunny California, on Covington Flat Road. This isn't your typical paved paradise; it's a 9.6-mile unpaved adventure into the desert backcountry, split into Lower and Upper sections. Named after some pioneer rancher, Will Covington, this road serves up incredible landscapes, and lets you get up close and personal with the park’s biggest Joshua trees, junipers, and pinyon pines. Grab a map before you go, trust me. The road can get rutted, especially after a storm, so a high-clearance vehicle is your best bet, and 4WD is even better. Starting from La Contenta Road near Yucca Valley, the road winds up to a parking area near the Covington Crest Trailhead, topping out at 5,173 feet. From there, it’s a quick hike to Eureka Peak. Heads up: cell service can be spotty, and the climb gets pretty steep near the end. A smaller road branches off to a peak reaching 4,908ft. But, oh, the views! You'll be treated to panoramas of Palm Springs, the surrounding mountains, and the Morongo Basin. Just be aware that rain or snow can make this drive a real challenge. But if you're prepared, it's totally worth it!