Mt. Rose

Top of Mt. Rose 10, 776 feet

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Mt. Rose is one of my favorite hikes in the Tahoe basin because it offers a “peak” hike that has a well maintained trail all the way to the summit of the 3^rd highest mountain in Tahoe at 10, 776 feet You are rewarded with great views of the Cascade volcanoes to the north and the Lake with its surrounding peaks such as Freel and Mt. Tallac to the South/West. The round trip total milage is a little under 10 miles so it makes this hike very doable in one day. The first 2.5 miles of the trail pass through the Galena Creek drainage and offers a great variety of wild flowers and other wildlife siteings through most of July and August.

UPDATE: JULY 2023

A great way to experience the beauty of the Mt. Rose upper montane area is to take the 1.3 mile interpretive loop trail in Tahoe Meadows. Across the street from the parking lot of the Mt. Rose trailhead is the entrance to the Tahoe Meadow parking lot.

Tahoe Meadows Interpretive map

Follow the interpretive trail and look for a wide variety of upper montane flowers such as:

Bog Bean (the only representative of its family Menyanthaceae) and silver lupinIMG_2960

Silver lupin (Lupinus argenteus)

And several meadows full of Whorled Penstemon (P.rydbergii)

And Elephant heads (Pedicularis groenlandica)

Elephant Heads

DOG’S are allowed:

This is a great hike to do with dogs since there is Galena falls and several creek crossings along the way.

DSC_0239Stanfalls

trail past falls

Galena falls

Map to Mt. Rose

DIRECTIONS: From Lake Tahoe take the Highway 28/431 junction .Keep following 431 pass Tahoe meadows until it reaches the summit of Mt. Rose summit at 8911 feet. Look for the Forest service parking lot and TRTA signs left of the summit. From Reno take highway 395/431 junction and follow this windy road to the summit of Mr. Rose

Mt. Rose Trailhead sign

Mt. Rose trailhead bathroom facilities are temporarily closed but there are 2 portapotties. Several informational signs explaining the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and description of the hike and natural history. The Trailhead sign indicates 2 routes to the Mt .Rose summit. The TRTA hikers only trail heads to the right and does not allow bikes. The Relay connecter trail heads to the left and it will eventually have a sign indicating the way to the Relay peak as well as the summit of Mt. Rose. This trail can be used by bikers as well as hikers.

Topo Map to Relay Peak

The Relay Peak alternate trail to Frog Pond, Galena Falls and the summit of Mt. Rose will be included later in this blog.

Upper Montane

UPPER MONTANE ZONE: The first 2.5 miles of the hike to the summit of Mt. Rose climbs through the Upper Montane zone which is typically found in the Tahoe area from lake level, 6230 ft, to 8,000 ft. The average summer temperature is between 73°-85°F and the winter between 16°-26°F . This zone usually receives between 35-65 inches of snow and provides well drained soil for a variety of flora.

Trail rock gardens to relay peak

The PLANTS and fauna that are listed below may be seen as you walk along the trail to Galena Falls and on to Mt. Rose summit (The flora and fuana listed below were seen during several seasons from 2009 to 2019!)

Beginning Trail to Galena Falls & Mt. Rose

As the trail ascends from the trailhead plants that do well in exposed granitic soils such as Woolly mule ears, Appelgate’s paintbrush, Sierra Wall flower and Crest Lupin may be seen.

TRY ADDING YOUR OWN OBSERVATIONS FROM THIS TRAIL to iNaturalist. ON iNATURALIST.

Woolly Mule Ears

Common Name: Woolly Mule Ears

Scientific Name: Wyethia mollis

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: Woolly Mule ears tend to grow in open granitic well drained soils. They also tend to form huge monoclines in certain area.

Woolly Mule Ears

Applegate’s Paintbrush

Common Name: Applegate’s Paintbrush

Scientific Name: Castilleja applegatei

Family: Orbanchaceae

Notes: This plant like other paintbrushes is a root parasite on neighboring plants.

Crest Lupin

Common Name: Crest Lupin

Scientific Name: Lupin arbustus

Family: Fabaceae

Notes: The lupins are nitrogen fixers which means that the symbiotic bacteria that live in their root nodules take carbon dioxide from the air and “fix” it into usable nitrates that the plants can use.

Crest Lupin

The Crest Lupin have palmatetly compound leaves which are green with small straight hairs( they are best ID by noticeable bump or spur on the end of the calyx pointing away.

A large population of white Crest lupin can be found along the Mt. Rose trail….

Sierra Wall Flower

Common Name: Sierra Wall flower

Scientific Name: Erysimum capitatum

Family: Brassicaceae

Notes: Sierra Wallflower often grow in exposed granitic soil along with Woolly Mule ears and Sulfur Buckwheat

Sulfur Buckwheat slope

Later in the season Sulfur Buckwheat, Showy penstemon, Mountain Pennyroyal and Mountain Sagebrush can be found in this open habitat.

Common Name: Sulfur Buckwheat

Scientific Name: Eriogonum umbellatum

Family: Polygonaceae

Notes: This plant has bisexual flowers. The color of the petals changes from yellow to burnt orange as the season progresses.

Common Name: Showy Penstemon

Scientific Name: Penstemon speciosus

Family: Plantaginaceae

Notes: Showy Penstemon can be found in dry open granitic soil. They have “wavy” blueish leaves compared with Azure and Gay penstemon. This species size decreases with elevation.

The Color of Showy Penstemon varies with location and time of the year.

Showy Penstemon

Mountain Sagebrush

Common Name: Mountain Sagebrush

Scientific Name: Artemisia tridentata

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This plant’s name “tridentata” refers to the 3 lobes at the tip of the leaves. Rub your finger on the leave…describe the smell!

Mountain Pennyroyal with CA Bombus Bee

Common Name: Mountain Pennyroyal

Scientific Name: Monardella odoratissima

Family: Lamiaceae

Notes: Rub a leave of this plant between your fingers….what does it smell like? Check out the California Bumble bee collecting pollen.

Lodgepoles & Brewer’s Lupin

The trail ascends through a Lupin covered hillside and heads into a forest of Lodgepole pines. Towards the middle of the summer season in the shaded understory of the pines may be seen carpets of Brewer’s Lupin which often give off a very fragrant aroma.

Common Name: Lodgepole Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus contorta

Family: Pinaceae

Notes: Lodgepoles can tolerate a wide variety of habitats where they grow on the drier slopes of Mountain Rose as well as along the edges of Alpine lakes.

Common Name: Brewer’s Lupin

Scientific Name: Lupinus breweri

Family: Fabaceae

Notes: This lupin forms very fragrant carpets in the pine understory.

Brewer’s lupin

Trail views toward Carson

The trail gradually climbs upwards between the saddle of Tamarack Peak on the left and Peak 9201 on the right. The trail is often bordered by perennial shrubs such as Bitterbrush and Mountain Whitethorn. Look in the understory of the pines for Davis Knotweed, King’s Sandwort and Brewer’s Golden Aster which do well in this partly shaded habitat.

Bitterbrush

Common Name: Bitterbrush

Scientific Name: Purshia tridentata

Family: Rosaceae

Notes: Check out its 3 lobed leaves (tridentata) . This plant is also known as Antelope bush

Mountain Whitethorn

Common Name: Mountain Whitethorn

Scientific Name: Ceanothus cordulatus

Family: Rhamnaceae

Notes: This plant often blooms earlier in the season with Tobacco brush. Together these plants fill the air with the sweet scents from their flowers. This plant is also known as “Snowbush”.

Davis Knotweed

Common Name: Davis Knotweed

Scientific Name: Aconogonon davisiae

Family: Polygonaceae

Notes: This plant has early leaves that are pink/red and its flowers are green/white.

King’s Sandwort

Common Name: King’s Sandwort

Scientific Name: Arenaria kinglii

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Notes: Look for the 10 exerted red anthers!

Brewer’s Golden Aster

Common Name: Brewer’s Golden Aster

Scientific Name: Aster breweri

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This aster has only discoid flowers (no ray flowers).

The trail pops out of the canopy cover and gives great views of Mt. Rose and enters into a forest of Mountain Hemlock mixed in with Lodgepole pines

Trail view Mt. Rose

Mountain Hemlock

Common Name: Mountain Hemlock

Scientific Name: Tsuga mertensiana

Family: Pinacacea

Notes: These pines can usually be seen starting around 7,500 on cool exposed slopes.

Look for its drooping top and its 2-4 inch oblong cone.

Galena Creek Meadow

After about 1.5 miles or so the trail gradually decends towards Galena meadow and Galena Falls.

Galena Creek Meadow & Lupins

The Galena creek canyon drainage provides an expansive meadow with moisture loving plants which bloom through out the summer. Look for Common Monkey Flower, Arrow-Leaved Groundsel, Crimson columbine and Twinberry.

Common Monkey flower

Common Name: Common Monkey Flower

Scientific Name: Mimulus guttatus (Dipsacus)

Family: Phrymaceae

Notes: Check out the red nectar dots leading the insect into the flower’s nectar garden.

Arrowleaf Grondsel

Common Name: Arrow-Leaf Groundsel

Scientific Name: Senecio triangularis

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This groundsel is characterized by the many flower heads on one stem and its leaves that are shaped like “arrows”!

Crimson Columbine

Common name: Crimson Columbine

Scientific name: Aquilegia formosa

Family: Ranuculaceae

Notes: The unique flowers of this plant attract hummingbirds and insects.

Twinberry

Common Name: Twinberry

Scientific Name: Lonicera involucrata

Family: Caprifolaceae

Notes: This plant’s name refers to the flowers which are borne in pairs on the stem.

Large leaved Lupin Galena Creek

At about the 2.5 mile marker is Galena Falls which flows into Galena meadows providing it with moisture through-out the summer. Around the falls are many moisture loving plants such as Large leaved Lupin and Giant red paintbrush.

Large leaved Lupin

Common Name: Large leaved Lupin

Scientific Name: Lupinus polyphyllus

Family: Fabaceae

Notes: This lupin is often found along creeks and seeps. The lower elevation of this plant is known as Broad leaved Lupin.

Giant Red Paintbrush

Common Name: Giant Red Paintbrush

Scientific Name: Castilleja miniata

Family: Orbanchaceae

Notes: This paintbrush is usually found in moist, well drained soils and like other paintbrushes it is a root parasite on neighboring plants.

Galena Falls

A great rest point for the Mt. Rose climb or a nice destination for a smaller hike is Galena falls.

The trail to Mt Rose summit crosses the creek and follows the side of the Galena meadows. During the height of the summer blooms the Towering Larkspur & Cow Parsnip are almost as tall as you! As you ascend up the side of the meadow look for other riparian plants such as Water Plantain Buttercup, Red Elderberry and Larkspur along trail

Towering Larkspur

Common Name: Towering Larkspur

Scientific Name: Delphinium glaucum

Family: Ranunculaceae

Notes: This species of Larkspur is often found in moist areas. It has numerous flowers attached to the stem with short pedicel.

Cow Parsnip

Common Name: Cow’s Parsnip

Scientific Name: Herculum maximum

Family: Apiaceae

Notes: Check out this plant’s large palmate leaves and look for a variety of beetles on its petals.

Common Name: Water Plantain Buttercup

Scientific Name: Ranunculus alismifolius

Family: Ranunculaceae

Notes: This plant likes moist areas.

Red Elderberry

Common Name: Red Elederberry

Scientific Name: Sambucus racemosa

Family: Virburrnaacea

Notes: These red berries are edible only if cooked..

Smooth Stickseed

Common Name: Smooth stickseed

Scientific Name: Hackelia nervosa
Family: Boraginaceae

Notes: Smooth Stickseeds have seeds that are very hairy “sticky”. Their flowers are smaller than the 1-2 cm Velvet Stickseed flowers.

At about 2.5 miles from the trail head is the trail junction that directs you to the summit trail.

Galena Creek

As the trail ascends up and away from the meadow it crosses several tributaries of Galena Creek…as you step over and around the boulders lining the creek look for more moisture loving plants such as Elelephant’s Head, Sierra Shooting star and Bistort.

Elephant’s Head & Bistort

Common Name: Elephant’s Head

Scientific Name: Pedicularis groenlandica

Family: Orbanchaceae

Notes: The flowers of this plant are buzzed pollinated by bees.

Common Name: American Bistort

Scientific Name: Bistorta bistortoides

Family: Polygonacea

Notes: This plant is also called “Ladie’s Thumb” and smells like decaying meat!

Sierra Shooting Star

Common Name: Sierra Shooting Star

Scientific Name: Primula jeffreyi

Family: Primulaceae

Notes: This plant is also known as Jeffery’s Shooting Star

Galena Creek seep

The trail continues a gradual climb and crosses another tributary of Galena creek More Large-leaved Lupin, Common Monkey flower and Lemon Willow with flowers (seeds) , Ranger Buttons and Wandering Daisy can be seen.

Willow flowers

Common Name: Lemmon’s Willow

Scientific Name: Salix lemmoni

Family: Salicaceae

Notes: Lemmon’s Willow has separate male and female flowers.

Ranger Buttons

Common Name: Ranger Buttons

Scientific Name: Angelica capitellatum
Family: Apiaceae

Notes: This plant is also known as Woolly head parsnip! Check for a variety of beetles.

Ranger buttons

Wandering Daisy

Common Name: Wandering Daisies

Scientific Name: Erigeron peregriaus

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This daisy can be distinguished from Western Aster by the arrangement of its “picket” fence phyllaries.

Trail & Brewer’s Angelica

The trail continues a gradual up with views of Mt Rose (to keep you going) and in these drier open areas of volcanic soil, Brewer’s Angelica along with more Mountain Pennyroyal and an occasional Dwarf Monkeyflower can be found. Also look for Rockfringe, Stephanosus and an occasional Fireweed.

Common Name: Brewer’s Angelica

Scientific Name: Angelica breweri

Family: Apiaceae

Notes: This plant was named for its healing powers!

Dwarf Monkeyflower

Common Name: Dwarf Monkey flower

Scientific Name: Erythrante mephiticus (Dipsaucus)

Family: Prymaceae

Notes: This Monkeyflower is often found in dry granitic soil…it is characterized by very hairy leaves and a yellow throat within the petal.

Rock Fringe

Common Name: Rock Fringe

Scientific Name: Epilobium obcordatum

Family: Onagraceae

Notes: This plant is found north from Mount Rose to Carson Pass.

Stephanomeria

Common Name: Stephanomeria

Scientific Name: Stephanomeria spinosa

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This plant occurs on dry volcanic slopes from Mt. Rose to Carson Pass. Check out its wiry leaves

Fireweed

Common Name: Fireweed

Scientific Name: Chamerion angustifolium

Family: Onagraceae

Notes: This plant is a pioneer species often one of the first plants to colonize after a burn.

Mt Rose Wilderness sign

Climbing up along this open trail finally leads to the Mt. Rose wilderness boundary. Continue up about 150 yards to the trail junction .To the right (East) is the trail to Mt. Rose summit. Continuing northwest the trail leads to Big Meadow.

Mt Rose Wilderness boundary

Taking the trail to the north east will lead you to Big meadow and the Rim to Reno trail. Look for and occasional Woody-fruited Evening Primrose in the rocky understory.

Common Name: Woody-Fruited Evening Primrose

Scientific Name: Oenothera xylocarpa

Family: Onagraceae

Notes: This species is found around Mt.Rose slopes 7,500-9,000 feet. The flower bloom at dusk and fade to orange by mid-day the next day. The flower’s sweet odor attracts moth pollinators.

Woody-fruited Evening Primrose

Trail sign to Mt Rose summit

The Mt Summit trail sign indicates another mile to the summit!

Trail to Mt Rose Summit & Lodge poles

The trail ascends through several weathered White Bark pines and more Lodgepole pines into the Sub Alpine Zone. This zone extends from about 8,000 ft. to 10,000 ft and is typlifed by heavy persistent winter snow which results in a very short growing season of about 7-9 weeks and typically this soil has less organic material. This zone is characterized by steep meadows, talus slopes and rocky trails.

Whitebark Pine

Common Name: Whitebark Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus albicaulis

Family: Pinaceae

Notes: This tree is usually found above 8,000 feet and often are “krummholzed” with bent, weathered branches resulting from lots of wind and snow. The tiny oval seed cones are one of the favorite foods of Clark’s Nutcrackers.

Trail to Mt. Rose summit

The trail continues through strands of weathered Lodgepole pines and dotting the trail are a few hardy Mt Pennyroyals and Mountain Mugwort. Also check for mini rock gardens highlighting Scarlet Gilia, Tahoe Lupin and Sulfur Buckwheat which we also saw at the beginning of the trail!

Mt. Pennyroyal & Mountain Mugwort

Common Name: Mountain Mugwort

Scientific Name: Artemisia douglasiana

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This plant is usually a later bloomer and occurs in semi-moist habitats.

Scarlet Gilia

Common Name: Scarlet Gilia (Sky rocket)

Scientific Name: Ipomopsis aggregata

Family: Polemoniaceae

Notes: This plant is a great source of pollen for humingbirds

Tahoe Lupin

Common Name: Tahoe Lupin

Scientific Name: Lupinus argenteus var. montigenus

Family: Fabaceae

Notes: This species of lupin is found on dry open mountain terrain above 8,000 feet on the slopes of Mt. Rose. Check out its blue to lavender flowers and the hairs on the back of its banner petal!

View west

The trail then continues up a narrow ridge toward the gray volcanic mass of Mt. Rose. It traverses around the northside of the mountain and climbs above 10,000 feet which is above the elevation that trees can survive. Look for low growing alpine plants that can tolerate cooler temperatures, wind and drier soil such as Alpine gold and Nuttall’s sandwort which do well in the thin very poorly developed layer of soil that characterizes this biotic community

Alpine Gold

Common Name: Alpine Gold

Scientific Name: Hulsea algida

Family: Asteraceae

Notes: This flower is usually found on talus mountain slopes.

Nuttall’s Sandwort

Common Name: Nuttall’s Sandwort

Scientific Name: Minuartia muttallii

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Notes: This Sandwort is usually found above 9,000 feet and is characterized by its awl shaped leaves.

Summit trail & Alpine flowers

The trail to the summit continues to climb a few more rocky switchbacks…notice the Sulfur Buckwheat and Oval leaved Buckwheat

Oval-leaved Buckwheat

Common Name: Oval-leaved Buckwheat

Scientific Name: Erigeron

Family: Polygonaceae

Notes: This buckwheat is usually found in higher elevations

View East from top

View top Galena meadow & Lake

THE summit: On a clear day are views of Freel Peak, Mt Tallac and the Reno Sparks area .

View Top wind break

View top Lake Tahoe

There is a small rock shelter at the top and a register to share with other climbers.

Big Thunder Cloud

Make sure to check the weather report because the exposed top of Mt Rose is quickly affected by any weather… especially late afternoon Thunder clous!

The big cloud overhead quickly created a major thunder and lightening storm dumping large hail stones along the trail! Very treacherous hiking down! ALWAYS bring rain gear!

Hail

Relay Peak & Mt. Rose summit trail

Connector Trail to Relay peak

ALTERNATE ROUTE TO Mt. ROSE SUMMIT: Relay peak connector. To access this trail take the connector trail from the Trailhead to the left (towards the Lake) and follow it until it reaches the Relay trail which is forest service road #17N85 (This road is used by authorized vehicles to maintain the communication equipment on Relay Peak)

Trail view to Relay Peak

The trail offers great views of Relay Peak and looking back, great views of Lake Tahoe.

View Lake Tahoe

Snow Pond & Relay Peak

The trail to Relay Peak eventually passes a meadow with a small pond, Snow Pond (Frog Pond).This is a great picnic site even if one doesn’t make it to the summit of either Relay Peak or Mt. Rose. Check for the Pacific Chorus frog in the meadow areas surrounding Snow Pond.

Pacific Chorus frog

Common Name: Pacific Chorus Frog

Scientific Name; Pseudacris regilla

Family: Hylidae

Notes: This frog derives its name from the “kreckek” that it makes. It is a habitat generalist making its home any many diverse habitats in California.

Trail Junction to Mt Rose

Shortly pass the pond is the trail junction to Galena Falls and Mt Rose summit or a continuation of the Relay peak trail.

All photographs were taken by Lynn Hori. Plant information was gathered from: Plants of the Tahoe Basin by Michael Graft, Sierra Nevada Wildflowers by Karen Wiese, The Laws guide to the Sierra Nevada by John Muir Laws and Sierra Nevada Flora by Norman Weeden and the Jepson Manual 2012. Trail information was gathered from Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe by Mike White.

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TAHOE FLOWER HIKES

Mt. Rose

In Memory of my buddy Kula

Hikes of Tahoe-Truckee

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TAHOE FLOWER HIKES

Mt. Rose

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In Memory of my buddy Kula

Hikes of Tahoe-Truckee

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