Location: Mt. Rose Wilderness – Lake Tahoe, NV
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Elevation Change: 2,000′ – from 7,600′ to 9,600′
Recomended Map: Mt. Rose, Nevada
Elevation Profile:
Map of General Route:
Rose Knob Jr. is a quick ski tour for north shore locals who know you don’t need to drive far for amazing backcountry skiing. The views from Rose Knob Peak are among the best you’ll find anywhere in the Lake Tahoe Basin. There is usually a skin track right up the Southeast Ridge, and getting first tracks isn’t likely being so close to town. The day just feels right however. The idea of no state income taxes or parking hassles on the Nevada side, and added value of a T’s Burritos stop in Incline, makes for a relaxing day on “The Knob”. Mt. Rose Knob Peak is different from Rose Knob. (see topo map). Tracks are rare on neighboring Rose Knob, and the easy terrain beneath it looks equally fun to ski. Finding your car can get tricky if you don’t ski to your skin track down low. You never see the parking area along the descent, which is at the top of the neighborhood.
Coming from Hwy 28 and Lake Tahoe, drive up Hwy 431 (Mt. Rose Highway) for a mile or so. Take a left on Fay or Marlette, and follow Jennifer Street to the dead end. Always CARPOOL to backcountry ski tours. There are no official sanctioned trailheads. Be courteous and quiet, move away from the car and go skiing. We can lose access so easily.
You can see the summit of Mt. Rose Knob Peak from your car. Stay out of the drainage, and skin through the trees towards the Southeast Ridge. There is good powder skiing in the east facing trees around mid-mountain. If you go beyond this point, you will want to climb to the summit for your next opportunity for good skiing. You may need ski crampons to climb this wind ravaged slope, or put the skis on your pack and walk straight up. Going to the top is highly recommended for the views. The bowl is about 35 degrees. Perfect for a huge avalanche. Obviously, there was one at some point taking the trees away. The upper bowl gets sun and wind, so the danger is usually twisting your knee more than getting in a slide.
Looking for awesome ski and splitboard tours in the Sierras? We’ve got write ups on many common and uncommon tours curated by the owner of the BackCountry, Mike Schwartz.
I skied Mt. Rose Knob Jr on 3/8/17 with my wife Steph and my 15 year old Daughter Alex. No one on the mountain and some smooth sloppy barely skiable old powder. Good ol mr. Stem Christie helped our knees not snap. Wax proved pricess as usual. Parking at the end of Jennifer Street was nicely plowed out as always, thanks Nevada Plow Drivers! Backcountry Skiing in Tahoe has been awesome all week.
The parking abuse has lead to ticketing. If you park there before the “blower” comes you will stand a good chance of being towed if the plows or blower can’t do their job. There was a fight Saturday cause people blocked others in.
Knob Dec 28, 2019, south facing still held some heavy powder today.
took this shot coming down hwy 431 yesterday. FAT snowpack for this time of year. Of course, here come the winds blowing the snow away all week.