Mt. Rose Hill Climb 2026

Description

The Mt. Rose Hill Climb is a fundraiser for Washoe County Search & Rescue, a non-profit team that provides year-round technical Search and Rescue services to the Washoe County community and surrounding mountains, rivers, lakes and deserts. https://www.washoesar.org/

Join us on this 10+ mile, out-and-back course following the Mt. Rose Summit Trail to the spectacular 10,776' summit of Mt. Rose! The trail cuts through National Forest lands and the Mt. Rose Wilderness, passing beautiful scenery, waterfalls, and views of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and surrounding peaks. The race takes place entirely on single-track mountain trail, with a staggered start to allow racers to spread out.

Whether you want to test your strength and endurance, racing up 2,398 vertical feet at elevation (and 2,398 ft back down), or if you're interested in fresh air, exercise, and beautiful scenery, this course has something for any adventurous trail runner and hiker.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each category (running up and back down Mt. Rose), as well as to the overall fastest runner in each category to summit.

*Although we'll do our best to provide accurate timing, please note this event is being timed with stop watches by search and rescue volunteers, not professional race timers. Please be courteous to all volunteers, enjoy racing the Mt. Rose Hill Climb, and thank you for supporting your local Search and Rescue Team!

Looking for more ways to support Washoe County Search and Rescue (WCSAR)? Use the link on the top of this page to donate!

Interested in becoming a race sponsor? Sponsorships received before August 1st may be eligible for business promotion on our race t-shirt and other materials. Contact WCSAR using the form below to learn more.

*This event is sanctioned by USA Track and Field ( USATF.org )

Additional Details (the specifics):

Important Dates: Packet Pickup Information TBA. Check back soon!

Race Day! Saturday, September 12th Please arrive between 6:30am and 7am to secure parking and check-in. 6:30-7am packet pickup for anyone not able to pick up their race packets on Sept. 12. 7:30am-8:30am: Race start! (Staggered start) 10:30pm: Awards Ceremony *Raffle drawing periodically throughout the day

Parking: Please carpool if possible. Parking is limited! Due to USFS permit requirements, we are limited to parking in the dirt lots to either sides of the large, paved parking area. Participants are not allowed to park in the main, paved lot. If the dirt lots are full, be prepared to be DROPPED OFF and park elsewhere, or PARK FURTHER UP THE ROAD AND WALK to the race start.

Aid Stations: Be prepared and self sufficient with the water and snacks you will need to complete the event. There will be water-only aid stations available, however due to the remote nature of the trail, if we run out of water we cannot easily refill.

There will be two Water-Only aid stations that all participants will pass twice. Participants will pass both aid stations on their way up the mountain, and again on their way down the mountain. Approximate aid station locations are: Waterfall Aid Station: located at approximately mile 2.5 and mile 7.5 Upper Aid Station: located at approximately mile 4 and mile 8. *Again, please bring snacks and water with you. If we run out of water we cannot easily refill.

Dropping/ DNF's (Did Not Finish): If you need to drop out of the event for any reason, you must notify the nearest aid station or start/finish line volunteer. We will initiate a search for any participant who is not accounted for at the end of the day. This uses up important resources that may be needed for emergencies elsewhere.

Weather: Please check the weather ahead of time and be prepared. We plan to hold this event rain or shine, except for extreme conditions or safety concerns.

Thank you for supporting Washoe County Search and Rescue!