Gamblers and skiers and snowboarders come together to holiday at Mount Rose, just outside of Reno, Nevada at Lake Tahoe. In a truly unique fashion, the ability to ski a major resort like Mount Rose and play the tables at a major gambling mecca just a few miles away can be achieved like nowhere else in the world. Reno Nevada has its own carnival fantasy vibe with fortunes being made and lost every day, while Mount Rose has its own big hill vibe with all the amenities found in other world class resorts but with slightly less crowds. For all who congregate here, it is a match made in heaven.
flickr image by
Jeffrey Pang
All budgets can afford to live the dream. Budget travelers can easily find very inexpensive lodging in Reno with many of the hotels offering discounted ski packages with all the perks including lift tickets, ski rentals and lessons. There's even a round trip affordable ski bus running from Reno to Mount Rose.
Big spenders can be pampered in luxury penthouse suites at the best casino hotels in Reno, rent a limo to take them to the slopes, and ski some of the best trails in the West. Their entourage will find top of the line shopping, spas, and restaurants in Reno and private lessons and attention at Mount Rose.
The trails at Mount Rose are especially kind to beginners and and new snowboarders. There are two terrain parks for boarders. Sledders can glide down for free from Mt. Rose Meadows. Snowshoers can follow the gently rising grade of an access road then descend into Galena Creek Basin. If you want, you can even snow shoe to the top of the mountain, but it takes a heroic effort. The climb is absolutely worth it for panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the state of Nevada below you.
Mont Rose has a 1,8000 foot vertical drop, with 60 trails over 1,200 skiable acres. There are 2 six-person high speed chair lifts (Blazing Zephyr 6 and North Magnum 6) that keep skiers on the move up the mountain, so another benefit of skiing here is that there are no long lines to wait in and if crowds form they are quickly dispersed onto the trails.
Expert skiers who come to ski the double black chutes after a new snow take the quad chairlift to the Slide Bowl. The ski patrol does a good job at averting avalanches.
Mount Rose has not one but two big lodges. It has a huge new multi-million dollar ski lodge called Winters Creek Lodge, which is an ultra modern mirrored edifice with steel beams and dramatic views outdoors. Dining inside the lodge you can get pasta, burgers, pizzas and sandwiches as well as being able to dine outside on the large patio. It sits like a big mirrored cube on the snowy landscape, its widows reflecting the scenery outdoors.
The second lodge houses the Lodgepole Café for hamburgers, soups and chili. The Sky Bar with a fireplace and flat screen TVs. A coffee bar. And the Timbers Tavern for après ski. Out on the patio you can find the View*B*Que grilling dogs, bratwurst, burgers and chicken. You can even find Chinese food here! The Happy Panda has all your favorite Chinese dishes and is also located in the main lodge. This is where you locate the ski shop and find ski rentals.
The parking lots are free and the lift ticket prices are reasonable compared to nearby ski resorts. Mount Rose doesn't have epic trails, but it makes up for it in being affordable, friendly and in not having the crowds the other ski areas experience.
If you stay in Reno, about 25 minutes away, there are so many activities you could never do them all in one trip. Some of them include the big hotel casinos and resorts, the National Automobile Museum, the Animal Ark Zoo, spas, hang gliding at Thermal Sky Sports, the Nevada Museum of Art, downtown river walk, the Discovery Museum, as well as all the shows, restaurants and shopping in downtown Reno.
Affordable accommodations can be found at the Staybridge Suites Reno Nevada, which have fully equipped kitchenettes in every room. Silver Legacy Resort and Casino is a big hotel near to everything with an in-house casino. This is where to book that luxury penthouse suite!
View Larger Map
Skiing at Mount Rose Resort was an incredible experience. I loved that there were no crowds, just a bunch of friendly people having a great time skiing. The black trails were great and had a variety of terrain. The staff was the best ever. They were super friendly and having as much fun as the skiers! I recommend this resort for anyone that wants to have a fun time. Roseann Lahey
