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Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
43 reviews for Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
4 stars and I'll tell you why. They put in fast lifts before they put in fancy lodges and that is what I need (just go to kirkwood to see a nice lodge and slow lifts). They get the chutes open after storms every time (just go to alpine after a storm to see new snow and closed runs). Did I mention the chutes! North facing, long and fairly steep. They hold snow and dont get iced over (firm sometimes, Icy never). Yes there are a lot of kids but I don't find it a problem.
Not to many 5 star resorts around and that is due to all of em having high prices.
Im not sure why all the complaints from snowboarders. How cruisey are you looking for???
This was an awesome experience compared to the other ski resorts I've been to. It's 3stars because I will echo the sentiment of others that its not a great place to board, but other than that, the wifey and I had a blast.
The snow was tightly packed and a bit icy, the lifts were nearly empty (sweet!), and there weren't a bazillion kids not watching where they are going.
These are the kinds of things that enjoy my time.. regardless of the icy snow. There weren;t a lot of choices of trails... you were either green or black diamond, with a few blues (leading either to black or green). The blacks did not look challenging, rather, an extreme slope. I prefer challenging runs with narrow areas, mini jumps, and some steep slopes (but i hate moguls).
Overall a 3.5 star experience.
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Maybe it was the narrow trails filled with little children. Maybe it was the trees everywhere creating little death traps. Maybe it was the forced choice between Black Diamond or little pink bunny hill.
I didn't like this place at all. It is set up for skiing - NOT snowboarding. I spent five hours looking for a sweet spot where I could have fun, and all I found was boredom or torture. I'm really not that picky - I just want some decent downhill with enough room to get it on without a ton of work and worry. The California side (which is 3/4 of the place) blew chunks. Completely overrun by little kids. Little narrow forest trails running between cliffs and flats. By the time we got to the Nevada side it was snowing and blowing too hard to have fun - it did seem better over there - but I couldn't tell.
The Acapulco sandwich was good. The walk from the parking lot wasn't bad. The rest was a big waste of money, no matter how cheap the deal.
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This place blows.
When a local server speaks to you about where your boarding the next day and cringes at the mention of Mt. Rose, you know that's a bad sign of what's to come.
I was a bit hesitant to come here for the past weekend, having to pay $56 for a lift ticket here on a much smaller mountain compared to the same I could be paying at a premium resort and larger in size like Northstar ($56 w/ Voucher). But sticking together always wins and a lot of the people I went up with were first timers which brings up ONE good thing about Mt. Rose, they have an excellent and cheap beginner package with rentals/lessons for only $59 ['08-09 season]. Oh it was also Elvis day where all the employees were dressed up as Elvis, guess that was kind of cool.. til the debacle later.
Now for the rest of it, from rude employees you first encounter near the ticket center to the mediocre mountain itself which is further worsened with the addition of crappy food.
I didn't need rentals and happened to not be lugging my 50 pound ski boots and gear while I looked for the guest services area, but I was continuously told when we first arrived to head down to the lodge to get rentals in a condescending tone... all I wanted to do was to find the guest services to help a friend with their lost ticket voucher :(
The resort itself is pretty small compared to the others I've been to. There's only six real lifts, bunny slope handle bars don't count as lifts in my opinion but there's two of those lifts for beginners. Three of the six lifts are horrendously slow but thankfully they are located on the green slopes/ski trails. The mountain has three main faces, the left/backside, center/Chutes, and the right side of the mountain. Chutes were closed due to rocks protruding out and being unsafe just from one glance at the mountain but it's the side with all the double blacks, not a big loss.
The right side of the mountain where most of the people were skiing and boarding was always heavily congested but the reason being that's where most of the intermediate and beginner runs were located. The left side/backside of the mountain is probably the best of the three faces since there's less people, a fast express lift, and it's pretty wide open. However due to mediocre ski conditions, this side was also the iciest and most painful to ski down.
A lot of the other yelp reviews claimed that Mt. Rose would be less crowded than usual compared to other resorts which is somewhat true. I went on a Saturday that wasn't considered a peak day and there was a modest amount of people on the slope, at least on the better runs. At the top of the main lift to the summit, Northwest Magnum, this place was pretty chaotic and became a mosh pit as you exited the lift, having little room to maneuver since there was always a huge amount of boarders fixing their bindings on the single bench. This was made worse since other people stood around waiting for their party since you couldn't quad it up, but instead have to split into doubles or singles to get on the six person lift. Way to break up groups.
The advertised views of the surrounding areas are nice, but with the lack of snowfall this season it's not all that great to view a sea of brown dirt, I think I prefer Heavenly's view of an always blue lake.
As you make your way from the top of the mountain it's hard to not notice that a lot of the trails are not marked for ease of use and mostly only point out the potential black/advanced runs you can take. If you don't have a trail guide handy it's quite easy to find yourself on a trail you didn't expect to be on. The backside is lacking in signs as well on trail merges and I was constantly wondering, where the hell was I on the map as I skied further off to the left side.
Worst part of the whole experience at Mt. Rose had to be the food. Elvis day was somewhat amusing, with all the lift operators and staff dressed up in their Elvis gear until an Elvis decided to serve me lunch. My typically overpriced spaghetti noodles were handled with bare hands and me being indifferent to most cases of unsanitary food practices decided to chill and let it go. Much to my mistake a few minutes after finishing lunch I was feeling crappy and it led to a massive stomachache. Not willing to let a day of skiing go to waste just because of stomach pain I kept on skiing till closing but that was one awful experience.
Don't waste your money here, drive the extra time to hit up the better resorts, it's worth it.
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What do you get when lift tickets for kids ages 6-12 are $17??
YES you guessed it right, a TON of kids to run down on the slopes.
After coming back to Mt. Rose again, I decided that I do not like Mt. Rose and will probably not return unless they offer lift tickets for free, or something. Here are the reasons why:
1. Half the mountain consists of Chutes, aka double blacks covered with hard packed "snow."
2. Every other person is a kid.
3. Only two long gondola rides that take you to two of their longest runs. But before you can get on those runs, you have to make it through a flat.
4. Take the wrong turn and you end up on a mogel & tree filled black. NOT FUN.
5. 80% of the runs are short and I like my runs longer, like Heavenly per se.
But here's 3 reasons why I do like about Mt. Rose:
1. Cheap food! And tasty french fries.
2. Parking is close to the main lodge.
3. Resort is close to Reno, aka gambling!
**Note how none of it relates to actually being on the snow.
So long and farewell Mt. Rose -- you will not earn my patronage.
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I had good fun here skiing. It was storming in a big way so we only paid $40 for lift tickets and then all the lifts opened anyway. This was the Sunday of President's Day weekend, so we were looking to avoid crowds -- which we did. This was on the good advice of locals. Will definitely return to Mt. Rose. It may be small but the runs are lovely. Also, there is a nice bar area which actually enforces 21+ and the beer selection is splendid. Folks are friendly, service cheerful.
Mt. Rose may be small, but it's close to town for a great day of skiing.
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Had a pretty good day of boarding on Sunday. We decided to do a day-trip pretty last minute and picked Mt Rose for the $50 deal for an all day lift ticket. The weather was sunny and the snow wasn't icy. Awesome!!
But I get the feeling Mt Rose doesn't like me. Last time I was here, I left with two sprained MCLs, a meniscus tear in my left knee and a sprained shoulder. This time, my toe strap on my bindings broke off at noon and I had to salvage the rest of the day with half of a binding.
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We stayed at Silver Legacy and it was a short 20 minutes drive. Thanks Dot for recommending! I was the chuefer this weekend, not a SB or Skier. I was lounging and observed the staffl. Everyone is friend and helpful.
They had a BBQ going outside of the Cafe with very decent food.
I was hoping for better phone reception and was only able to text when I was outside with signal going in and out. My verizon boardcard worked only for about 30 minutes so I did not get that much done.
Mary T, Calvin S. and Diane had a good time learning how to SB. We saw this cutest kid (we think he is only 2 y/o) He was awesome on skies.
Inspire me to give SB and sking a try again. =)
My first experience at Mt. Rose happened on the MLK weekend in January. We picked up our prepaid tickets at REI and headed for Reno. For the 6 of us, we have never been to Mt. Rose and didn't know what to expect. There was this practice slope on the left side of the lifts. You take a conveyor belt up the slope and then strap in and glide down this hill...about 5 seconds. Lots of little kids and their parents. Then you move along to the bunny slope lift...forgot what it was called...but man that lift was soo slow and the part of where you get off is really steep for a beginner lift. Then once you're comfortable you move on to the other lifts. My favorite run is around the world only because it is super long. I like the trails here since they are pretty wide, well groomed, and lots of signs to point you in the right directions.
When you get to the very top, people have said that on one side there's the lake with snow and then the other side is dry desert. Well I wouldn't say its exactly like that, we saw desert for sure, but since it was pretty bare, there was no snow at lake tahoe either. So maybe after a snowstorm, the story of the views are true.
The only embarrassing part of this mountain (for me) is when there are little 8-year-olds better than you and they're going down the chutes and ask if you are okay when you fall on a flatter part. Other than that, I enjoyed this mountain and would visit again. There wasn't much snow when we went so I would like to visit when there's tons of fresh powder.
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I love this place! Well for many different reasons. The first time I've gone here, I ended up hurting myself quite badly and needed ER/medical attention. I received the attention I needed immediately and they did everything correctly to aid me in getting to the ER and made sure that I was ok.
I think this is not the kind of experience that many people would have at Mt. Rose so I have to say it's a great thing to know about a place where you can potentially hurt yourself very badly.
The missing star in this raving five-star review definitely addresses the issue of the speed of their lifts. Most of their lifts are quite slow and it takes you a long time to get anywhere! This cuts down on your available time to use towards your day pass. However, I think for the price this resort is great.
Their food is definitely not bad either, abide expensive, but great tasting nonetheless. I am definitely coming back here again!
I went early on into the season but it was still good, for sure it was shirt day.
They had 2 lifts running or if you want to get technical 1 lift and 1 automatic rubber mat escalator type thing.
the progression park was a fun not crowded at all no lines maybe because it was super farrrrrrrr.
I would defiantly go back but later in the season when everything is open.
If there is a hole in the wall for ski resorts, this would be it. It's tucked away, just a bit too for a day trip, for those who live in the bay area. For those who will be there for multiple days, then I'd suggest going to this resort.
Long lines are avoidable if you are skilled enough to head to the very top. If not, lines are typical of any other resort but still better than the resorts closer to home.
Would I go again? Definitely! Hopefully, I'll be able to find buddies to to to the very top with me.
This place doesn't take life seriously and you shouldn't either! Elvis's birthday... I know where I'm going! If you happen to be in town for Elvis's birthday and you snowboard or ski I say go here! Many of the employees were dressed as Elvis and had names like Kate-vis. They also rocked sideburns and huge Elvis style sunglasses. Throughout the day I constantly found myself giggling at the staff and other riders who dressed for the occasion. It's a crazy feeling when you bite it hard and look up to see several Elvii asking if you are okay. Hard to distinguish how many were really there, but it was better than seeing stars!
Seriously though this place is on my top ten of all time favorite places to ride. It's the highest mountain in the area so although it catches bad winds more frequently than other places, it also catches better and more snow. The people here are genuinely nice and rather than get mad if you bite it in front of them I found more here than anywhere else they stop or shout asking if you're okay.
There isn't a mountain town associated with this mountain so it prevents family vacationers and tourists, which translates to less lines! The food was super inexpensive and great for being at a mountain. Pus a few times that I was there they had the local fire department selling helmets for cost in the cafeteria. They weren't there to make money, they just wanted you to ride safely! I actually bought a really nice one for about half what I would have paid at a store two seasons ago.
Overall this is just the spot for people of all riding abilities who don't want to get screwed on lift ticket prices and hate waiting in long lines. =)
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This is a little biased review, b/c this is my little gem in Tahoe and my family and I own a cabin just down the hill in the outskirts of Reno, about a 20 minute drive. So yea, I've been here a few times and have learned the ups and downs and whats and whats-nots. If I stick to my plan then my day will easily yield a 4-5 star experience.
First of all, even though Mt. Rose doesn't attract the huge crowds of other Tahoe resorts, it can still get densely populated on the weekends. Mostly b/c the lodge/base area had not really been expanded or upgraded, so when the crowd comes, it gets packed! But on the weekdays, this place is straight money, especially on Tuesdays when it is "2 for 1 Tuesdays" and tickets will go for $31.
So on a good planned day, I'll cruise up on a Tuesday, park in the usually empty East Bowl parking lot, get a cheap ticket, then ski the entire mountain including the somewhat newly opened "Chutes". With runs named "Nightmare" and "Hornets Nest" these are some of the steepest stuff I've ever encountered in these parts and shit, maybe anywhere for that matter. For a lunch break, we can ski straight to the tailgate of my truck where I usually bring a cooler and some lunch. And when we are done, it is just a mere ten steps to get back on the lift.
So yea, if you are able to ski on the weekdays, then you will be handsomely rewarded. If you insist on going on the weekends then it will be an entirely different experience. There will be lines, there will be people sitting on the ground b/c there will be no available chairs etc. etc. The difference is black and white, cool and not cool, you get the point.
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We picked Mt. Rose because it was close to Reno where we stayed and their first timer lesson was only $59 with equipment rental! I would return for lessons based on the price but I guess instructors are the pick of the draw. Got one that English was not his first language so a little difficult to follow the poses and explanations. We did not learn how to get on and off the lift on snowboards so am not sure if that is supposed to be part of your first lesson or not. I think Mt. Rose mostly has black runs so if I get past the beginner stages, I would look for a mountain with more greens and blues.
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Mt. Rose. You make me giggle inside with glee as i turn up those switchbacks to your parking lot.
I love this place because its sort of like the diamond in the rough. I would say its more a locals spot. While the rat pack of college kids and obnoxious families go to Northstar and Sierra, you get a refined (and much less crowded) gathering of boarders and skiiers comming here.
The rides are more pleasant because most of your day is not spent waiting in line.
It is so easy on the wallet, about half the price of Northstar or Sierra.
The food is DAMN CHEAP! When I eat at northstar, I feel like im getting raped. Cost of food is obnoxious there!
And gotta love the Chutes.... for the extreme snow sports dare devil!
I dock one star because they get wind holds sometimes that last all day. Is that thier fault? no, id blame mother nature, but the layout of the mountain can cause for quite a few of those which can ruin a trip there.
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We decided, on a whim to go to this place after hearing from the friendly folks at Incline Village Rentals that North Star was going to be a madhouse.
Why Mt. Rose is awesome (and yet, can't be found with a regular Yelp search...hmm):
1) Time from parking lot to lodge, with equipment is less than 10 minutes. No village to walk through (!!). No gondolas.
2) Time from lodge to lift = less than 2 minutes.
3) Most amount of time waited in line (on a busy holiday weekend) = less than 3 minutes.
4) Lonngggg runs. GREAT greens which are wide.
5) Reasonably priced food - $2.75 for the yummiest ski resort fries EVER. Sandwiches and burgers were around $5?
5) For season pass holders, you can drive up to their second lodge and go (time from car to lift = less than 1 minute).
6) Ski Bowl, which is an area on the backside of the mountain is GREAT for practicing your carving (although getting to it may be a little difficult).
7) Breathtaking views.
I think that it can be windy up on Mt. Rose (highest summit elevation...whatever that means), but the lack of fuss is totally worth it. They also have a variety of deals & passes you can take advantage of.
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I was here last weekend for the 1st time. I took a "rookie" snowboarding class, the instructor was really good and very patient with us. Small class size, there were only 4 of us. The easy slopes were wide, long and not too steep so it was perfect to learn on.
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I was going to write this review last night after coming back from snowboarding at Mt. Rose, but I was exhausted and my whole body was sore, so I decided to wait until today even though my body is still aching.
A group of us signed up for the First Timer Package (only $49) which included lift access (Ponderosa and Galena Lifts), rental equipment, and beginning instruction by a very sarcastic, but attentive and nice guy named Chris.
Taking the lesson was a great idea because we learned about our boards and how to stand on it, how to relax/breath, to take it slow and avoid hitting other boarders, turning and stopping, getting on and off the lifts and most importantly, properly falling and how to get up. Falling is what I did best -- I am sore all over, but my ass hurt the most. I'm glad we took the lesson instead of just going on our own like last time I went snowboarding at Boreal.
There are tons of lesson options from rookie to advanced and private available at Mt. Rose. Also, check out the website for their daily specials on full day lift tickets like "Student Wednesdays" for $21 and "Ladies Day Thursdays" for $19.
As much pain as I was in last night and today, I will continue to snowboard when I can this season and beyond -- I love it, it's such an awesome experience. The pains will go away and the bruises will heal eventually :-)!
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After the BEST weekend all year, I had to write another update. I read these reviews of boarders and people who don't like Rose and boo hoo to you! And to you 1 and 2 star reviewers, stay away then, you are the ones' that fall getting off the lift and slow down the line and clog the cat tracks to the good runs!
People complain that there are flats, or only black diamonds with trees, which is total BS, there are some great big WIDE blues(kit carsons, Bruce's) that are groomed and fun to fly down or if you're a beginner take your time getting down.
Yes there might seem to be more kids on the mountain that anywhere else, but you know they are the locals who start skiing at 3 and by high school and jr high they are part of the ski team called the Falcons, and they can out ski most of you 20 something beginners, so if you complain that you are are going to mow them over, it's only becuase you have no control because you suck, not the kids. I've been watching these guys fly down black moguls, do 360's off the big jumps etc, because they are there every weekend practicing, the kids are not something I would complain about.
But that aside, they had over 6 feet of new beautiful high quality snow over the past week of storms here in late February, and this past Saturday March 7th they had a passholders Appreciation Day, where you could bring a guest for $25. Not only that they had a freestyle contest for anyone and the best part...FREE BEER!!! Yes you had to ski down the green run, as they hid the tent away from the masses, but that's why I love mt rose. ..free beer, they make the best Bloody Mary's around, and even on the most crowded of days, the 6 person high speed chairs get you up super fast. I would say we skiied 8 runs in 2 hours, and that is taking breaks along the way. I would be lucky to ski 8 runs ALL DAY at such circus resorts as Heavenly, Squaw or Northstar....my bf went to Squaw 2 weeks ago, said it sucked, the lines were massive, the snow quality sucked and it was totally not worth the money....and lastly the best thing about Rose, it's a locals mountain, people are super friendly, and there are no buses full of tourists getting dumped off.
If you want great skiing, go to Rose...easy access(we skiied to our car when we wanted to leave), cheap pass, cheap food and drink in the lodge, high speed 6 person chairs, and cool people who work there! And lastly really good patrons, that are fun to watch fly down the mountains or jump off the huge jumps.
(yes there is no half pipe, maybe to keep the snowboarders away)
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/9/2008
HELLO PEOPLE!!!?? $333 season pass for 2008-2009 with NO , I repeat NO BLACK OUT DATES!!! Buy it… Read more »
Simply a classic.
Grew up on these slopes (ex-Rosebud 20 something years ago) so there's a bit of nostalgia here, but whenever I complain about other resorts I find myself comparing them to Rose. My only complaint used to be the lack of really difficult terrain - recently solved with the opening of the chutes. As a kid I was terrified of riding the Northwest 3 chair over the (then) avalanche area. They're now as terrifying as ever, but (somehow) safe to ride on.
Being far enough away from California to keep the place decidedly local and usually uncrowded always makes for a good day out. Not having a shopping village/resort town keeps you on target with the whole point of a ski resort - skiing (or boarding). It is simple, drive in, ski/board, drive home. Sure, apres ski is limited this way, but you've got the biggest little city just around the corner.
See you up there!
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1 STAR-super affordable lift tickets
1 STAR-it's not touristy or resort-like...never a bad thing
1/2 STAR-it's a mountain with snow and that can't be a bad thing
I'm not surprised to see that only 2 people before me have reviewed Mt. Rose. It is my least favorite resort in the Tahoe area...Flatstar being my next least favorite. My sisters, both of whom have lived in the god forsaken city of Reno for way too many years (read: over 25)...swear that this is the resort that all the "locals" go to. To this I say, "well, your 'locals' must be lazy and don't want to drive to the good resorts!" While it is true, Mt. Rose is not touristy, I think there is a good reason; the weather and snow often both suck.
I'm not sure how many times I've been here. Each time I would fly out from NYC to visit my sisters, my oldest sister would drag my ass up to Mt. Rose to ski. Now, I was thrilled to be going skiing, as this was prior to my learning to snowboard, but not on Mt. Rose. Can't we go somewhere good, I'd ask? Her retort, "This is where all the locals go." Ugh! The locals surely must know what good snow and good weather is, so I gathered that they must just be lazy...or else my sister is lying. I see either scenario as a possibility.
If you are near Reno/Sparks, Mt. Rose is certainly the most convenient resort (about a half hour drive), not to mention the most affordable. Their lift ticket specials are as follows for the 2007-2008 season:
Two 'fer Tuesdays (except for holiday dates)
$29 Student Wednesdays
$19 Ladies Day Thursdays
$124 Weekend X-tender (either Fri-Sun or Sat-Mon)
These lift ticket prices are hard to beat. Even so, I think I would take my chances at Diamond Peak before I ever returned to Mt. Rose.
******TAHOE CARD OFFERS $13 OFF ALL-DAY ADULT TICKETS*****
-this discount is good 7 days a week (non-holiday)
-cards can be purchased online at http://www.snowbomb.com or at North Tahoe Costco locations in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City
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A very affordable ski resort that is great for intermediate and beginner boarders. (We can't speak for skiiers.)
This is the mountain where A learned to carve for the first time, so if you look really closely, you'll still see his butt-print carve down the backside of the mountain.
It's still "undiscovered" by many of the regional visitors, so we recommend you get your boarding fix in here before it gets crowded like a bathroom at an Indian hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
It's not as big as Alpine or Northstar, but that's what gives Mt. Rose the perfect niche for intermediate boarders. Who really covers that much ground in big resorts anyways? We seem to spend half the time waiting to get on a ski lift.
All in all, if you can stand the drive (high altitude and close to Reno), we suggest planning around this place once a season.
I know that Mt. Rose is often seen as cheapo resort, and hey - it is, but for the price, it's not bad at all. ( I consider it above average).
First of all, I love that if you're a beginner you can get rentals, ski lift ticket (note: green slopes only) and a 1.5 hr lesson for $49. What a deal. Took my 12 year old sister and after she completed the 1.5 hr lesson, she went on the green run no problem! ( first timer!).
They are the friendliest staff I met. Squaw and Heavenly kids can get a bit on the snobby side.
Not as many slopes as Heavenly but quite a few considering where they're located. (Near Reno! Great affordable place to ski at if you're planning to chill at the Harrah's or around those other casino areas).
They also don't have any of that nice shopping mall nonsense; yes it's small, and yes it can get crowded ( don't all ski resorts though during high season) ? but it's straight to the point and the runs aren't all that bad.
I'd go back for sure!!
Pretty good value. Good family resort and they make it very easy to get the kids into ski school so the parents can go ski. Excellent snow the day we were there--but some of the locals said it had been a while. Variety of terrain is impressive from confidence-builder green runs to OMG-what-are-they-thinking double diamond chutes.
I heart Rose.
Why Mt Rose is better than other Mtns:
- Being a snowboarder, I hate hate hate the big mountains like Heavenly where you spend all day traversing on cat tracks from one run to another.
-There aren't a ton of families either, which ends up minimizing the chaos of rugrats falling all over the place.
-How much do you love parking at Squaw or Alpine and having to shclep your stuff from the parking lot to the lifts. Oh, you hate it too? Mt Rose has a parking lot that is SO close to the lift lines; with your season pass in tow, you can get from car to chairlift in under 5min.
Why Mt Rose is, in general awesome:
- Their pre-season pass is approx $400 and a great deal for your money.
- Mt. Rose is definitely great for the advanced skiers; the mountain is primarily blacks with some serious double-blacks (that are kind of a bitch on a snowboard because they are so narrow).
-Mt Rose also knows not to take itself too seriously -- check out their website for details on the dress-like-Elvis days.
-On their lists of illegal things on the mtn, they include the typical (weapons, booze, etc) but then also add "no mullets". Hilarious.
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How can you not love a resort that celebrates Elvis' birthday every year? The irreverence factor alone makes it well worth a visit.
Located at the top of Mt. Rose Highway, this resort sits halfway between Reno and Lake Tahoe. This means spectacular views of both the lake and the desert, depending where you are. Terrainwise, this place is more intermediate when the Chutes are not open. When they are, however, it means access to some of the steepest lift served terrain around.
Mt. Rose has no lodging on site, no spas, and no real amenities - quite refreshing in this age of villages. It also doesn't take itself too seriously, and doesn't have aspirations of resort development. It's a parking lot and a base lodge (or two when Slide is open) that harkens back to the days when the ski resorts in the region were more about skiing than the 'snowsports vacation experience'.
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After going to Heavenly for a day, we came back to Mount Rose - my wife and I both skied (with rentals) for less than the price of our Heavenly lift tickets. Plus, Heavenly's snack bars and bars were outrageous - whereas Mount Rose had great, reasonable prices. We're coming back in a few weeks!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/5/2008
We came here to learn how to ski, and wanted to beat the holiday crowds. We showed up on 5 December… Read more »
I can't stand the fact that I pay full ticket price even for a half-day. What they need to do is upgrade all their lifts to high speeds. The snow was crappy too! There where rocks prodruding on almost every run, it was like dodging mines in a war. The biggest complaint I had is that their lift lines where crazy long, even on their two 6 seaters!
All Hail the Chutes...
I learned to ski here so of course it holds a special place in my heart.
And I miss the really good deck BBQ. Sniffle.
But it's still small time, and not too crowded.
Good Weather protection, better than Alpine and Squaw but of course, much much smaller.
24-hour Snow Phone @ 775-849-0704.
Watch out for the fog on the East Bowl, its comes in quick sometimes and if you are wearing your tinted goggles, imagine running at 40 mph through a very thick (and crowded) cloud.
It's always easy to find someone since the entire front-side funnels into the same pool.
The East Bowl is great, but now, I spend all my time in the chutes.
THE CHUTES ARE GREAT, PERIOD.
Steep, fun when blanketed or heavily chewed up, the top-most gates are the best to avoid people but honestly, I've been there on several weekends and weekdays and there are rarely many people on them.
The chutes are great because you can spot your line and rip without too much worry of a lost snowboarder traversing across in front you with his oblivious back to the hill. They are very hard to traverse and there is only one way out, down.
This sort of explains the lack of traffic on the Chutes. Enjoy.
I visited Mt.Rose on a trip to Reno and a few things really stood out compared to my experiece in other ski resorts:
1) The Staff is crazy helpful...everyone from the guy making sure you safely get on the lift to the random encounter at the ski shop (where I actually got a good deal on gloves and goggles).
2) I took a "first timers" and "rookie" lessons on the two days I went here...always had an excellent time with the instructors, their pace, attitude and knowledge. The classes were going on every hour and the groups were small (6 ppl)
3) cheap! full day rental gear+lift tix were included in the price of the lesson...a full day of green slopes+rental gear+90 minutes of instruction=$56...and all this was a half hour from my hotel!
Mt. Rose is a hidden gem of a ski resort in Tahoe. Because of its location away from the Northstar, Alpine, Squaw Valley triangle most folks from the Bay Area miss it entirely. But it is just 15 minutes from Incline Village and since you do not have to drive through Tahoe City it is much easier to get to than most of the other resorts on the North Shore. Most of the people who ski here are from Reno, so the vibe is very laid back.
With a base of over 8,000 feet it gets some of the best snow in the Tahoe area, in my opinion, the only place that gets better snow in the Sierras is Kirkwood. The addition of the Chutes terrain makes this an amazing expert resort but I really enjoy the Slide side of the mountain and have had epic days just skiing this part of the mountain.
nice staff, less crowded alternative to Tahoe resorts.
also has an EMT with a first aid station on site.
no wi-fi or AT&T cellular service, so bring a laptop or DVD player for grandma or the dude who sprained his wrist on the first day for your second day activities.
the kids love snowboarding here!
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Having successfully completed my 1st attempt at snowboarding just a few weeks ago, I was eager to try again. As luck would have it, a family member recently relocated to Arrow Creek in Reno, NV, so we found ourselves spending a 3 day weekend just 15-20 mins. from Mt. Rose Ski Resort!
We had a huge group including 2 teens, 6 adults and 2 kids. The snowboard instruction program for kids is called "Rosebuds" and my 9 y.o. niece & 7 y.o. nephew were in good hands w/ their instructors, Laura & Han. They both came out excited & thinking about the next time they would snowboard. The remaining 8 of us were under the awesome, patient, safety-conscious care of Chris - trainer extraordinaire.
For the "First-Timer snowboard instruction program, it was $49 each for equipment rental, all-day pass to 2 runs & what turned out to be a grueling, educational, thrilling 2.5 hour group class. It was great that we all knew each other in our group and Chris made sure to give us individualized attention & tips.
We started off with brief intros., learning how to fall, do basic J turns (both toe turns and heel turns), & most importantly, how to STOP! I learned quickly that it's key to leave your fear & anxiety at the lodge - there's really no room/time for it. You just need to COMMIT to the moves you need to make (btw, I failed to do this, but I'll work on it next time. Oh yes, there WILL be a next time soon)!
After a few of these exercises & going through each of them, casually, but mostly one at a time, we proceeded to the most wonderful experience I've had, thus far, on a snowboard: The Flying Jenny! Jenny, my true love... a slow-moving escalator up a shallow slope. As I hopped on to Jenny, I practiced my athletic stance, digging in my toes/heels, & breathing! It was also great to semi-practice unloading at the top of the escalator (though it was nothing like the mound/HILL when you dismount the lift atop the beginner Ponderosa trail!).
This bunny slope was flagged at regular intervals, through which we'd practice the different techniques we just learned. After this, we headed over to a makeshift practice lift (basically a lift bench planted atop a small snow mound) & practiced dismounting before heading out to the lift.
We assembled in a roped off area just beside the lift line, in lines of two. As soon as we were ready, we were loaded on, before the "public line."
As easy as it seemed when we practiced getting off the lift, you'd think it would've been easy for me to get it right the 1st time. Instead, I lost any sense of control & calm I might have had when I saw that I would be pushing off my lift bench to slide down a frickin HILL - not a mound - but a HILL (at least for me, as a newbie! And others agreed. I was sincerely not prepared for this).
From this point forward, we went through strategically placed routes to practice a variety of things: how to get up to begin w/our back facing the down slope (lay on back, lift legs w/board up in air, flip your legs/upper body until you're belly down, laying on your forearms). From there, we had to try & stand, digging our toes in to avoid sliding/moving right away, then we had to work our way down the hill, at an angle, practicing our stops along the way. This was a great training regimen on how to handle a descent slowly. Our trainer, Chris, explained the concept in comparison to a leaf falling from a tree - it doesn't fall straight down, it goes down moving slowly from side to side. We weren't prepared to ride it out yet, so this was a good way to emphasize the importance of restraint and control while practicing technique. The rest of the trail included a "HILL of death..." and icy, icy, icy snow (you know, the kind that really hurts when you fall on it)!
Everything about this place was a positive experience - minus one star for the 2 young unprofessional employees manning the boot rentals. The facility was clean & warm w/great views. Their cafe was efficient & decently priced (I highly recommend the vegetarian chili). Every employee we came across was professional, friendly & actually seemed as if they actually liked being at work - it all added to the whole experience.
Some closing snowboarding tips:
Breathe;
Relax;
Maintain an athletic stance (knees slightly bent, hips squared);
Use your arms/hands to help you through the moves;
The natural tendency to maintain/gain balance is to stand up straight - In snowboarding, you ALWAYS maintain an athletic stance;
Don't look down at your boots - face your head to where you want to go.
RIDE IT OUT!!!
FYI - You have to see "the Chutes" to appreciate them - they seriously look like cliff faces! And this day, there was a steady line to get to the top of the lift!
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first time during new year weekend.
i didn't expect it to be THAT close to Reno.
supposedly half day ticket was $48, but they only charge me $44. $4 savings makes me happy. they didn't even have holiday prices since it was a new year weekend. unlike northstar, it would have cost me $71 just to board. i rather use that money to gamble!
mt rose is pretty small compare to northstar and even sierra but i like it. there aren't many green runs but a beginner skier or snowboarder can easily finish the blues. i love the fact the parking lot is right next to the lodge especially for people who have their own gear. no one likes to walk all the way back to their car exhausted after a whole day of boarding.
surprisingly, the resort wasn't crowded especially on a holiday weekend.
i recommend mt rose for beginners who is willing to learn and have fun!
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I spent a lot of early snowboarding years here. Living in Incline Village, this was not too far a drive. Mt Rose can be hit and miss. It's away from the crush of the rest of Tahoe and it's cheaper. It can also be super windy and miserable at times; because of the high base and winds sometimes lifts close down (but Squaw and Alpine do also). One time it was so windy and sleet filled that all my clothes were freezing to a sheer of ice on the outer layer. However it was still a lot of fun. Great for beginning and intermediate riders who want something different and away from the other resorts.
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Going to Heavenly this weekend made me realize how much I miss Mount Rose...
rose is the place to take the kids...look for lots of promotions.
great locals spot...with a high base elevation.
cheap and easy to get to if you live in reno or northshore.
great beginner runs...and you can find your family quickly.
if the slide side is open then the place gets sorta fun...
mt. rose is between incline village and reno.
My husband and I and (with six you get eggrolls) four kids 8-21 ski here often and love the funky and fun personality of the place, the wide variety of runs and the easy parking!!! Don't tell anyone - it's a secret.
$sixty two the pricing por adult regular....efficiency key at mt. rose...lines running smooth....swing of automatic gates....to speedy lift chairs for six.....up, up and away...various courses blue, black 'n' double black.....runs wide 'n' smooth...well groomed for small o' large....entertainin' mix of drops, bumps 'n' level grounds.....skiers outnumbering boarders...whether a speed demon or cruisin' on empty..mt. rose pleasin' rider's soul....in result...comes high recommendation....but always wanting more...any resort to 100% satisfy?....
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