Mount Rose Campground

Highest campground near Tahoe — 9,300 ft, wildflowers, trailhead access

Location: Reno, NV, NV

Price: From $32 per night

Price range: $32–$55 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (156 reviews)

Elevation: 9124 feet

Season: Early June - September 25

A Forest Service campground at 9,300 feet on the western slope of Mount Rose, directly on the Mount Rose Highway between Reno and Lake Tahoe. 21 paved sites with spacious cement pads, large picnic tables, BBQ grills, and fire pits. Exceptionally clean pit toilets maintained by attentive camp hosts. Gateway to the Tahoe Rim Trail, Mt. Rose Summit Trail, and Tahoe Meadows. Cooler than anywhere else near Tahoe in summer — natural AC at altitude.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Paved Sites with Cement Pads, Potable Water, Pit Toilets (exceptionally clean), Bear Lockers, Fire Rings & BBQ Grates, Large Picnic Tables, Tahoe Rim Trail Access, Mt. Rose Summit Trail Access, Tahoe Meadows Trailhead, Pet Friendly

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/mount-rose to be notified when sites open up.

At 9,300 feet, Mount Rose is the highest developed campground in the Reno-Tahoe region. The elevation alone makes it special — 20 degrees cooler than Reno in summer, meaning it's the perfect heat escape from July–September when the valley floor hits 100°F. The Mt. Rose Summit trail starts essentially at the campground and rewards with simultaneous views of Lake Tahoe AND the Great Basin desert — the only place in the region you can see both at once from a single summit.

The view from the Mt. Rose Summit (10,776 ft) on a clear day is one of the most extraordinary in the American West — Lake Tahoe's vivid blue to the south and the silver-grey expanse of the Great Basin desert to the east, simultaneously. No other accessible viewpoint in the region offers this dual perspective. The trailhead is 1 mile from the campground.

What is new at Mount Rose Campground: Recreation.gov updated site photos for Mount Rose in 2025. Mt. Rose Summit trail was cleared and freshly marked in summer 2025 by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest trail crew. Opens early June 2026 pending snowpack.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions and black bears both present in this area. Store food properly. Don't hike alone at dawn/dusk. Marmots will destroy your gear — don't leave anything outside.

Fire rules: Forest Service rules apply. Fire rings at all sites. Strict enforcement at high elevation due to dry conditions. Check Humboldt-Toiyabe NF fire restrictions before arrival.

Things to do near Mount Rose Campground: Mt. Rose Summit trail — 10.5 mile round trip, views of Tahoe AND Great Basin simultaneously. Tahoe Meadows wildflowers — peak bloom is July, spectacular and accessible 1 mile from camp. Tahoe Rim Trail access — backpacking launch point for multi-day rim adventures. Stargazing — 9,300 feet and no city light pollution. Milky Way visible most clear nights.

Insider tips for Mount Rose Campground: Sites toward the front of the campground are more spaced out and private Mid-week walk-up availability is common even in summer — call ranger to check: (530) 694-9551 Bring layers even in July — nights regularly drop below 40°F at 9,300 feet

Skip Mount Rose Campground if: You need showers. You're traveling after September 25. You have a large RV (21 paved sites but tight entrance road).

Best time to visit Mount Rose Campground: Jul — Wildflowers at peak in Tahoe Meadows. Trail conditions perfect. Natural AC vs valley heat.. Aug–Sep 25 — Best hiking weather. Clear skies. Last chance before September 25 closure..

Common issues at Mount Rose Campground: Closes September 25 every year — no exceptions due to elevation. Book before mid-September. If your target dates are late September, check the closure date for that specific year at recreation.gov. No showers — pit toilets only. Campsites are exceptionally clean and well-maintained. Reviewers specifically praise the pit toilet cleanliness — camp hosts take pride in them. Bring baby wipes and dry shampoo for multi-night stays. Snow possible any month of the year at 9,300 feet. Always pack layers and a sleeping bag rated below 30°F regardless of forecast. Nevada weather at altitude can change in hours. Only 21 sites — fills quickly on summer weekends. Mid-week visits are often walk-up available. First-come first-served means arriving by noon on weekdays usually secures a site.

What campers say about Mount Rose Campground: "Cement pads, big picnic tables, BBQ and fire pit at every site. Pit toilets exceptionally clean — camp hosts take real pride in this place." — The Dyrt Sep 2022 "Camped here to do the Mt. Rose Summit hike at sunrise. 9,300ft base means you're already halfway there. Views of both Tahoe and the Great Basin at once — surreal." — Reddit Aug 2025 "Most underrated campground near Tahoe. Spacious sites, incredible trails, natural AC. Nobody knows about this place." — Tripadvisor 2022 "Watch for unexpected closures that aren't well communicated on the website. Call the ranger station before a long drive." — The Dyrt 2020

Nearby campgrounds: Davis Creek Regional Park (Washoe Valley, NV), Washoe Lake State Park (Washoe Valley, NV), Alpine Meadow Campground (TRUCKEE, CA), Boca Spring (Truckee, CA).