Nevada State Route 431
Encyclopedia
State Route 431 commonly known as the Mount Rose Highway, is a 24.4 mile (39.3 km) two lane highway in Washoe County, Nevada
that connects Incline Village-Crystal Bay
at Lake Tahoe
with Reno
. The highway, a Nevada Scenic Byway, takes its name from Mount Rose
, which lies just off the highway. Prior to 1976, the highway existed as State Route 27.
in the city of Incline Village. The highway scales the Sierra Nevada until reaching a meadow that is used as an access for the Mount Rose Wilderness. Along the western ascent is a view area with directional markers pointing to several notable peaks in the Sierra Nevada range that surround Lake Tahoe. The highway crests the Sierra at Mount Rose Summit
. The Nevada Department of Transportation has claimed in several places this is the highest summit open year round in the Sierra Nevada mountain range (8911 feet (2,716 m)). Both the east and west approach to the summit feature hairpin curves.
On the eastern approach to the summit, the highway passes by the Mount Rose Ski Area and features overlooks with views of both Reno and Washoe Valley. After several serpentine
bends the highway arrives at an area of Reno called Galena. In Galena the highway has a junction with the current end of the future Interstate 580
freeway, although the interstate is currently unsigned. Just past this it terminates at a junction with US 395 (hidden SR 430
) and SR 341
, which continues towards Virginia City
.
Approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) of SR 431 was designated as the Mount Rose Scenic Nevada Scenic Byway by the Nevada Department of Transportation on June 27, 1996.
Rapid growth in the Reno area has put strain on the corridor served by the highway. This has prompted environmentalists to push for restrictions on future development along the corridor.
Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 421,407 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.-History:...
that connects Incline Village-Crystal Bay
Incline Village-Crystal Bay, Nevada
-Education:Incline Village is served by three main school systems, Sierra Nevada College , Incline Elementary, Middle, and High School , and The . Incline High School "We The People" team was recently awarded the "Western Region Award" at the annual 'We the People: The Citizen and the...
at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
with Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. The highway, a Nevada Scenic Byway, takes its name from Mount Rose
Mount Rose (Washoe County, Nevada)
Mount Rose is a mountain located in the Carson Range east of the California-Nevada border and is within the Mount Rose Wilderness. An extinct volcano, the mountain is located between Lake Tahoe and Reno;...
, which lies just off the highway. Prior to 1976, the highway existed as State Route 27.
Route description
The highway begins along the northeast shore of Lake TahoeLake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
in the city of Incline Village. The highway scales the Sierra Nevada until reaching a meadow that is used as an access for the Mount Rose Wilderness. Along the western ascent is a view area with directional markers pointing to several notable peaks in the Sierra Nevada range that surround Lake Tahoe. The highway crests the Sierra at Mount Rose Summit
Mount Rose Summit
Mount Rose Summit is a mountain pass located in the Carson Range near Mount Rose and Slide Mountain northeast of Incline Village. The -high pass is traversed by State Route 431, which is the highest point of the highway and the highest mountain pass open year-round in the Sierra Nevada. The saddle...
. The Nevada Department of Transportation has claimed in several places this is the highest summit open year round in the Sierra Nevada mountain range (8911 feet (2,716 m)). Both the east and west approach to the summit feature hairpin curves.
On the eastern approach to the summit, the highway passes by the Mount Rose Ski Area and features overlooks with views of both Reno and Washoe Valley. After several serpentine
Serpentine shape
Serpentine refers to the curved shape of an object or design which resembles the letter s, a sine wave or a snake; the latter is the derivation of the term.- Examples :* The Serpentine River...
bends the highway arrives at an area of Reno called Galena. In Galena the highway has a junction with the current end of the future Interstate 580
Interstate 580 (Nevada)
Interstate 580 in Nevada is an unsigned Interstate Highway in northwestern Nevada. It runs concurrently with U.S. Route 395 in Reno, for approximately five miles between Interstate 80 and Neil Road. Two separate highway construction projects are currently underway along the US 395 corridor that...
freeway, although the interstate is currently unsigned. Just past this it terminates at a junction with US 395 (hidden SR 430
Nevada State Route 430
State Route 430 is a major north–south state highway in Washoe County, Nevada which currently exists as two separate sections. South of Reno, the route follows the Carson-Reno Highway, and currently overlaps U.S. Route 395. In Reno, the highway follows Virginia Street, the primary...
) and SR 341
Nevada State Route 341
State Route 341 is a state highway in western Nevada connecting US 50 near Dayton to Reno via Virginia City. Commonly known as the Virginia City Highway, or Geiger Grade north of Virginia City, the route has origins dating back to the 1860s.-Route description:Nevada State Route 341 begins at a...
, which continues towards Virginia City
Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 855 at the 2010 Census.- History :...
.
History
The road has existed at least as far back as 1950 as an access to the ski areas of Mount Rose. At that time it was a dirt road only passable by automobile in the summer months.Approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) of SR 431 was designated as the Mount Rose Scenic Nevada Scenic Byway by the Nevada Department of Transportation on June 27, 1996.
Rapid growth in the Reno area has put strain on the corridor served by the highway. This has prompted environmentalists to push for restrictions on future development along the corridor.