Location: Mount Rose Wilderness / Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Nevada
Distance: 5 miles
Type: Day-hike; Out-and-back.
Rating: Moderate.
Permits & Fees: Parking is free, but donations are accepted at the trailhead.
Driving Directions: Click HERE for driving directions. The parking lot and trailhead are located directly off of Mount Rose Highway (Highway 431):
Preparation: Water, sunscreen and good hiking shoes. Even during the summer, it can be extremely cold in this region; make sure to bring warm clothes, including gloves, pants and jackets.
Dog Friendly? Yes, on a leash.
The Hike:
AllTrails Map – CLICK HERE
After parking in the lot off of Mount Rose Highway, locate the public restroom structure (it was under construction when we visited). Directly behind this structure is where the trailhead is located:
NOTE: This is the same trailhead for the Mount Rose Summit hike.
Begin the hike walking up towards the first fork (within several feet from the original trailhead). Instead of continuing straight, take a sharp right and continue the hike up the boulder stairs:
After hiking up the boulder stairs, the trail begins to narrow; a single-track trail makes up the majority of this hike. Early in the hike, Lake Tahoe can be seen along with fantastic views of Mount Rose Wilderness:
Continue hiking until the next fork is reached. Here, there is an option to hike to Tamarack Lake (to the right). Continue straight on the Tahoe Rim Trail towards Galena Falls:
After this point, sections of the trail are covered in snow (this will vary year-to-year, but we hiked this trail in June 2022 and there was still a significant amount of snow). The trail is easy to follow regardless of the snow, but watch your step!
Continue on the trail until you start hearing a rush of water. The final fork is marked by this sign (to the left is Galena Falls and to the right is the trail that leads to Mount Rose Summit):
Galena Falls is very safe; you can walk right up to it or enjoy the views from a distance:
After enjoying the falls, take the same trail back towards the parking lot. Enjoy the hike!