In addition to our weekly newsletter every Thursday, ActiveRenoTahoe will occasionally send out articles from members of the local endurance community highlighting our region.

We are excited to have Bri Jaskot, a local ultra-runner and coach, back with another post. Last month, Bri shared some awesome “Fastest Known Time” routes in our area. This week, she’s sharing a list of some epic mountain peaks in RenoTahoe.

By Bri Jaskot

There is no better view than the one you get from the top of a mountain! Not every mountain peak has a trail to the top, but we are lucky to have quite a few mountains in our area that do. Some of the peak routes that I am going to share are well-known, but hopefully a few of these will be “new to you” options for you to run or hike to earn some sweet summit views.

Now there are several ways to reach a summit of a mountain… following an established trail or creating your own path to top. It really depends on what kind of day the individual wants to have. But, for today, the routes I am going to share are the most common way people reach the summit. I also picked routes that do not require a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle.

Before I share the list, let’s talk about safety. Whenever you head outdoors it is important to be prepared, but it is especially important when you plan to head to the top of a mountain. You want to pack for things to go wrong, not right. When going for a peak plan to have extra food, water and a filter, an emergency bivy, a jacket (even if it is hot), lightweight gloves, a beanie, and a small medical kit. These are all important essentials to have.

Checking the summit weather rather than the local weather of lower elevations is also crucial. The Peak Bagger app lists the weather for mountain summits. Mountain Forecast is another great site but not every peak is listed. Peak names are very repetitive, so make sure you are in the right region/state when you search for the weather of mountain summits. Here is the Mountain Forecast conditions for the peak of Mt. Rose. (Editor’s note: while I was preparing this post, the temperature at the summit of Mt. Rose was 44 while it was 80 in Reno. Crazy to see the drastic difference!).

With all that being said, here is a list of great mountain peaks in the RenoTahoe region. I hope you find some of these routes a fun way to mix up your summer training, explore new places, and see some unforgettable views in the process!

Distance: 9.5 miles

Vertigal gain: 3,500 feet

Terrain: Rocky trail with a couple of sections that are all rock and no dirt

Strava Route

Distance: 10 miles

Vertical gain: 2,300 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track with some sections that are loose/rocky

Strava Route

Distance: 23 miles

Vertical gain: 5,300 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track with one slick rocky climb in the final mile and a sandy push to the summit

Strava Route

Distance: 19.5 miles

Vertical gain: 4,200 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track and steep dirt 4×4 road with a rocky summit approach

Strava Route

Distance: 12.5 miles

Vertical gain: 3,400 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track

Strava Route

Distance: 14.3 miles

Vertical gain: 2,700 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track with rocky trail to summit

Strava Route

Distance: 8 miles

Vertical gain: 2,200 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track

Strava Route

Distance: 5.5 miles

Vertical gain: 2,700 feet

Terrain: Steep dirt single track

Strava Route

Distance: 9 miles

Vertical gain: 2,800 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track and 4×4 road

Strava Route

Distance: 12 miles

Vertical gain: 2,400 feet

Terrain: Dirt single track

Strava Route

Here are some additional peaks that are worth looking into:

If you are feeling more adventurous you could even link some of these peaks together to have an even bigger day! Examples:

Enjoy exploring these epic peaks of RenoTahoe!

A big thank you to Bri Jaskot for today’s post! Be sure to check out Bri’s coaching company, High Desert Endurance.

Until next time, stay active RenoTahoe!