Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Nevada / Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Rim Trail: Mount Rose Summit to Brockway Summit (Relay Peak)

Mount Rose Wilderness and the north rim of the Tahoe Basin (Mount Rose Highway, Nevada, to Highway 267 at Brockway Summit, California)

This segment of the Tahoe Rim Trail climbs from the Mount Rose Highway past Galena Creek Falls to Relay Peak, the highest point on the whole trail, then follows the north rim of the Tahoe Basin west to Brockway Summit. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) lists it at 20.2 miles, about 7 of them through the Mount Rose Wilderness, according to the Forest Service.

The eastern trailhead, at Mount Rose Summit, is in Nevada; the western end, at Brockway Summit, is in California.

The hike

Hiking Project describes the segment from west to east: from the Brockway Summit trailhead, it climbs through forest and meadows to Mount Baldy (about 8 miles in), follows a more rolling stretch past Rose Knob, climbs to Relay Peak, and descends past Mount Houghton and Galena Falls to the Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead. Many backpackers start at the Nevada end instead, at the Mt. Rose Summit trailhead on Highway 431, which has trailer parking and vault toilets.

Leaving Mt. Rose Summit, TRTA says the trail is for foot traffic only between the trailhead and Relay Ridge; bikes and horses use the Relay Ridge service road instead. Galena Creek Falls, which TRTA calls about 60 feet high, has water year-round. SummitPost’s route to Relay Peak follows that service road and estimates about 4.75 miles one way, though a trailhead sign reads 3.9.

TRTA puts Relay Peak at about 10,338 feet. A thru-hiker on Another Long Walk called the views from the top “spectacular in all directions.” West of the peak, the trail stays high. That writer found Mud Lake low and stagnant about 100 feet below the trail, and called Gray Lake “an adorable little lake, surrounded with lush meadows and overflowing with nice, clean water.” TRTA lists Gray Lake and Frog Pond as year-round sources and Mud Lake as seasonal.

The western miles pass Mount Baldy and the Martis Peak area, where TRTA says trails and fire roads cross the TRT. They then descend to the Brockway Summit trailhead, reached by a dirt road off Highway 267 about half a mile south of the summit. Parking there is limited, with no facilities.

At the eastern end, the TRT continues across Tahoe Meadows toward Marlette Peak and Spooner Summit.

Tips

Camping

No wilderness permit or fee is required for overnight use in the Mount Rose Wilderness, according to the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Groups are limited to 15 people and 25 head of stock. A California Campfire Permit is required for stoves, and it doesn’t allow fire when restrictions are in effect. TRTA’s map asks backpackers to camp within 300 feet of the trail, at least 200 feet from water (including alpine lakes) and 100 feet from trails, and to use previously used sites. Camping is prohibited on the Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop. TRTA says campfires are prohibited along the TRT and bear canisters are required. Mt. Rose Summit Campground, a seasonal Forest Service campground near the trailhead, takes reservations in summer.

Inside Intel: The Another Long Walk thru-hiker (August 2013) said Gray Lake “wouldn’t have been a bad place to camp at all,” but chose a “fantastic little campsite” on the ridge above, overlooking Lake Tahoe. Expect condensation; they woke to slightly damp gear.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

A ridge camp above Gray Lake:

One thru-hiker chose a ridge campsite above Gray Lake and woke to slightly damp gear. Our side-sleeper tips include checking pad firmness right before bed.

See the tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.