Mt. Rose Ski Resort, Reno, NV

The beautiful area of Reno Nevada is close to the Sierras. There is the Mt. Rose Ski Resort that is only twenty five minutes from the city of Reno. This attraction has no gambling for which Reno is famous, but guests can enjoy a satisfying day of skiing in the winter and return to Reno hotels for dining, gaming and shows. Locals began skiing on Mt. Rose in the 1930's before there were any chairlifts or buildings. More land has been acquired since those early days. Today the ski area has dual high speed chairlifts that get skiers to the summit in record time.

There are 1,200 hundred acres of skiing at the Mt. Rose Ski Resort. They have an average of thirty three feet of snow in a year; however, they have snow making equipment if Mother Nature doesn't provide enough snow. Twenty percent of the trails on the mountain are green markers for beginners. Thirty percent are blue intermediate trails, forty percent advanced black trails and ten percent double black diamond for the experts.

They have a variety of chairlifts. Two "six pack'' high speed, detachable chairs take skiers to the top of the mountain rapidly. There are two quad chairs, two triple chairs and two surface lifts for beginners.

The hours of operation for the Zephyr Chair are 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, the Chuter Chair runs from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm and the other lifts are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hours can change so it is always advisable to check with the Mt. Rose Ski Resort before arriving. The Lodge hours are Weekdays: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Weekends: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

There are lodging packages with the hotels in Reno or Lake Tahoe. Two daily shuttles run from the Reno area. Reservations are recommended, but walk- ons can be accommodated on a first come first served basis. Skiers can purchase round trip transportation or a lift ticket and transportation package.

The hotels that have this shuttle service are the Nugget, Grand Sierra, Sands, Silver Legacy/Eldorado, Peppermill and Atlantis. The times can vary so skiers should check the schedule when purchasing tickets.

Many restaurants are available at the Mt. Rose Ski Resort. The main lodge has the Timbers tavern which offers a Taco bar during lunch and happy hour. The Lodgepole Cafy has menu items like hamburgers, sandwiches, chili, soups and meals for vegetarians. View B Que lets skiers enjoy grilled chicken, ribs and brats while sitting on the deck enjoying the view. Skiers can begin their day with a cup of coffee from the Higher Grounds in the lobby of the lodge.

Senor Barascas is in the Timbers at the main lodge and offers Mexican cuisine. There is a mountain view dining area that holds the Pit Stop restaurant. Guests can grab a slice of pizza and a drink before returning to the slopes. It is in the upper level of the main lodge. For skiers out on the slopes there is the Zephyr Cafy that serves Gus's famous breakfast or other offerings plus hot and cold drinks. This restaurant is located at the base of the East Bowl.