Nevada State Route 431

State Route 431
Mount Rose Highway
Route information
Maintained by NDOT
Length: 24.413 mi[1] (39.289 km)
Existed: 1976 – present
History: SR 27 by 1941
Major junctions
West end: SR 28 in Incline Village
East end: US 395 / SR 430 / SR 341 in Reno
Highway system

Nevada highways

← SR 430 SR 443 →

State Route 431 (SR 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.

Contents

Route description

The highway begins along the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe 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 (8,911 feet (2,716 m)).[2] 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.

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.[3]

Approximately 20 miles (32 km) of SR 431 was designated as the Mount Rose Scenic Nevada Scenic Byway by the Nevada Department of Transportation on June 27, 1996.[4]

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.[5]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Washoe County.

Location
[6]		 Mile
[1][7]		 Destinations Notes
Incline Village 0.0 SR 28 – Crystal Bay, Carson City  
3 Country Club Drive  
8.06 View area – Lake Tahoe  
  9 Mount Rose Wilderness access  
  10 Mount Rose Ski Resort  
  11 Slide Mountain Road (SR 878) – Mount Rose East Bowl
  17 Joy Lake Road  
Reno 23 US 395 north – Reno Future I-580
24.4 US 395 south / SR 430 / SR 341 – Reno, Carson City, Virginia City SR 430 south signed as US 395
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b "State Maintained Highways of Nevada: Descriptions and Maps – Quarter 3 Update". Nevada Department of Transportation. October 2011. http://www.nevadadot.com/About_NDOT/NDOT_Divisions/Planning/Roadway_Systems/State_Maintained_Highways,_Descriptions,_Index___Maps.aspx. Retrieved 12 Oct 2011. 
  2. ^ "Mount Rose Scenic Byway". U.S. Department of Transportation - National Scenic Byways Program. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2034/. 
  3. ^ "The History of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe". Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. http://www.mtrose.com/general_information/history.php. Retrieved 2008-02-17. 
  4. ^ "Nevada's Scenic Byways". Nevada Department of Transportation. http://www.nevadadot.com/Traveler_Info/Scenic_Byways/Nevada_s_Scenic_Byways.aspx. Retrieved 13 October 2011. 
  5. ^ "Mt. Rose Scenic Corridor". Keep Washoe Wild. http://www.mtrosesceniccorridor.com/. Retrieved 2008-02-17. 
  6. ^ Benchmark Maps (2003). Nevada Road and Recreation Atlas (Map). 1:250000. ISBN 0-929591-81-X. http://www.benchmark.com. 
  7. ^ Integer miles derived from Benchmark Maps

External links