This is a really cool route idea established several years ago by Jacob Cooper, from the heart of Reno at the famous Reno Arch and finishing at the summit of Mount Rose, the tallest peak on Reno's skyline. This year a lot more people have been completing the route and the time has become pretty competitive, most notably Tommy Sullivan's run in July 2026.
I started at 5:30 am after a customary (and should required for this FKT) losing spin on a slot machine in Eldorado next to the Arch. Soon after leaving downtown the route goes through some quiet neighborhoods and eases uphill on roads until hitting dirt in Caughlin Hills after 5 or 6 miles. You are already far above downtown here, and then begins a long grinding 4wd road climb up to Hunter Lake, where there's an opportunity to fill water. I carried 4 bottles so skipped it, but the water is good here. After that it's a steep off trail link to the singletrack of the Rim to Reno trail, which is flattish and windy up to Churches Peak ridge. The fastest way to the summit of Rose is off trail up and over Churches, which is a really fun scramble rather than the long and winding trail around it. I summitted at 3:23 on a beautiful day, hung out a bit and then dropped down the super steep route to Jones Creek in South Reno for an Uber ride home.
Very cool worthwhile adventure!