Nevada · Hiking

Rocky Trail

Rocky TrailPhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.5 mi
round trip
706 ft
climb
5,172 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Clear at last check

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 19 h ago

Rocky Trail is a 2.5-mile moderate hike in Nevada, about a mile from the town of Empire. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from a starting point near 4,750 feet to a high point of about 5,170 feet, with a total elevation gain of 706 feet over the course of the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.2 miles in, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Carson City show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 81°F, while July averages about 90°F and winter brings highs in the mid-40s and a few snowy days each month. The trip takes about two hours. The trail is close to several other outings, including the Hwy 50 Frontage Trail for mountain biking, the Rocky Trail Bypass and Centennial Loop for more hiking, and Washoe Lake State Park Campground for an overnight stay.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Rocky Trail

    Best months: March–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      45° / 24°

      6 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      50° / 27°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      56° / 32°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      62° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      70° / 43°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 49°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 55°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 53°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 46°

      1 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 36°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 28°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      45° / 24°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Carson City, NV, 6.1 mi away at 4,761 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lower Centennial Loop ConnectorPhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Centennial Loop Connector

~1 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 211 ft elevation gain.

Centennial LoopPhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Centennial Loop

~2 min drive

4.74-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,481 ft elevation gain and loss.

Goni RoadPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Goni Road

~6 min drive

2.78-mile out-and-back trail on Goni Road in Nevada with 339 ft gain.

Rocky Trail BypassPhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rocky Trail Bypass

~2 min drive

2.78-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 536 ft elevation gain

Adt - Nevada - S - Seg 9Photo: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Adt - Nevada - S - Seg 9

~9 min drive

2.54-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 878 ft elevation gain.

Lincoln BypassPhoto: Wheeler Cowperthwaite, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lincoln Bypass

~9 min drive

8.26-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,191 ft elevation gain.

Golf Course Outer TrailPhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Golf Course Outer Trail

~2 min drive

1.85-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 83 ft gain.

Ophir GradePhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ophir Grade

~9 min drive

4.74-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,381 ft elevation gain.

Goni - 224Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Goni - 224

~6 min drive

0.70-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 181 ft gain.

Sagebrush LoopPhoto: Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sagebrush Loop

~6 min drive

0.96-mile loop trail in Nevada with 123 ft elevation gain

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors