Slide Mountain (Nevada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slide Mountain |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,702 ft (2,957 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 778 ft (237 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Washoe County, Nevada, U.S. |
| Parent range | Carson Range |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Rose |
Slide Mountain is a tall mountain peak in the Carson Range in Nevada, near the city of Reno. It stands about 9,702 feet (2,957 meters) high. From the top of Slide Mountain, you can see amazing views of Lake Tahoe, Washoe Lake, the Carson Valley, and the city of Reno.
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Why is it Called Slide Mountain?
Slide Mountain gets its name from the big landslides that often happen on its southeast side. These areas on the mountain don't have trees or plants. Instead, they are covered in light-colored granite rocks and sand. This makes the bare slopes look whitish. You can easily see these unique "slide zones" from places like Washoe Valley to the southeast.
The Big Slide of 1983
One of the biggest landslides happened on May 30, 1983. This slide rushed down the mountain and into Price Lake, which is a small lake halfway down. A mix of granite sand, rocks, and tree pieces then flowed down the canyon below the lake. This powerful flow reached the flat ground of Washoe Valley.
The landslide covered parts of the US 395 highway. It also caused damage to homes in the area. This event showed how powerful nature can be. The slide pushed about 7 million gallons of water out of Price Lake. The flowing debris in the canyon was as high as 30 feet in some places.
Fun Things to Do on Slide Mountain
Slide Mountain is a very noticeable part of the Reno skyline. It rises about 5,000 feet above the city. Even though it's tall, it's fairly easy to hike to the top. There are several ski trails and a maintenance road that lead up the mountain. A good starting point for a hike is the Mount Rose Summit Campground, located on State Route 431.
The popular "Mount Rose Ski Tahoe" resort is located right on Slide Mountain. Because of this, some people think the mountain itself is named Mount Rose. However, Mount Rose is actually a different mountain. It's about 1,000 feet taller and a few miles to the northwest.
Communication Hub
The top of Slide Mountain is also home to many communication towers. These towers help send television and radio signals to Reno, Carson City, and the Lake Tahoe areas. They are also used for emergency services and by amateur radio users.
Images for kids
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View of Slide Mountain from the southeastern end of Washoe Lake State Park in Washoe Valley. The distinctive barren slide areas can be seen just below the snow on the peak.
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