Back to index Jones-White Loop Hike
Trip Date:  05/19/2018

Distance
: 8.5 Miles

Vertical Gain: 2500'

Group Size: 1

Hike Rating:  Easy  Moderate  Hard  Strenuous
Jones-White Loop route
Download GPX GPX for this trip
Jones-White Loop Elevation Profile
Start Coordinates:   N 39 22.671, W 119 50.873     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates  
Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   To get to the Upper Whites Creek Trailhead, drive west on Mount Rose Highway (Nevada 431) for 2.8 miles from its intersection with Thomas Creek Road at Galena Market, and turn right onto Timberline Drive. Follow Timberline Drive for just over 0.5 miles before turning left onto the trailhead access road (NF-047). Continue for 0.8 miles along the high-quality, single lane dirt road before arriving at a forested parking area with two picnic tables and vault toilets. The upper trailhead is closed November through April. Parking at the base of NF-047 along Timberline Drive is necessitated during this period, which lengthens the hike by 0.8 miles each way. If parking on Timberline, please be courteous to area residents and obey the nearby no-parking signs.
Hazards of Note:   A couple of stream crossings after passing into the Mt. Rose Wilderness area.  Crowd Factor:   Moderate on Upper White trail, busy on Jones Creek trail.  The Jones section (southern) of the trail is very popular with dog walkers
General Notes:
This hike begins at the parking area of the Upper White's Creek trailhead.   For the first 1/2 mile you can either walk along the wide trail for equestrians, or find the single-track trail to the west near the creek.  After about the first half mile there is a junction for the loop which includes the Jones Creek section of trail to the south, but you will continue west along this trail.  After steady climbing for nearly two miles you will pass into the Mt. Rose Wilderness area, and almost immediately cross the White's stream and begin the steeper section of climb with occasional view up to the mountains to the nort of Mt. Rose itself.  Almost 4 1/2 miles in the trail will turn sharply to the left/south, cross the creek over a series of logs providing a dry method to cross, and then you will begin a climb up and over a small ridge until you reach the junction for Church's Pond as the trail begins to head east.  
This section of the trail begins to rapidly lose the elevation which was gained on the first half of the loop, especially along some long switchbacks.  About 8 miles in there will be another junction off to the left, where going straight will take you to the Galena Activity Center.  As the trail turns north you will share this sections with many mountain bikers, who seem to find this trail very popular.  At the final junction about 1/2 from the end you will turn right/east and follow your original trail section back to the parking area.  

A look from the Mt. Rose Highway toward the area the hike encompasses. General Hike area
A trail map of the hike found at the parking area at the start of the hike. Posted Map of hike
The early section of trail is either near the creek along a single track trail or along this Equestrian passable section.   Horse Trail
A look down the path that will return you to this trail by the time the hike is nearly completed.   Loop junction
A natural way to ensure that a trail is no longer used by motor vehicles.   A trail no more
This junction takes you not only to Dry Pond but all the way to Reno if you navigate it correctly. Intersection
The kiosk at the point 2 miles in where you cross into the Mt. Rose Wilderness.  There is a dicey stream crossing not too much further ahead.  
Mt. Rose Wilderness
Looking ahead after crossing into the Wilderness area.   Looking ahead
Logs already in place to help make the stream crossing between the two main trails much easier to navigate. Stream Crossing
A look back down the canyon we just came up via the trail along the left-hand side of this view. Looking back
A section of exposed connector trail was showing a lot of erosion from the previous winter. Eroding Trail
The view from the Jones section of trail looking back to where White's Creek turned and headed south. A look back
Taking this turnoff will lead 3/4 mile up to a worthy destination at Church's Pond near the NE base of Mt. Rose. Church's Pond turnoff
Halfway back down the Jones section of trail the Mt. Rose ski area makes an appearance to the south. Mt. Rose Ski Area
Keep a close eye out for the junctions to continue the loop as near the Galena Creek center are many paths that will lead you out to the road miles from your destination. Trail junction near Galena
Even views of Carson Valley make an appearance along the last stretch of trail back to White's Creek. Carson Valley
GPS Track of the full hike. GPS Track of Hike