Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Nevada with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 6,359 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Nevada is the most mountainous state in the US by count of named ranges — basin-and-range geography of north-south desert ranges separated by sagebrush valleys. Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft) in Great Basin NP and Boundary Peak gain serious vertical from desert basins. Heat, water scarcity, lightning on exposed peaks, and rattlesnakes are the state's recurring hazards.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 6,359 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Nevada — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Tahoe Rim Trail Kingsbury North Trailhead Spur
Tahoe Rim Trail Kingsbury North Trailhead Spur ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Glenbrook in Douglas County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tahoe Rim Trail Kingsbury North Trailhead Spur trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Southeast Slope route - Red Slate Mountain climbers trail
Southeast Slope route - Red Slate Mountain climbers trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Mammoth Lakes in Fresno County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Southeast Slope route - Red Slate Mountain climbers trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Luther Rocks Distillery Climber's Trail
Luther Rocks Distillery Climber's Trail ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Echo Lake in El Dorado County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Luther Rocks Distillery Climber's Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Tahoe Rim Trail (Big Meadow to PCT)
Tahoe Rim Trail (Big Meadow to PCT) ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Echo Lake in El Dorado County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Nevada, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tahoe Rim Trail (Big Meadow to PCT) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Tahoe Rim Trail Daggett North Loop
Tahoe Rim Trail Daggett North Loop ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Glenbrook in Douglas County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tahoe Rim Trail Daggett North Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Tyrolian/Tahoe Rim Trail Connector
Tyrolian/Tahoe Rim Trail Connector ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Incline Village in Washoe County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tyrolian/Tahoe Rim Trail Connector trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Cathedral Peak Climber's Approach
Cathedral Peak Climber's Approach ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Yosemite National Park in Tuolumne County. Expect earth surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Cathedral Peak Climber's Approach trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Mount Whitney Mountaineer's Route
Mount Whitney Mountaineer's Route ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Lone Pine in Tulare County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mount Whitney Mountaineer's Route trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Northwest Books Approach Scramble
Northwest Books Approach Scramble ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Lee Vining in Tuolumne County. Expect stone surface on a expert-only grade. Compared to similar trails in Nevada, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Rocky tread punishes thin-soled shoes; bring stiff hikers and pace yourself on the descents to spare your knees. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Northwest Books Approach Scramble trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Royal Arches Climber's Descent
Royal Arches Climber's Descent ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Royal Arches Climber's Descent trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Nevada trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Nevada. Spring and fall are prime; summer is brutal at low elevation; high-country (Rubies, Snake Range) opens late June through October. Heat, water scarcity, lightning on exposed peaks, and rattlesnakes are the state's recurring hazards.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Nevada hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Nevada coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Nevada — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Nevada — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Nevada — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Nevada — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Nevada — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Nevada — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Nevada — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Nevada last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
