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Kirkwood


Epic Pass

Kirkwood


Epic Pass
Best Time To Ski Kirkwood
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Kirkwood Lodging Map M
Kirkwood Snow Totals
THE
LOW
DOWN
Kirkwood Key Knowledge: Kirkwood benefits from three things that set it apart from its Tahoe-area neighbors: a relatively high base elevation of 7,800 feet; more snow (459" a year); and slopes that predominantly face north (65%). This keeps snow fresher and more abundant, making Kirkwood more like Mammoth Mountain than Squaw or Heavenly. The terrain runs straight down from a main ridge and the fall lines are true and continuous. A skier's mountain.
Kirkwood skiing by month:
Kirkwood
By Month

Core Strengths

Kirkwood
Snow Quality
82.7
Overall
80.3
Snow Volume
76.5
Overall
Overall PAF Score

Overall
Rank

26

Rank in
Region

3

Rank in
State

3

This resort is often compared with:

Palisades Tahoe
Heavenly
Mammoth
Kirkwood Snow Quality Across Full Winter
Click ON/OFF:
Kirkwood Snowfall Last 10 Days (inches)

Powder
Forecast

Powder Forecast
ZRANKINGS EXCLUSIVE
Sunday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Monday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Tuesday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Wednesday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Thursday
Day
0"
Night
0"
True Snow: 459" per year
Snow Quality Rank

9

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Dump Potential Rank

14

Kirkwood is ranked No. 14 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Historical Powder Odds
Daily Lottery

% of days with more than 6" of snow

20.1%

Extended Stay

% of months with more than 90" of snow

44.3%

Drought Threat

% of months with less than 30" of snow

18.1%

*Special thanks to Tony Crocker and Bestsnow.net.

Dump Potential Rank

14

Kirkwood is ranked No. 14 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Snow
Quality
Rank

9

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Total Snow Score

This score accounts for total snow quantity, its moisture content, the resort's latitude, elevation, and its slope aspects, which affect total snow preservation.

Comparables

Kirkwood

Trail Breakdown

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Vertical Drop

2000 ft

9800 ft
Base Elevation: 7800 ft

Slope Aspects

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The Skiing at Kirkwood

Twenty years ago, Kirkwood was a back road destination that seemed to attract only a handful of washed-up Ivy League racers, middle-aged social pariahs (read: telemarketers), and budget-minded families seeking a cheaper alternative than other, posher, Lake Tahoe destinations. The last two decades, however, have brought evolution, including a series of base area upgrades, modest lift expansions, and the very recent construction of a $30-million, 25-mile long electrical transmission line connecting directly to the resort that will mitigate power outages and relegate the resorts’ diesel generators to recycling fodder. With Vail’s purchase of Kirkwood, the rest of Tahoe has been put on notice.

Kirkwood’s terrain offers everything, from sauntering beginner runs to knee-buckling chutes. Kirkwood’s vertical drop and skiable acreage don’t impress quantitatively. But in ‘49er hydraulic-mining fashion, Kirkwood washes away conventional metrics with what we like to call slope access efficiency. Getting to some the finest expert terrain in Northern California, like Wagon Wheel and Sentinel Bowls, can be had directly from the base area. No tram lines necessary. Nor do skiers of this best terrain need to spend time traversing garbage groomers to get to the base. Kirkwood offers maximum advanced and expert terrain with minimum pain.

Powder chasing tip: Palisades Bowl, skier’s left from Cornice Express, is a local favorite on storm days. With its widely spaced trees and gentle pitches, the stashes here are looted quickly after a storm. So if you want to hit it, don’t dither, just hit it.

Some say the snow in this part of the valley contains pixie dust, which makes it lighter and drier than snow found in other parts of the Sierra Crest. Perhaps this is marketing spin, or a carryover from gold miner’s lore, or something more base. Whatever it is, it’s undeniable that the veins and washes of Palisades Bowl can get deep quickly on account of the bowl’s ideal location (leeward side of Palisades Ridge), and protection from a coniferous visor of trees.

For you Martha Stewarts out there, don’t forget to check out the Sunrise lift on the backside of Thimble Peak. Slow down as you approach the arts and crafts fair of Coyote Trail and Lower Fawn Ridge; the volcanic crags, nubs, and gullies in this area are a tricksters delight. Make sure your edges are sharp when you descend down the steeps of Hully Gully or Happiness Is. Earn bonus points here for elevating your planks in your Aunt Viola’s hand-crocheted sweater.Heartier souls may be wise to check out the E:K Cat Tours, which offer a backcountry experience without the hassle skinning or boot packing. The service can fill up fast during red alerts, so you’d be wise to book in advance when big Sierra storms threaten.

The Town: Kirkwood

Kirkwood is tucked away 30 miles from the nearest town. Being away from the well-tread strip of South Tahoe is a big part of Kirkwood’s attractiveness to some people and also helps to keep crowds to a minimum. During bad weather, staying at the mountain can pay dividends when nearby passes are closed or have chain restrictions instituted. For recent college grads or ski bums willing to rough it, nearby Grover Hot Springs State Park offers winter camping and access to hot springs (a more ethical alternative to hot tub poaching at the slopeside condos).

Getting to Kirkwood is not a mission to be taken lightly. Hwy 50 (Echo Pass) and Hwy 88 (Carson Pass) are formidable ramparts in bad weather, even in a Nissan Armada or a chained-up Volkswagen. So whether approaching from the north or west, be mindful that you’re in high Sierra country and drive carefully. If you doubt your safety, turn around. The gnomes of Hope Valley, and the Amador County Sheriff, thank you in advance.

A few words on the Snow at Kirkwood

At Kirkwood 21.5% of winter days see 6 inches or more of snow and 45% of winter months see 90 inches or more. This is elite, blue-chip style snow frequency, rivalled only by a handful of areas in North America. However, Sierra snowfall is notoriously volatile, so 18% of winter months see less than 30 inches of snow. Sierra average snow density of 12% is not the blower of the Rockies but easily managed on modern fat rockered skis. With Kirkwood’s high base elevation of 7,800 feet rain is rare and snow quality among the best of the Sierra.

Accumulation and Preservation

With its ample snowfall and high base, Kirkwood averages 78% open at Christmas, probably the best in the Sierra. However, Sierra droughts can be extreme, so even Kirkwood has been less than ¼ open at Christmas in the worst 15% of seasons. Kirkwood is predominantly north-facing, so snow preservation is very good, the best at Tahoe and only exceeded in the Sierra at Mammoth. Kirkwood is the top area in California for overall snow reliability.