The Skiers' Guide to Kirkwood: Expert Analysis & Reviews

I really loved this place. We did over a week in Southern Tahoe so hit here (twice), Heavenly, Sierra & even made the run to Palisades Tahoe (the old Squaw Valley) 1 day & I think Kirkwood was my favourite. The terrain was good with lots of diversity & we had great snow which never hurts. I highly recommend it as well as the other 3 places I mentioned above. The drive along the lake to Palisades alone makes it all worth it. The drive up to Kirkwood was pretty impressive in its own right.

Kirkwood is my favorite and most often skied resort near Tahoe, but it has some limitations. Only two high-speed lifts: Timber Creek serving low intermediate and Cornice serving advanced. Best lifts are slow and often closes during storms: The Wall, advanced and expert, and Sunrise aka Backside, intermediate to advanced and expert on some returns to frontside. Kirkwood runs more lifts during storms than Heavenly or Palisades so if you can get there during storm, you should get powder. Access from W on CA-88 often closes due to avalanche control when there is 12" of more new snow and sometime can close for a few days. Kirkwood is about 45 minutes from South Lake Tahoe with no traffic, but can be double that if it's storming and you get stuck behind line of vehicles going 25 mph or less with chains on. $3 beers at 7800. Free parking (reservations required) on weekends requires you to be early or you will have a long walk to lifts. Many great advanced to expert runs.

Love that Kirkwood is its own little village. Restaurant, slopes and shops are all within a short walking distance from accommodations. Scenery is gorgeous, employees are super friendly and overall one of the best atmospheres