Read skier and snowboarder-submitted reviews on Kirkwood that rank the ski resort and mountain town on a scale of one to five stars for attributes such as terrain, nightlife and family friendliness. See how Kirkwood stacks up in the reviews, on and off the slopes, from skiing and family activities to the après scene. Read up on pros, cons and other comments in reviews left by fellow skiers and riders. Don't forget to submit your own Kirkwood review! Scroll to the bottom of this page to let other travelers know about your skiing and resort experience.
Reviews for Kirkwood
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A ski resort's overall star rating displayed here is not calculated based on a simple average but takes several factors, including the age of a review, into account.
But, if limited parking, get there early and get more elevation in.... Full Review
Irene
Kirkwood is the place where my kids fell in love with skiing. If you're a beginner and large remodeled food courts are important to you, you might not enjoy Kirkwood as we do, but for advanced skiers Kirkwood is pretty amazing. Here are things I love about it:
1) ski school - children actually can learn to ski and it is not as outrageously priced as many other resorts; children love Ditch of Doom and Trench of Terror
2) there are other kids' programs for intermediate and advanced skiers; those are not the program where you have to pay $3K and compete, but they still teach kids a lot after kids are done with ski school
3) terrain and snow: even though Kirkwood doesn't have as many snow making equipment as NS or Heavenly, it still has the best snow in Tahoe. While there are green slopes, Kirkwood is fun for advanced skiers. I know expert skiers who only ski Kirkwood and my daughter (7) wants to go nowhere else
4) there are programs for adults beyond ski school; I took some classes that are given by Kirkwood Expedition (not ski school) and I received very valuable feedback
The only bad thing I can mention is there are few fast chairs. The slow chairs are still far better than on other smaller resorts, but... it would be so awesome to have two more fast chairs. Some people might be unhappy about parking. On powder days, one is better to arrive early. By 9:30 the parking might be full. Kirkwood has no town parking like Heavenly, so you might need to turn around; it has never been my problem. ... Full Review
Jared Klebanow
Kirkwood is my favorite mountain in Tahoe. If you’re looking to just ski/board this is the spot. Squaw is great too but with the crowds you can really ski twice as much in a day at KWood... Full Review
Rick Hunter
I skied here in the mid 90s and covered most of the mountain in one day. I am intermediate so didn't attempt to go down the wall. However I was able to enjoy the bowls on the right side of the mountain and spent most of the morning on the left side. The snow here is greater than most places in the US in volume on average so accessibility can be limited during storms. They have been trying to develop the area more for years but its still difficult to get to. Well worth it if the conditions on the mountain and roads are good.... Full Review
Eric undefined
I love Kirkwood - best snow in Tahoe area and love the steeps and chutes. The skill level of the average skier here seems a cut above other mountains in the area.... Full Review
Jeremy West
Kirkwood is a hidden gem. You don’t come for the food or the drinks. You come to ski/board. While the Amenities are still lacking, the mountain isn’t. Give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed. ... Full Review
Send It
Hidden gem. I hope Vail doesn't screw it up. This mountain is by far my favorite and has some world class terrain. Its not Chamonix, fine; but if you want to huck cliffs, traverse into side country, glade ski, send it down some chutes... kwood has it all. I've spent so many days out here and there's still so much to explore. And just insane amounts of snow. At 8200, best snow in Tahoe. And for all y'all complaining about prices, have you even been to any other Tahoe resort?!... Full Review
Kim Kovacs
Kirkwood is my favorite Tahoe resort. Great snow, amazing terrain, no crowds. You can get in lots of turns on every type of terrain, usually with no lines. The setting is beautiful. The skiers and boarders are courteous and serious about their sport which makes for a pleasurable experience for everyone. Staff is friendly. Because the resort is remote and has just a small "village", you don't get the huge crowds of places like Heavenly, Sierra, or Squaw. And, did I mention the terrain and snow?... Full Review
Wendy Fiel
They get the most snow you can find anywhere in the ... Full Review
minnechic
I’m just silly in love with this place. Yes, it’s hard to get to. Hwy 88 closes a lot. And there should be a bus connecting Kirkwood with South Lake Tahoe. But if you’re serious about having a good time on the snow, this is Tahoe’s best.
To everyone complaining about the (lack of) food and (high) prices: eat at 7800. Yummy, cozy, down-to-earth: one of the few places not subsumed by the Vail Makeover.
Several times throughout the season, Kirkwood books bands and DJs - I’ve had some truly memorable times dancing in my ski boots to Space Cowboys out by the fire pits.... Full Review
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