Kirkwood usa
Review of snowboarding and skiing in Kirkwood USA.
Kirkwood Ski Holiday Facts
Established in 1972 the American ski resort Kirkwood lies at 2986 metres altitude in the California region of the American Sierra Nevada. With the highest lifts and ski slopes above 2500m Kirkwood ski area is snow sure. Over ? snow cannons ensure artificial Kirkwood snow making covers ?km of ski trails, which equates to around 6 of the ski slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Kirkwood (USA) is San Francisco at a distance of 120.7km or approximately 120 minutes driving time. Kirkwood ski season runs from November to May.
SNO-man says
With the highest base area in northern California, Kirkwood has a European feel. All of the accommodation is condo-based and there is a large amount of cross-country skiing.
alpine downhill runs to ski in Kirkwood USA
Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km |
0% |
Intermediate Trails
 16 runs ?km |
24% |
Advanced Trails
 32 runs ?km |
49% |
Expert Trails
 19 runs 19km |
29% |
Kirkwood Resort & Holiday Info
| Beginners learning to ski |  |
| Intermediate Skiers | |
| Expert Skiers | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family friendly | |
| Snowsure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Ski Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | $? - $? |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Ski Resort Opens | Nov 2011 |
| Ski Resort Closes | May 2012 |
| (snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing) |
Ski Area Kirkwood Mountain
| Downhill Ski Runs | ?km |
| total length of Kirkwood trails |
| Longest lift serve Run | 4km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by ski lift |
| Ski Slope Orientation | N |
| direction Kirkwood ski areas face |
| Top Altitude | 2986m |
| top station of highest ski lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 2377.5m |
| bottom of lowest ski run |
| Resort Altitude | 2377.5m |
| centre of Kirkwood ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 609.6m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 609.6m |
| can include extra hike up which may be possible above top lift - stat used by some resorts to con us about true "vertical drop" which is lift-served |
Skiing in Kirkwood
Skiing Kirkwood you'll enjoy 65 pistes and trails and that means approximately ?km of ski runs. Kirkwood lifts number 12 with the capacity to uplift 17905 skiers up the mountain per hour. The longest ski run in the American ski resort of Kirkwood is over 4km long.
Kirkwood Ski Area
Kirkwood ski area has 0% beginner ski runs or nursery slopes, 24% intermediate, 49% advanced ski slopes and 29% for expert skiers - the most difficult Kirkwood piste is the ?km The Wall run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. You can't ski Kirkwood after dark.
Kirkwood for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Snowboarding in Kirkwood
If you snowboard Kirkwood you'll want to know that, of the 12 ski lifts in total, 2 are surface lifts or "drag lifts" - this gives a good indication of how modern the lift system is and well set up Kirkwood snowboarding is - especially for beginners learning to snowboard. Kirkwood snowboard facilities include 3 terrain parks and 2 half pipe (longest half pipe length is 115 metres), 1 quarter pipe and 0 boardercross courses.
Kirkwood for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Kirkwood Apres Ski
The apres ski Kirkwood scene and off-slope or "non-skier" activities include:
6 apres ski bars 5 restaurants 0 bowling 0 night club 0 cinema 0 billiards / pool 0 games room 0 concert 0 indoor swimming 1 outdoor heated pools 1 saunas 4 hot tubs 0 solariums 1 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 1 outdoor ice skating 1 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 1 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 1 horse riding 80 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 0 golf 1 fishing 0 museum 0 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities (Many More Facilities Around Lake Tahoe) .
SNO-man says
While Kirkwood is known for its incredible skiing and riding, there are a variety of other activities now available to those looking for something other than a day on the slopes. For those guests looking to put their feet up and relax while still enjoying the outdoors, Kirkwood's dog or horse sled rides are the perfect activity. Circling around the outer loop of the Kirkwood Meadow, rides last from 30 minutes to an hour. Full moon tours are available monthly.
Snowmobiling is another less tiring way of checking out the surroundings and there are several trails within a short distance from Kirkwood. Snowshoeing is yet another alternative with no skill requirement other than walking - wearing snowshoes is like putting 4 wheel drive on your feet, you can easily cover any terrain on or off the trails.
The Cross Country Centre has everything you will need for your adventure, from hi-tech snowshoes and headlamp rental to guided hikes. The entire 80km of groomed x-country trails are open to those preferring snowshoes and you can choose a gentle walk around the meadow or going further afield and exploring some of the upper trails.
Getting away from the snow completely there are a number of golf courses all within easy reach of Kirkwood and as temperatures rise in the spring one can easily ski in the morning and head down the hill for a quick round of golf in the afternoon.
For complete relaxation its hard to beat a good soak and, in common with many mountain resorts, Kirkwood has its own natural outdoor mineral pool at Grover Hot Springs just 45 minutes east of the resort. The new Mountain Club Spa has some excellent facilities including a work out room equipped with weights and aerobics machines, steam room, sauna, outdoor jacuzzi and therapeutic massage services.
Kirkwood for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
More Kirkwood Snow Ski Area and Resort Information
Kirkwood resort - ski Kirkwood by any other name
The American ski resort of Kirkwood ski resort is also known as The Wood Kirkwood and has the following common misspellings:
Kirkwood ski area has ski slopes which face N
The direction which the various Kirkwood ski slopes face can make or break your skiing or snowboarding holiday. If you want to guarantee good snow and ski conditions, you should choose a resort with ski slopes which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February you need a ski resort with some sunny south facing ski slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a ski resort with some cool and shady north facing slopes will ensure you're not skiing on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best ski resorts have ski areas and slopes which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating skiing whatever the weather. Kirkwood ski resort has ski slopes facing N.
Kirkwood for snow gets 4 stars out of 5 overall