Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Encyclopedia
Kirkwood Mountain Resort is a year-round resort in Kirkwood, California
south of Lake Tahoe
that focuses on skiing
and snowboarding
in winter and hiking
and mountain-biking in summer. Kirkwood is one of the region's larger resorts, and is well known for having one of the highest average snowfalls and a broad selection of advanced skiing terrain. The mountain is unique in that it has 2 mi (3.2 km) ridgeline at the top. This makes Kirkwood popular for cliff drops and cornices. Kirkwood received 804 in (2,042.2 cm) of snow during the 2005-2006 ski season. Average seasonal snow fall is 472 in (1,198.9 cm) second only to Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
in the Sierra Nevada. Kirkwood is approximately 33 mi (53.1 km) south of South Lake Tahoe, California
on State Route 88
and is contained within the Eldorado National Forest
. Most of the region's resorts are at the northern end of the lake, near Truckee, California
. Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe
and Heavenly
are located on the southern side of the lake.
The Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation (KSEF) ski team trains before the lifts are open to the public. KSEF offers numerous training programs for any age or ability. The development team free-skis on weekends and also works on fundamental skills, while the race team focuses on racing skills.
In 2009 and 2010, Kirkwood hosted a leg of the North American Freeskiing Championships in the permanently closed "Cirque" area.
and hiking
. Well-known mountain biking trails such as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride are nearby. From approximately the first weekend in July to the first weekend in September chairs #1 and #2 are open for mountain biking along most front-side trails. A trials course sits near the base of chair #1. Bike rentals are available. 2 to 3 day advance reservations before renting are recommended, as a large group can rent all available bikes before the lifts open. They offer lighter weight downhill and a heavy duty downhill bikes, currently supplied by Kona. As of the end of 2008 summer season there were plans to expand the summer lift program to include lift #7. Hikers frequent downhill trails during the morning hours. Lift tickets can be purchased, but there is no fee for riding a bike up.
Other summer activities include a well-equipped gym with a pool and spa with membership or room rental, climbing wall and ropes course and a free disk golf course.
Kirkwood uses its own diesel generators to supply electricity. The resort plans to bring PG&E's power grid into Kirkwood Valley by installing approximately 28 mi (45.1 km) of power lines under the Hwy 88 roadway. This would eliminate the generators' pollution, and may reduce the current cost of electricity in the valley. On January 1, 2010, a fire destroyed the powerhouse and the three new engines installed since 2006, along with switching equipment purchased after a 2004 fire.
Kirkwood, California
Kirkwood is a census-designated place in Alpine and Amador counties, California, United States. The population was 158 at the 2010 census. Kirkwood's main attraction is the Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The town is accessible by State Route 88...
south of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
that focuses on skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
in winter and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and mountain-biking in summer. Kirkwood is one of the region's larger resorts, and is well known for having one of the highest average snowfalls and a broad selection of advanced skiing terrain. The mountain is unique in that it has 2 mi (3.2 km) ridgeline at the top. This makes Kirkwood popular for cliff drops and cornices. Kirkwood received 804 in (2,042.2 cm) of snow during the 2005-2006 ski season. Average seasonal snow fall is 472 in (1,198.9 cm) second only to Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Sugar Bowl is a ski and snowboard area in northern Placer County near Norden, California along the Donner Pass of the Sierra Nevada, approximately west of Reno, Nevada on Interstate 80, that opened on December 15, 1939...
in the Sierra Nevada. Kirkwood is approximately 33 mi (53.1 km) south of South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe is the most populous city in El Dorado County, California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The population was 21,403 at the 2010 census, down from 23,609 at the 2000 census...
on State Route 88
California State Route 88
State Route 88 , also known as the Carson Pass Highway, is a California State Highway that travels in an east–west direction, from Stockton, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Carson Pass, and ending at the border with Nevada, whereupon it becomes Nevada State Route 88, eventually terminating at U.S...
and is contained within the Eldorado National Forest
Eldorado National Forest
Eldorado National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the central Sierra Nevada mountain range, in eastern Eldorado National Forest is a [[U.S. National Forest]] located in the central [[Sierra Nevada |Sierra Nevada]] [[mountain range]], in eastern Eldorado National Forest is a [[U.S...
. Most of the region's resorts are at the northern end of the lake, near Truckee, California
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
. Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe is a ski and snowboard resort in Twin Bridges, California south of Lake Tahoe. Sierra-at-Tahoe is approximately 16 miles south of Stateline, Nevada and 12 miles south of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 and is contained within the Eldorado National Forest...
and Heavenly
Heavenly Ski Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a ski resort located on the California-Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe. It has 97 runs and 30 lifts that are spread between California and Nevada and four base facilities...
are located on the southern side of the lake.
Skiing and snowboarding
Two new surface tows opened in the 2008-2009 season to provide access to formerly "hike-to" terrain along Vista Ridge and Fawn Ridge. The best time to catch them running is the second or later days after a storm cycle.The Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation (KSEF) ski team trains before the lifts are open to the public. KSEF offers numerous training programs for any age or ability. The development team free-skis on weekends and also works on fundamental skills, while the race team focuses on racing skills.
In 2009 and 2010, Kirkwood hosted a leg of the North American Freeskiing Championships in the permanently closed "Cirque" area.
Summer activities
In the summer months, Kirkwood is a destination for mountain bikingMountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
. Well-known mountain biking trails such as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride are nearby. From approximately the first weekend in July to the first weekend in September chairs #1 and #2 are open for mountain biking along most front-side trails. A trials course sits near the base of chair #1. Bike rentals are available. 2 to 3 day advance reservations before renting are recommended, as a large group can rent all available bikes before the lifts open. They offer lighter weight downhill and a heavy duty downhill bikes, currently supplied by Kona. As of the end of 2008 summer season there were plans to expand the summer lift program to include lift #7. Hikers frequent downhill trails during the morning hours. Lift tickets can be purchased, but there is no fee for riding a bike up.
Other summer activities include a well-equipped gym with a pool and spa with membership or room rental, climbing wall and ropes course and a free disk golf course.
Facilities
In the 21st century, condominium and time-share projects have been completed which provide substantial accommodations right at the resort. Rooms are typically over $150/night (2007). Cheaper accommodations ($29/night and up) can be found in South Lake Tahoe, about 45 minutes away. A Guest Shuttle offers $5 trips to and from South Lake Tahoe.Kirkwood uses its own diesel generators to supply electricity. The resort plans to bring PG&E's power grid into Kirkwood Valley by installing approximately 28 mi (45.1 km) of power lines under the Hwy 88 roadway. This would eliminate the generators' pollution, and may reduce the current cost of electricity in the valley. On January 1, 2010, a fire destroyed the powerhouse and the three new engines installed since 2006, along with switching equipment purchased after a 2004 fire.