Kirkwood was a great place to ski for the whole family. During April, the resort was not crowded and the snow was still plentiful. The staff at the resort was friendly, helpful and always courteous. Renting skis was easy and the staff was quick. If you are renting for two days you can leave your skis, boots etc in the valet for a quick pick up the next day. This was our first time at Kirkwood and I will definitely be back next season. It is not overcrowded like other resorts and you feel more comfortable on the sloops. Thumbs up for Kirkwood.
I can't stress this enough, this place is not for the beginner or the weekend warrior who kind of ski's/snowboards recreationally.This place is truly for the advanced skier/snowboarder. It's all about the adrenaline rush, and attempting to stay safe while having the time of your life. I highly recommend wearing a helmet and BMX body armor incase your not quite as good as you thought you were.It's far enough away from Tahoe that getting there can be quite the challenge. You had better have 4wd, and studded snows or chains for those storm days because you will certainly need it getting in/out.If your looking for the foo foo shopping mall, and fancy eating places, and just drive straight to North Star. They will be happy to accommodate you. This place is not that type of place.Above all else, keep in mind that high winds keep helicopters away. So if you think there is a good chance you can't handle that path, don't go there. Lots of people get seriously injured here, so keep it real in terms of what you can handle.
We've been skiing at Kirkwood for over 20 years. It's our favorite ski resort. It's expanded a lot over the years with more great skiing. Our kids started skiing there when they were 3 and 5 years old and we've had many fun days skiing in all conditions. There's terrain for all skill levels, from beginners to double black runs. They also tend to get more snow than many of the other Tahoe resorts.
A hidden gem in Tahoe, uncrowded, really good snow. Friendly service, small resort feel. Only complaint is the lack of apres-ski scene.
The resort was very nice! We stayed in a studio apartment. The view was so good. We looked out at the lift number 10. I cannot remember the name of the lift.
There were beautiful mountain trails and cozy cabins. The bugs were relentless. We had problems with ground bees and some kind of small, flying, biting bug.
We visited Kirkwood on 25th Dec, 2014 and took beginner lessons (Adult as well as child). This was a memorable experience and gave us a great deal of confidence in pursuing the sport of skiing further.Pros:1. Ample parking2. Friendly customer service and rental service staff3. Great quality rental equipment, knowledgeable staff4. Excellent instructors, very patient, efficient and able to handle large groups (7-9 in our case).5. Great teamwork between team members.6. Absolutely fantastic powder. Love it. Love it. Love it.7. Great runs for beginners, confidence infusing and not discouraging.Cons:1. The food in the restaurant was over by 4:00. So, by the time lessons were over, the food was over as well. The staff at the food counter was indifferent.My son, who is 8, after skiing at another resort in Tahoe area, commented that the snow in Kirkwood resort was much better. Comment coming from a 8 year old who has just taken one lesson at a beginner grade, talks volumes about Kirkwood snow conditions and Kirkwood experience.Its worth visiting despite of road conditions (snow chains required) and little premium pricing. We will definitely visit again.
Staying in south Lake Tahoe this was about a 45 minute drive and definitely worth the drive as it is a different atmosphere than Heavenly completely. The staff was extremely friendly & helpful. The mountain was wide open and the signage was great. The food and drinks at the main lodge were fantastic and not the standard lodge food you would expect. Great experience overall.
I was really excited about the new snow they got yesterday. However, 3" were not enough and there were bare spots everywhere on-piste. The wall and other bowls were unpleasant - a thin layer of soft snow on an icy hard-packed surface. By early afternoon my skis were all scratched up, everything was slushy and most people just left the mountain. Real shame for a good resort.
I love the authenticity of Kirkwood. The variety of the runs, the no-frills nature of the resort. We had some of the best customer service here and some of the worst. I braced myself every time I talked to a staff member, because I didn't know if they were going to be rude or great. If they could all just be average, I would be happier.