The lovely drive through Hope Valley to Kirkwood from South Lake Tahoe takes only about 45 minutes, but it is light-years away in altitude and ambiance. Kirkwood has no bright lights, no ringing jackpots, no wide blue lake, no high-rise buildings and no urban noise. Instead, you have the feeling that you are entering a special secret place, known to a select few. Yet you're at one of Tahoe's "big six" resorts.

As you drive up the access road from Hwy. 88, it's easy to see why these giant bowls were chosen for a ski resort. Skiers and snowboarders have left their tracks on every slope leading down to Kirkwood Village. No town existed before the resort came to fruition in 1972, and whatever you see was built (and is still being built) for a purpose: to improve the skiing and riding experience. Not that there was much to improve. Kirkwood sits in a natural basin with a base elevation of 7,800 feet—the highest in the Tahoe area. In a mountain range known for heavy powder (a.k.a. Sierra cement), Kirkwood's snow is often lighter and fluffier and more abundant than the other Tahoe resorts. Consequently, the resort frequently stays open into May with good late-season conditions.

Terrain-wise, Kirkwood is the most balanced resort in the Tahoe region. It has one of the best learning areas in the country; several gentle runs off to one side, away from the main traffic, are served by their own lifts. Kirkwood will thrill any expert, even super-expert, with its steeps and dozens of chutes. And it offers great terrain for all ability levels between those extremes. The only complaint we've ever heard about Kirkwood is its slow lifts. Of its 10 chairlifts, only two are express quads. New in 2005/06, the TC Express lift replaced Hole 'n' Wall.

Kirkwood Ski Resort Facts:

Summit elevation: 9,800 feet
Vertical drop: 2,000 feet
Base elevation: 7,800 feet

Expert: +++++
Advanced: +++++ Intermediate: +++++
Beginner: ++++
First-timer: +++++

Address: Box 1, Kirkwood,
CA 95646
Area code: 209
Ski area phone: 258-6000
Snow report (toll free): (877) 547-5966
Toll-free reservations:
(800) 967-7500
Fax: 258-8899
E-mail: info@kirkwood.com
Internet: www.kirkwood.com

Number of lifts: 12—2 quads, 7 triples, 1 double, 2 surface lifts
Snowmaking: 5 percent
Skiable acreage: 2,300 acres
Uphill capacity: 17,905 per hour
Parks & pipes: 3 parks, 2 pipes
Bed base: 2,000 at the resort; 22,000 in S. Lake Tahoe
Nearest lodging: Slopeside, ski-in/ski-out
Resort child care: Yes, 2 years and older
Adult ticket, per day: $69–$72 (07/08)

South Lake Tahoe Area Facts:

Toll-free reservations:
(800) 288-2463
Internet: www.bluelaketahoe.com

Dining: +++
Apres-ski/nightlife: +++++
Other activities: +++