North America
Kirkwood Resort Guide
Opens December 4, 2026
Best months to book: February, January, March · last season + 30-yr record
Scroll for happiness
Opens Dec 4
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
Oct 30
todayPast 24 Hours
4cm
Past 48 Hours
4cm
Past 10 Days
6cm
7-Day Forecast
27cm
Snow Depth
--
Resort Guide
Kirkwood is a ski resort located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, renowned for its high alpine terrain and abundant snowfall. The resort features over 2,300 acres of skiable terrain, including challenging steeps, open bowls, and scenic glades, catering to advanced skiers and riders. Kirkwood offers a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere with essential amenities such as ski-in/ski-out lodging, dining, and a ski and ride school, making it a destination for those seeking a more secluded and adventurous mountain experience. Its unique location and terrain variety distinguish it as a premier spot for powder enthusiasts and those looking for a less crowded alternative in the Lake Tahoe region.
Gallery
Click to expand • 9 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Kirkwood
Lifts
15
Skiable area
2300 ac
Longest run
4 km / 2.5 mi
Share of terrain by difficulty
- Beginner12% of terrain
- Intermediate30% of terrain
- Advanced38% of terrain
- Expert20% of terrain
Lift fleet
- High-speed quad2
- Quad chair1
- Triple chair6
- Double chair1
- Surface lift5
Resort Info
Season dates
Opened by Thanksgiving 2 of 9 seasons on record · last miss 2025-26
Ski passes
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
The Cornice Grill – A classic après-ski spot at Kirkwood, The Cornice Grill is celebrated for its cozy atmosphere, hearty pub fare, and welcoming bar, making it a favorite gathering place for skiers to unwind with drinks and share stories after a day on the mountain.
Season vs Historic
Updated Fri, Oct 30, 11:02 PM UTC
15cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
-49%
vs 5-Year Avg
29cm avg by now
-7%
vs 30-Year Avg
16cm avg by now
29cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
This season is at 14.8 cm to date. The last completed season totaled ~14.8 cm. That's 49% below the 5-year average (29 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 7% below the 30-year average (16 cm).
Kirkwood Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Kirkwood Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 628cm with an average of 62 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 28% above this average (806cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 61cm | 7 days | 14cm | 37cm | 21cm |
| December | 127cm | 10 days | 57cm | 100cm | 32cm |
| January | 120cm | 10 days | 104cm | 148cm | 29cm |
| February | 120cm | 10 days | 140cm | 180cm | 27cm |
| March | 104cm | 10 days | 168cm | 205cm | 26cm |
| April | 56cm | 8 days | 155cm | 189cm | 17cm |
| May | 21cm | 4 days | 95cm | 136cm | 10cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2025-26
—
No full season on record
55 days scored, from 22 Feb
61
Best Day
13 Apr
3
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
5
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
February 2026
- 4722 Feb
- 4423 Feb
- 3224 Feb
March 2026
- 3125 Mar
- 2831 Mar
- 265 Mar
April 2026
- 6113 Apr21cm
- 5714 Apr3cm
- 5512 Apr17cm
April scored highest for Kirkwood in 2025-26. Based on 55 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
1 tracked seasonLast completed season(2025-26)
136 days
Dec 5, 2025 → Apr 19, 2026
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Dec 4, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
February
Peak Season
January
Peak Season
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Kirkwood
- Where is Kirkwood?
- Kirkwood is a ski resort in the United States.
- How high is Kirkwood?
- Kirkwood runs from a base elevation of 2,377 m (7,799 ft) to a summit of 2,883 m (9,459 ft), giving a vertical drop of 506 m (1,660 ft).
- How big is Kirkwood?
- Kirkwood has 2,300 acres (931 hectares) of skiable terrain, 86 marked runs and 15 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Kirkwood?
- Kirkwood is on the Epic Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Kirkwood?
- Kirkwood typically operates from December to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Kirkwood get in a typical season?
- Kirkwood averages 354 inches / 899 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
