Kirkwood vs Heavenly
One clear look at snowfall, elevation, and access, so you know which to ski.
Kirkwood
CA · 9,800 ft
Heavenly
CA · 10,067 ft
Side-by-Side
| Metric | Kirkwood | Heavenly |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Tahoe CA | Tahoe CA |
| Summit elevation | 9,800 ft 7,800 ft base | 10,067 ft 6,540 ft base |
| NWS forecast bias | Pending grade pending | Pending grade pending |
| Season snowfall | 1" 2 storms | 0" 1 storm |
| Avg storm-day rate | 0.5"/day | 0.4"/day |
| Best storm | 56/100 Significant | 7/100 Tracked |
| SNOTEL record | 2 storm-days measured | 1 storm-days measured |
| Community reports | 241 TGR posts | 37 TGR posts |
| Nearest airport | RNO | RNO |
| Drive time | 1.83h 90 mi · RNO | 1h 58 mi · RNO |
| Access difficulty | Moderate | Easy |
| Pass | Ikon | Epic |
Snowfall totals come from each resort's tracked storms. NWS forecast grades read “pending” everywhere: six winters of checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct, so we show the raw NWS number and do not grade it.
The Verdict
StormDrop shows the raw NWS forecast for both Kirkwood and Heavenly and does not grade it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct (it turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question), so we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.
Kirkwood and Heavenly ran neck-and-neck this season, about 1" and 0" of snowfall respectively.
Heavenly is the easier trip — about 1h from RNO (Reno), versus 1.83h from RNO for Kirkwood.
Best for
Kirkwood — chasing the biggest totals — it out-snowed Heavenly this season.
Best for
Heavenly — quick-strike trips — the easier drive at ~1h from RNO.
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelKirkwood
Drive to Kirkwood is 2+ hours minimum and becomes 'heinous' in storm conditions.
Heavenly
Monitor wind direction - gondola closes at slightest breeze.
FAQ
Does Kirkwood or Heavenly get more snow?
Kirkwood and Heavenly ran neck-and-neck this season, about 1" and 0" of snowfall respectively.
Is Kirkwood or Heavenly easier to get to?
Heavenly is the easier trip — about 1h from RNO (Reno), versus 1.83h from RNO for Kirkwood.
Which has the more accurate snow forecast, Kirkwood or Heavenly?
StormDrop shows the raw NWS forecast for both Kirkwood and Heavenly and does not grade it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct (it turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question), so we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.
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