Advanced Skier Itinerary

Start: Chair 6 (Cornice)

Kirkwood makes it easy — you park, walk a few steps, and you’re basically at Chair 6. Go straight up and ease into the day from there. The front side off 6 is loaded with options: groomers if you want to warm up, trees everywhere, and all sorts of small pockets to duck into.

If you want something a little bigger, head into Sentinel Bowl. It’s wide, playful, and you can spend a few laps just exploring different lines. There are tons of nooks and slots to string together. If you drop into the gully near the lift line, just be aware: early season, it can be thin or rocky in spots. Good laps here regardless.

Mid-Morning: Sunrise (Backside)

When you’re ready for a change of scenery, head toward the Backside / Sunrise Chair. It’s not quick to get there — you take Cables / The Crest, drop down toward Iron Horse, and then finally end up on Sunrise — but it’s worth the effort.

The backside feels a little more wild. It’s east-facing, so it gets morning sun; great for softening, not great if it’s a warm day and you show up too late. Terrain right under the lift is mellow but fun. If you want more interesting lines:

• Go hard skier’s left and stay high before cutting in
• Or traverse far right toward Covered Wagon, and even hike a bit if coverage and conditions allow

You can usually find fresh snow out there long after the front side is tracked.

Optional Interlude: Vista T-Bar → Devil’s Corral

If you’re feeling ambitious and conditions look good, you can take the Vista T-Bar and drop into Devil’s Corral. This is not casual terrain. It’s tight, technical, and the entrances can be awkward.

You should scope it from below first or at least know the line you intend to ski. When it’s good, it’s legitimately great, but you want to be confident about your route.

Afternoon: The Reut, The Wall, Wagon Wheel Bowl

Back on the front side, you’ve got three major advanced zones to pick from, depending on how spicy you want to get.

The Reut

The most approachable of the three. Lots of terrain variety, straightforward fall lines, and tons of ways to weave between features. Great when you want quality skiing without committing to anything extreme.

The Wall

Somewhat infamous, and for good reason. Steeper pitch, more exposure, and often variable snow. The entry can be intimidating, especially when conditions are firm. If you’re a strong advanced skier and conditions are stable, it’s a fun challenge — just ski it deliberately.

Wagon Wheel Bowl

Expert-only terrain. If you know what you’re doing, this area has incredible lines and big, open faces. But the entrances can be very spicy, and you need to be absolutely sure about coverage and route-finding. This is where local knowledge pays off.

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That should carry you through a full day at Kirkwood. It’s an advanced mountain with real terrain — treat it with respect, and you’ll get some of the best skiing in Tahoe.