California Ski Resort Launches New Parking Reservation System

Kirkwood Mountain Resort, located near South Lake Tahoe, California, announced their intention to implement a parking reservation system back in March of 2024 .

The resort has since released the intricate details of this parking reservation system which includes paid parking, free parking, and carpooling options. Let's break it down.

New for the Winter '24/'25 season, Kirkwood will require a parking reservation on weekends and 'Peak Periods' in all lots. These reservations will be required from the time the resort opens to 12 p.m. each day. Guests will have two options for making a parking reservation at Kirkwood— Orange Zones and Blue Zones

Orange Zones— Kirkwood's most convenient lots have been identified as Orange Zones. To park in one of these lots, guests will have to make a reservation online and in-advance. Reservations will be free for vehicles with four or more passengers. Reservations for vehicles with three or less passengers will cost $20/day.

Orange Zones include: Admin/Shanty Town Lot, Chair 5/6, Chair 9 Lot, Kirkwood Meadows Drive (South of N. Loop Rd.), Loop Road, Lower Red Cliffs, Middle 7 Lot, Powerhouse Road, Shop Lot, Tennis Court Street Parking, Upper 7 Lot, Upper Red Cliffs Lot, Village Lot, VIP, and Volcano Lot.

Blue Zones— Kirkwood's less convenient lots have been identified as Blue Zones. These lots will feature free parking reservations that will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is similar to Palisades Tahoe's mostly-free parking reservation system.

Blue Zones include: Cross-Country Lot, Kirkwood Inn Lot, Kirkwood Meadows Drive (North of N. Loop Rd.), Lower 7 Lot, Shop Lot

Parking at Kirkwood will remain free and will not require a reservation on non-Peak Period weekdays, and after 12 p.m. on weekends. The following dates have been identified by Kirkwood as 'Peak Periods', and will require a parking reservation:

• December 14, 15, 21 - 24, 26 - 31 (Please Note Not the 25th)
• January 1 - 5, 11, 12, 18 - 20, 25, 26
• February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 - 18, 20 - 23
• March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
• April 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20

Kirkwood joins a growing list of ski resorts that have opted for paid or free parking reservation systems to manage weekend crowds. The necessity for these systems has increased in recent seasons as the popularity of skiing grows, and the sale of mega-passes shoots through the roof.

It's an inconvenient reality for many of us who miss the days of not having to think about parking, but there are some things we simply can't control. Charging for parking rubs everybody the wrong way, but here's hoping the new system encourages folks to carpool to the mountain together. There's nothing better than skiing with friends, and I'd argue the car ride to and from the resort is equally as fun in its own way.

I'm based in Truckee, California, and have plans to ski Kirkwood at least a few times this season. Look out for a personal report on how the resort's first season with parking reservations shakes out right here on POWDER.

Related: Popular Washington Ski Resort Adds Controversial Paid Parking Program

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