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Vail Resorts Launches South Lake Tahoe Shuttle to Kirkwood, Locals Celebrate Silver Lining of Warm Season

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated Apr 6, 2026 12:44 PM ET

Vail Resorts, the ski resort mega-corporation that sells the Epic Pass, is being celebrated in South Lake Tahoe, California, this morning.

In the South Lake area, Epic Pass holders get unlimited access to Heavenly and Kirkwood, two of the largest resorts in the state. The resorts are less than 40 miles apart, but they've never been connected with a transportation service, such as a bus or shuttle, until now.

Here's the deal.

Heavenly, the larger of the two resorts, was forced to close after Sunday, April 5, 2026, due to deteriorating snow conditions at lower elevations. Kirkwood, which typically receives more snowfall and has a higher base elevation, plans to remain open through Sunday, April 19, 2026.

To help out Epic Pass holders in South Lake, a free shuttle service will run daily between Heavenly and Kirkwood starting today, April 6th. It is expected to run until Kirkwood closes for the season.

"We’ve been needed [sic] this for almost a half century….. great work!!!!," wrote one commenter. Kirkwood responded and confirmed that their parking team is "exploring similar options for next season". Locals are begging for the shuttle to be permanent, as it could help to reduce traffic on busy days throughout the season.

See below for the Heavenly-Kirkwood spring shuttle. Shuttle rides are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Kirkwood has recorded 282 inches of snow this season to date, nearly 80% of its annual average of 354 inches, but the resort's high elevation and north-facing slopes are holding snow well (all things considered).

As of Monday, April 6, Kirkwood has seven of 13 lifts and more than 50% of its named trails open for skiing and riding. That's a stark comparison to other resorts in the region that are barely hanging on, or have already closed for the season.

Check out the current snow coverage on Kirkwood's webcam below.

Temperatures are expected to remain warm through the end of this week before a small wintry system hits this weekend. According to OpenSnow, as much as 11 inches of snow could fall at Kirkwood in the next 10 days.

If you have an Epic Pass, go make the most of it at Kirkwood through closing day, April 19, 2026, and hop on the free shuttle if you're coming from South Lake.

The snow will be soft, the sun will most likely be shining, and the lifts will be running. What more can you ask for?

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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