Wagon Wheel Bowl
Kirkwood
About this zone
Wagon Wheel Bowl sits skiers’ left of The Wall and turns the difficulty up another notch. It’s a high-alpine bowl tucked under the cisterns around 9,400 feet, defined by steep fall lines, tight chutes, and very little margin for error. The terrain matches The Wall for pitch but ups the ante with spicier entrances and faster, more committing drop-ins. Lines fan out across multiple aspects before everything funnels into the Drain below, making it feel big, exposed, and very real.
Best When
This zone shines on cold, stable days when the snow is chalky or settled powder and visibility is good. The mix of north to northeast aspects helps preserve snow quality, especially if you stay higher and trend toward the NE to avoid the most abrupt entries near the cisterns. It’s a place for confident, intentional skiing rather than lapping—pick your line, ski it clean, and be ready to deal with what it gives you.
Watch Out For
Entrances are the crux here: expect cornices, cliffs, and blind rollovers with limited room to shut it down. Speed control matters immediately, as many lines drop you straight into rocks, trees, or tight chokes below. Conditions amplify consequences—firm snow or flat light can make this zone unforgiving fast. Everything drains into the same runout, so manage traffic and be aware of what’s coming from above. This is expert terrain in the literal sense.
Map
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