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Kirkwood
Eden Index
Climate
7.6
•
Recreation
10.0
•
Community
•
Safeguard
6.5/10
Kirkwood, California is a charming mountain community located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, Kirkwood offers visitors a unique blend of outdoor recreation and pristine wilderness.
The climate in Kirkwood is characterized by cold, snowy winters and mild summers. The area receives heavy precipitation, primarily in the form of snowfall, making it a premier destination for winter sports enthusiasts. The average annual snowfall is around 400 inches, creating excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions.
Kirkwood is also home to several hydrology constituents, including the Carson River, Caples Creek, and Silver Creek. These water sources provide opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and other water-based activities during the warmer months.
Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in Kirkwood. The region boasts a vast network of hiking trails that showcase its stunning landscapes, including groves of towering pine trees and alpine meadows filled with wildflowers. Mountain biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing are also popular activities in the area. In addition, Kirkwood offers camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Overall, Kirkwood, California is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts seeking an escape into nature, with its diverse climate, abundant water sources, and a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities.
What is the Eden Index?
The Snoflo Eden Index serves as a comprehensive rating system for regions, evaluating their desirability through a holistic assessment of climate health, outdoor recreation opportunities, and natural disaster risk, acknowledging the profound impact of these factors on livability and well-being.
Climate Health Indicator (CHI): 7.6
Kirkwood receives approximately
1221mm of rain per year,
with humidity levels near 60%
and air temperatures averaging around
5°C.
Kirkwood has a plant hardyness factor of
6, meaning
plants and agriculture in this region thrive during a short period during spring and early summer. Most
plants will die off during the colder winter months.
By considering the ideal temperature range, reliable water supplies, clean air, and stable seasonal rain or snowpacks, the Climate Health Indicator (CHI) underscores the significance of a healthy climate as the foundation for quality living.
A healthy climate is paramount for ensuring a high quality of life and livability in a region, fostering both physical well-being and environmental harmony. This can be characterized by ideal temperatures, reliable access to water supplies, clean air, and consistent seasonal rain or snowpacks.
Weather Forecast
Streamflow Conditions
Lower Sacramento
Area Rivers
Lower Sacramento
Snowpack Depths
Lower Sacramento
Reservoir Storage Capacity
Lower Sacramento
Groundwater Levels
Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI): 10.0
The Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI) recognizes the value of outdoor recreational options, such as parks, hiking trails, camping sites, and fishing spots, while acknowledging that climate plays a pivotal role in ensuring the comfort and consistency of these experiences.
Access to outdoor recreational opportunities, encompassing activities such as parks, hiking, camping, and fishing, is crucial for overall well-being, and the climate plays a pivotal role in enabling and enhancing these experiences, ensuring that individuals can engage in nature-based activities comfortably and consistently.
Camping Areas
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Valley | 21 | 7,365 ft | |||
| Fallen Leaf | 206 | 6,345 ft | |||
| Fence Creek | 38 | 5,635 ft | |||
| Kaspian | 9 | 6,276 ft | |||
| Camp Richardson Complex | 320 | 6,250 ft | |||
| Emerald Bay State Park | 100 | 6,548 ft | |||
| Meeks Bay | 40 | 6,225 ft | |||
| Caples Lake | 34 | 7,897 ft | |||
| Kirkwood Lake | 12 | 7,674 ft | |||
| Boards Crossing | 10 | 3,960 ft | |||
| China Flat | 19 | 4,790 ft | |||
| Pardoes Point | 10 | 5,845 ft | |||
| Boulder Flat | 20 | 5,621 ft | |||
| Upper Blue Lake | 32 | 8,172 ft | |||
| Silvertip | 23 | 7,545 ft | |||
| Stanislaus River | 25 | 6,204 ft | |||
| Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo | 52 | 4,077 ft | |||
| Nevada Beach | 54 | 6,213 ft | |||
| Sugar Pine Point | 8 | 5,889 ft | |||
| Hermit Valley | 25 | 7,163 ft | |||
| Lower Blue Lake | 16 | 8,116 ft | |||
| Lodgepole Overflow | 30 | 7,346 ft | |||
| Mosquito Lakes | 11 | 8,063 ft | |||
| Silver Fork | 35 | 5,531 ft | |||
| El Dorado | None | 6,255 ft | |||
| Pine Marten | 32 | 7,334 ft | |||
| Sugar Pine Point State Park | 175 | 6,465 ft | |||
| Lake Alpine | 25 | 7,351 ft | |||
| Spicer Meadow | 43 | 6,649 ft | |||
| South Shore | 22 | 6,017 ft | |||
| Wrights Lake | 70 | 6,949 ft | |||
| Moore Creek | 8 | 3,297 ft | |||
| D.L. Bliss State Park | 170 | 6,872 ft | |||
| Middle Creek/Expansion | 35 | 8,106 ft | |||
| Niagra Creek | 16 | 6,541 ft | |||
| Grouse Flat | 10 | 7,218 ft | |||
| Brightman | 32 | 5,680 ft | |||
| Cascade Creek | 14 | 6,054 ft | |||
| Big Meadow | 68 | 6,536 ft | |||
| Upper Blue Lake Dam | 25 | 8,162 ft | |||
| Campground by the Lake | 170 | 6,256 ft | |||
| Kit Carson | 12 | 6,865 ft | |||
| Mokelumne | 13 | 3,240 ft | |||
| Crystal Springs | 25 | 6,065 ft | |||
| Bayview | 13 | 6,819 ft | |||
| Pacific Valley | 15 | 7,533 ft | |||
| Mokelumne River | 13 | 3,234 ft | |||
| Hope Valley | 24 | 7,155 ft | |||
| Camp Shelley | None | 6,256 ft |
Nearby Ski Areas
Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI):
The Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI) recognizes that natural disaster risk, encompassing floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, can drastically affect safety and the overall appeal of an area.
The level of natural disaster risk in a region significantly affects safety and the overall livability, with climate change amplifying these risks by potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of events like floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, thereby posing substantial challenges to community resilience and well-being.
Community Resilience Indicator (CRI):
The Community Resilience Indicator (CRI) recognizes that education, healthcare, and socioeconomics are crucial to the well-being of a region. The CRI acknowledges the profound impact of these elements on residents' overall quality of life. By evaluating educational resources, healthcare accessibility, and economic inclusivity, the index captures the essential aspects that contribute to a thriving community, fostering resident satisfaction, equity, and social cohesion.