Chiropractor in Kirkwood, CA
Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic welcomes Kirkwood's year-round locals, seasonal resort crews and second-home families for whole-family chiropractic care. Our South Lake Tahoe office is about 42 minutes away by mountain highway, over Carson Pass and Luther Pass.
Chiropractor serving Kirkwood, CA
Whole-family chiropractic care for Kirkwood
About 42 minutes (32.6 mi) from our South Lake Tahoe office
Kirkwood sits at about 7,690 feet in a meadow ringed by Sierra ridges, where Alpine, Amador and El Dorado counties meet. Its story goes back to 1864, when Zack Kirkwood built the inn, stage stop and post office that still stands on SR 88; when Alpine County was formed, the county line ran right through the barroom. Today Kirkwood is a small, unincorporated community built around the ski area that opened in 1972, and Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic is about 42 minutes away in South Lake Tahoe. We’re glad to welcome patients from the Mountain Village, Timber Creek, Kirkwood Meadows West, East Meadows and around Caples Lake.
Steep runs off a 2,000-foot vertical, laps on the groomed Nordic trails, summer hikes to the Pacific Crest Trail at Carson Pass and a long winter of digging out after storms can all add up to knee pain, back pain or a sore shoulder. A first visit begins with a conversation about what’s bothering you and a full chiropractic exam, and from there your chiropractic care is shaped around how your body is moving.
Whether your family lives in Kirkwood year-round or comes up for weekends at a second home, we bring the same idea to every visit: chiropractic & whole family wellness. For expecting moms and kids, Dr. Emma Freeze brings a special interest in prenatal care and pediatric care. Your first visit can begin with our new patient special. When you’re ready, schedule your first appointment, and in winter, check SR 88 and Luther Pass on Caltrans QuickMap before you head out.
Proudly serving: Mountain Village, Timber Creek, Kirkwood Meadows West, East Meadows, Juniper Ridge, Kirkwood North, along SR 88.
Local, family-focused care
Care that fits life in Kirkwood
Three counties, Alpine, Amador and El Dorado, meet in Kirkwood's glacier-carved meadow at about 7,690 feet, and the 2020 census counted 190 people living there. Homes far outnumber full-time residents, since many are second homes, and local work revolves around the ski resort and its big seasonal crew, along with the Caltrans maintenance station at Caples Lake, the Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District's utility and snow-removal teams, and lodging and property companies. Resort jobs, snow removal, road maintenance and property work all mean lifting, bending and long days outdoors in the cold. Kirkwood's planning documents have long noted that residents depend on South Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley towns of Minden and Gardnerville for services, so the trip to town is already part of mountain life, and a chiropractic visit can fold into one of those days. The clinic sits about 42 minutes and 32.6 miles from Kirkwood, east over Carson Pass (8,574 ft) and north over Luther Pass (7,740 ft). Caltrans works to keep SR 88 open through the winter, but storms and avalanche control can close it for a while, so it pays to check conditions before you set out.
Recreation shapes life in Kirkwood all year. Kirkwood Mountain Resort is known for steep, expert-heavy terrain, with about 58% of it rated advanced or expert across 2,000 vertical feet, and a season here brings hundreds of inches of snow. The Kirkwood Cross Country & Snowshoe Center grooms 80 km of trails next to the Kirkwood Inn, and summer swaps in lift-served hiking and mountain biking, the free disc golf course above Timber Creek, fishing on Caples Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail at Carson Pass. All of it puts real load on knees, hips, backs and shoulders. A powder morning on Kirkwood's steep terrain or a long loop on the Nordic trails is the kind of day Dr. Joel Mackes gets: snow and the mountains are where he likes to spend his own time, and at the clinic he works with patients to help them move better and stay active. Dr. Emma Freeze, whose special interest is pregnancy and pediatric chiropractic care, is Webster Technique certified and a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Whether your family is in Kirkwood every day or every ski weekend, our goal stays the same: helping every generation live life to the fullest.
What we help with
How we can help Kirkwood residents
Knee pain on steep terrain
Kirkwood is known for steep, expert-heavy terrain, about 58% of it rated advanced or expert. Hard turns and long descents load the knees, so we check how your hips, knees and spine share the work.
Learn more →Ski, snowboard and Nordic strains
From the lifts at Mountain Village and Timber Creek to 80 km of groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails, our athlete care helps skiers, riders and Nordic skiers keep moving all season.
Learn more →Aches from resort and mountain work
Seasonal resort jobs, snow removal, road maintenance and lodging work mean lifting, bending and long days outdoors in the cold. We help you work through the strain a busy season leaves behind.
Learn more →Neck stiffness from the drive over two passes
Getting to town means a winding mountain highway over Carson Pass and Luther Pass. Gripping the wheel through curves and snow can leave the neck and shoulders stiff by the time you arrive.
Learn more →Neck and back pain after a winter-road crash
Storms can bring chain controls on Luther Pass and avalanche-control closures on SR 88. If a slide-off or collision leaves you sore, we offer gentle auto accident care.
Learn more →Care for expecting moms and kids
Dr. Emma Freeze holds Webster Technique certification and has a special interest in pregnancy and pediatric chiropractic, so families who live here or come up for the weekend can bring everyone to one office.
Learn more →Reviews
What our patients say
“Most amazing experience! I was in a lot of pain and in fear of doctors but when I walked in I felt at home. The energy was amazing ,anybody come visit.”
“La atención del doctor y el resto de personal es maravillosa, son muy atentos. Los recomiendo !”
“Dr Joel and staff were very helpful, thorough, and friendly! Extremely reasonable price for new patient walk in and felt very light and adjusted after the session. Highly recommend to everyone looking for an exceptional chiropractic visit!”
Getting here
Directions from Kirkwood to our South Lake Tahoe office
- 1
From Kirkwood, head east on CA-88 past Caples Lake and up over Carson Pass (8,574 ft), then drop down into Hope Valley, about 14 miles in all.
- 2
At Picketts Junction in Hope Valley, turn left onto CA-89 North. It's about 11.1 miles up and over Luther Pass (7,740 ft) and back down to US-50 at Meyers.
- 3
At the Meyers traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto US-50 East and go about 0.9 miles.
- 4
Roll straight through the second traffic circle and follow US-50 East roughly 4 more miles into South Lake Tahoe.
- 5
Go right on Lake Tahoe Blvd and keep on it for roughly 2.6 miles.
- 6
Your last turn is a left onto Alameda Ave; 3121 Harrison Ave sits roughly 210 feet along, on the left-hand side.
Drive times are approximate and can run longer in winter conditions or holiday traffic.
Comprehensive care
Everything Kirkwood patients can get at our clinic
Patients from Kirkwood have access to every service we offer and every condition we treat at our South Lake Tahoe office.
Quick links for Kirkwood patients
Conditions we treat
Services we offer
Chiropractic & Techniques
SoftWave & Recovery
Specialty Care
Meet the doctors
Dr. Emma Freeze, DC
Chiropractor
Dr. Emma Freeze is a chiropractor at Incline Chiropractic and Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic, where she is passionate about helping individuals and families achieve optimal health and wellness through neurologically focused chiropractic care.
Read full bio →
Dr. Joel Mackes, DC
Chiropractor
Dr. Joel Mackes is a chiropractor at Incline Chiropractic and Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic who is passionate about helping patients move better, feel better, and get back to doing the things they love.
Read full bio →Kirkwood chiropractic FAQs
How far is Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic from Kirkwood?+
About 32.6 miles, or roughly 42 minutes in good conditions. Head east on CA-88 past Caples Lake and over Carson Pass into Hope Valley, turn left at Picketts Junction onto CA-89 North and cross Luther Pass to Meyers. From there, take US-50 East through two traffic circles, turn right onto Lake Tahoe Blvd, then turn left onto Alameda Ave, and the clinic at 3121 Harrison Ave comes up on the left about 210 feet in. Caltrans works to keep CA-88 open all winter, but storms and avalanche control can close it temporarily. The Carson Spur avalanche zone is west of Kirkwood and isn't on this route, though the east side of Carson Pass has avalanche chutes too, and Luther Pass can have chain controls during storms. Check Caltrans QuickMap before you leave and carry chains in winter.
Do you see patients from Kirkwood?+
Yes. We welcome year-round residents and second-home owners from all over Kirkwood, from the Mountain Village and Timber Creek to Kirkwood Meadows West, East Meadows and Juniper Ridge, as well as people who live near Caples Lake or come up to work a season at the resort. If you already make the trip to South Lake Tahoe for errands and services, a visit can ride along on that same trip to town.
Who are the chiropractors at Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic?+
Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic has two chiropractors. Dr. Emma Freeze, DC, focuses her special interest on pregnancy and pediatric chiropractic care. Dr. Joel Mackes, DC, helps people move better and stay active, and he spends his free time outdoors, off-roading and in the mountains.
Do you care for kids and pregnant moms from Kirkwood?+
Yes. Expecting moms and children are a particular focus for Dr. Emma Freeze, whose special interest is pregnancy and pediatric chiropractic care. She's Webster Technique certified and an International Chiropractic Pediatric Association member, so Kirkwood families, whether they live here full time or spend weekends in the mountains, can bring expecting moms and kids to one office. Prenatal chiropractic care works alongside your obstetric care rather than replacing it.
How do I book an appointment?+
To book, phone our office or submit a request from the Book an Appointment page. Coming in for the first time? Mention our new patient special when you reach out. No referral is needed to see a chiropractor in California. In winter, take a quick look at CA-88 and Luther Pass on Caltrans QuickMap before you start the drive.
New Patient Special
$47
Your first visit, all included. New patients welcome at Tahoe Chiropractic Clinic.
- Consultation
- Complete Chiropractic Exam
- First Adjustment