Spring and early summer in Sun Valley, Idaho is full of blossoming wildflowers. We’ve compiled a list of the best hikes to view the vibrant wildflower blooming throughout the Wood River Valley.
Chasing Elevation: Trail Running Adventures in Sun Valley
“Some places are built for trail running. Sun Valley feels like it was born for it.” Early mornings on alpine singletrack. Cool mountain air even in July. Long climbs that open into massive views of Idaho wilderness. Whether you’re chasing a finish line or simply looking for your next favorite trail, summer in Sun Valley offers a rare combination of race culture, high-elevation adventure, and endlessly runnable terrain. Why the Sun Valley Area is a Trail Runner’s Dream Destination Sun Valley and Ketchum sit at 5,850 feet in elevation, making the area an ideal place to experience the benefits of altitude training without immediately pushing into extreme elevations. Summer weather opens the door to endless trail running opportunities, with cool mornings and crisp mountain air creating perfect conditions for longer adventures before the afternoon heat arrives. From Bellevue to Galena Summit and beyond, the Wood River Valley offers an expansive network of trails ranging from smooth beginner-friendly paths to rugged mountain terrain built for serious endurance athletes. One of the best parts of running here is accessibility. Many trails begin just minutes from downtown Ketchum, allowing runners to move from coffee shop to trailhead in no time. Around here, the …
Fly and Ride! Traveling to Sun Valley with your Bike
words by Hayden Seder While there are plenty of places to rent a mountain bike in the Sun Valley area, having your own bike on the trails makes them that much sweeter. But flying with your bike is a pain . . . right? Not so much these days, where for a short amount of prep and the cost of checking a bag, you can have your bike on your next vacay to Sun Valley, where the area promises over 400 miles of singletrack. With how much riding you’re going to be doing, you’re going to want a bike that fits you perfectly and has all the specs adjusted to your liking. So read on for Visit Sun Valley’s guide to flying your bike to Sun Valley. Getting Your Bike Ready to Fly There are a few options for what to pack your bike in to fly, namely either a hard or soft case or a cardboard bike box. Many local bike shops carry the cardboard boxes and will either give them to you for free or for just a couple bucks. Assuming you pack the bike correctly, most airlines will accept this. The other option is a soft or …
Golfing Around Sun Valley, Idaho
“This is not all about golf,” is inscribed in a stone marker at the 5th tee box of Sun Valley Resort’s White Clouds golf course, words spoken by the Resort’s owner to commemorate his vision when he dedicated the parcel of land for the golf course. While the Sun Valley area is certainly not all about golf, it’s certainly holding its own in the department with three Sun Valley golf courses—Trail Creek, White Clouds, and Elkhorn—as well as Bigwood and The Valley Club courses. Read on to learn about which style of course will suit your fancy and which clubs have the best afternoon drinks and bites to soak up rays after hitting the links. Sun Valley Resort The Sun Valley Resort is home to three golf courses, each with their own terrain and appeal. Combined, these three courses offer up a total of 45 holes with two driving ranges and putting practice putting opportunities. Sun Valley golf was most recently recognized by Golf Digest as one of the Best Courses in the PNW. Trail Creek The Trail Creek golf course is located at the Sun Valley Club House and is the resort’s signature course. The 18-hole course was designed by Robert …
Fly Fishing in Sun Valley, ID – The Ultimate Guide
The Sun Valley area offers an incredible diversity of fly fishing opportunities for everyone from the casual novice to the ambitious expert. Time to buy a stack of postcards for Mom, because you’ll have plenty of fish stories to tell after wading our local waters.
Spring in Sun Valley: Ski, Fish, and Hike All in One Day
When spring in Sun Valley, Idaho has begun to sprung, with some days convincing you summer is right around the corner, with the sun shining down and the layers coming off, only to have the cold chill of winter come back with a vengeance just a few days later. There’s snow in some spots, mud in others, and a whole lot of unpredictability. But while it may feel a bit murky in this in-between time, it also opens up the opportunity for packed multi sport days, if you’re willing to find the right place and time for each one. Spring in Sun Valley, Idaho is one of the few places in the country where you can ski & snowboard, hike, and fly fish,all in a single day. From casting a line on one of the nearby waterway to skiing Bald Mountain and hiking in Hailey, this guide shows you exactly how to plan the perfect spring multi-sport day. Spring Skiing on Bald Mountain With the morning spent on the water, the temps have had a chance to warm up a bit and it’s time to head to Bald Mountain in Ketchum for some spring skiing on Bald Mountain where …
Maximizing Shoulder Season in Sun Valley
Slack season is one of the secret times in Sun Valley. It’s a uniquely quiet moment when the crowds are gone, the hills are lush with greenery and the opportunities for spring rejuvenation are calling. We’ve compiled a go-to guide of how to maximize this unknown gem of a season that is spring in Sun Valley.
How to get the most out of Spring Snow in Sun Valley
With all of the spring events returning this year, you may forget about how fun spring snow can be. Spring in the Wood River Valley brings about juxtaposed weather patterns mixing courteous doses of sunshine and thaw inducing temperatures with winter flurries inflated by frigid arctic winds. While the south slopes turn a muddy brown and the lower valley starts to get buds on the trees it is still winter up high. Some of the best turns of the season happen after the calendar says the seasons have changed. The most obvious place to get your turns in is Baldy. Corny and soft snow awaits you for that oh so glorious spring “pow” turns. Although its little brother Dollar Mountain, with its rad terrain parks, is probably closed this late in the season, there are a few “pocket” parks plus all the classic hits scattered around Baldy. Winter certainly hasn’t waved it’s red flag in the higher elevations. Depending on when you’re reading this, Baldy will either be nearing the end of their sanctioned lift service or closed. If they’re finished up for the season, it’s up to your self-ascending or snowmobiling access to get those last winter fixes. Go for a …
How to Get to Sun Valley, Idaho
Nonstop flights to Sun Valley, Idaho from 6 major cities! Yes, you read correctly, Sun Valley does have an airport and it is served via United, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. While getting to Sun Valley is part of the adventure, new non-stop flights have made it easier than ever to visit this little corner of winter paradise. Fly to Hailey’s Friedman Memorial Airport or land a bit further out and take the beautiful drive to Sun Valley. Either way, we’ll be waiting to welcome you.
Late Night in Sun Valley
Some say that Sun Valley is a sleepy town, but those folks are just the ones who go to bed early. What the area lacks in night clubs and velvet ropes it makes up for in pure, humble fun that keeps going after hours. Take a gander at this list of key locations. Just make sure you eat something before you go out. You know, to fuel the dancing. The Ketchum Crawl A typical evening starts out with a few drinks while eating some “real food,” from burgers and beers at Grumpy’s or Lefty’s to margaritas and baked potatoes at the Pio to cocktails and oysters at Michel’s Christiania. From there, it’s practically considered the law to start your late night at The Cellar for evening drinks, where you can enjoy one of their famous Moscow Mules in a copper mug, play some Buck Hunter or shuffleboard, and argue about whether you should head next to Whiskey’s on Main for some dancing or to catch a band. Once the band is done playing and the fat lady has sung, follow her onward to close the night at The Casino, Sun Valley’s legendary dive bar, where you can shoot pool, play darts, and make new friends …