Looking to have a meeting or event in Sun Valley? Your guests will thank you. With excellent meeting venues both indoors and out, and a town filled with great food, fun activities, and the beauty of the surrounding mountains, you’ll be getting a pat on the back from even the most discerning meeting attendee
Guide to Gravel Riding in the Sun Valley Area
written by Hayden Seder Fall is a great time for gravel biking in Idaho. With hot summer days behind you, you can enjoy longer rides that take you up unpaved roads with views of mountain passes, aspen groves, flowing rivers, and the changing leaves. Ketchum has plenty of single-day and multiday rides but is also a jumping off point for accessing several longer bikepacking gravel routes that extend beyond the area. Local Rides Dollarhide is a popular ride for gravel bikers—it’s even a time trial route for The Big Lost (formerly Rebecca’s Private Idaho). As an out and back, it’s about 43 miles, winding through the Sawtooth National Forest along the river and giving ample opportunity for fishing and the chance to dip into Frenchman’s hot spring. You’ll grind up a 5–7% grade, reaching 9,301 feet at the Dollarhide Summit. For those wanting to explore a bit more, many do an overnight loop (or a longer day ride) of 85 miles by connecting to some double track, pavement, and bike paths that will lead you back to Ketchum. There are many campsites on the way up to the summit along the river or near the Worswick hot springs. The Harriman …
Get your Western on Sun Valley Style
Before Count Felix Schaffgosch arrived in Ketchum and created “America’s First Destination Ski Resort,” the area had already experienced the boom and bust of a profitable mining settlement, the rise of sheep ranching, and the quiet days of the Great Depression. The Wood River Valley was settled in the 1860’s by a handful of mining prospectors, and by 1880 the area was on its way to being one of the richest silver mining regions. Mule and horse-drawn wagons transported ore between the mines and Union Pacific depots until the rail line extended into Ketchum. After the silver bust in the 1890’s sheep ranching in the area grew from the 1890’s to the 1920’s, when Ketchum became the largest sheep and lamb shipping station in the United States. Though the town changed with the creation of Sun Valley Resort, the past lived on in buildings, ranches, and colorful stories. Through activities like horseback riding, sport shooting, and festivals like Wagon Days and Trailing of the Sheep the story of the area is not being forgotten and you can still experience the Western heritage of this one-time mining town. Horseback Riding While Sun Valley may not flaunt its reputation as a part of the …
Galena Lodge: Where You Should Take Your Family This Summer
Galena Lodge has all the ingredients for an awesome and memorable family day in the mountains. Take advantage of mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, great food, cool vibes and breathtaking views all at the special Galena Lodge.
Sun Valley: Where the Beer and Healthy Initiatives Flow Like Wine
SKI towns typically are not synonymous with health. After a full day of shredding we post up for pints, happy hour discounted nachos, and chicken wings. Our mogul-mashing thighs have earned it, right? Après festivities filled with celebratory beers, and Irving’s Hot Dogs are the norm. However, this all shouldn’t overshadow the abundance of healthy initiatives that lie at the core of this Valley. The abundance of wellness oriented events, fitness clubs, spas, and health conscious food resources here in Sun Valley encourage an overwhelming sense of well-being to locals and visitors alike.
Finding Water in a Desert: A Guide to Sun Valley’s Swimming Spots
Sure Sun Valley might technically be considered a desert region, but believe me, there is no shortage of natural water sources. Keep in mind I’m still far from the highly acclaimed local status but if a fellow Out-of-Towner asked me, my top 5 spots thus far would have to be:
What We’re Made Of: Wood River Farmers Market
words by Hayden Seder There’s a saying that the best way to know a place is to eat its food. During summer and fall, the Wood River Valley flourishes with a bounty of locally produced food, from tomatoes, bread, and eggs to squash, mustard, and sauerkraut. The Wood River Farmers Market displays its homegrown goods and crafts twice a week during its four-month season. Given the relatively short season of the market and the quality of food available, it’s no wonder that lines start forming long before the market’s bell goes off to signal that vendors are open for business. How It Started The first Wood River Market was held in June 2000, after a group of farmers who had been sporadically in the area wanted a more structured approach to selling, ideally somewhere in downtown Ketchum. They approached Ketchum’s Atkinsons’ grocery store to see if they could work together in some way. Atkinsons’ knew that Tuesday afternoons were typically slow, so it seemed the perfect time to work with the farmers, who they set up in the city-owned lot across the street that the store used for parking at the time (in what is now the town square). The …
The Dirtbag Guide to Sun Valley: How to Enjoy the Area Without Breaking the Bank!
words by Hayden Seder Sun Valley is known for its beautiful mountains, access to the outdoors, small-town hospitality, and practically perfect weather, but it’s also known for being pretty pricey. But it doesn’t have to be. Read on for the “dirtbag” guide to the area, perfect for those who want to enjoy all Sun Valley has to offer without spending an arm and a leg. Where to Stay If the price of an Airbnb or hotel has turned you off, fret not—there’s plenty of free or cheap camping available just a short distance from town. The easiest and closest are located out Trail Creek, just a few minutes past the Sun Valley Resort. The first is Boundary Campground, which has nine non-reservation campsites that run $10/site per day. The campground has a vault toilet and a hand pump for drinking water, so even if you decide to look for free camping, this is a good stop for some resources. Each site has a fire ring, grill stand, and picnic table, and the campground itself has trash service. Stay limit is three days. Farther out Trail Creek are a slew of dispersed campsites, where one can stay for free up to …
Guide to White Water Rafting Near Sun Valley
Rafting on any of the numerous sections of rivers surrounding the Sun Valley area can be the experience of a lifetime. Taking in the beauty of Idaho from the swirling waters of its beautiful rivers is truly a unique experience to our area. While for many, a white water rafting trip is synonymous with a multi-day trip, complete with nights around the campfire and food fresh from the Dutch-oven, there are plenty of half- and full-day rafting opportunities in the Sun Valley area. Half, Full Day & Lunch River Trips Sawtooth Adventure Company Sawtooth Adventure Company specializes in whitewater rafting trips for the entire family on the Salmon River. SAC has a variety of half-day and full day trip offerings on the Main Salmon and multi-day trips Middle Fork of the Salmon. One of SAC’s unique offerings is their Twilight Dinner Trips offering top-shelf experience on the Salmon River reserved for private groups. Twilight trips Dutch Oven entrees, creative salads, grilled meats, beer, wine, live music and s’mores. For a complete line-up of their offerings, be sure to check out Sawtooth Adventure Company site. White Cloud Rafting Adventures Offering half- and full-day trips on various sections of the Main Salmon …
Most Instagrammable places in Sun Valley, Idaho
If you have ever visited the Sun Valley area, chances are there is at least one image of our breathtaking locale in your Instagram feed. Or maybe you haven’t visited yet but hashtags like #seeksunvalley on our @Instagram page have caught your attention and have drawn you into exploring this amazing place. Whether you are a seasoned visitor or a first timer, we complied a list of the must see places in and around Sun Valley to fill your Instagram feed with the best there is to offer. The Sun Valley Barn An icon of Sun Valley, many a photo has been taken in front of this barn and numerous reproductions of it in paintings and memorabilia have been made over the years. Located on Sun Valley Road between Ketchum and Sun Valley, the red barn is hard to miss. Built in the early 1880s, its thought that this barn used to service ore wagons that traveled Trail Creek Road. Speaking of, swing by the Ore Wagon Museum for some more history and to grab a few grams there too. Across Sun Valley Road from the barn is a stop many make to photograph the beautiful horses that are occasionally …