We can’t help but smile thinking back to the 2015-2016 season here in Sun Valley, Idaho. Ask around town what the 2015-2016 winter was like and you’ll undoubtedly hear something along the lines of, “it was the best season in 10 years.” The snow fell fast and early leaving us with stacks of powder days met by never-ending smiles. Sprinkled in-between the storms were iconically beautiful sunny days that seemed to never end. Fat biking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and a plethora of other activities kept us equally entertained. On-top of it all, we had an exceptional set of events that included the Nordic Festival, Sun Valley Film Festival, U.S. Alpine Championships, and more. All-in-all, the 2015-2016 winter was one for the books and one that we will not soon forget. We’ve compiled a quick winter recap for your scrolling pleasure. Take a spin through some of our favorite moments that made-up this epic season.
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12034290_10153306676389611_1602353668857156542_o-1024x682.jpg)
Starting things off with a bit of snowmaking on Dollar. Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.12.10-PM.png)
Fat flakes falling at the Sun Valley Lodge
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/11249553_10153318042969611_5542166638338367508_o-1024x682.jpg)
The transition from fall to winter. Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Maggie Sfingi](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/11047596_10153353126944611_2514965912355761909_n.jpg)
First chair of the 2015-2016 ski/snowboard season. Photo: Maggie Sfingi
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.17.37-PM.png)
Holiday goodness.
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/1537985_10153400289984611_3088498170995296420_o-1024x682.jpg)
Early season powder turns. Skier: Collin Collins // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Todd Mandeville](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12487248_10153462786884611_3438207919533313290_o-1024x700.jpg)
Sunrise delight. Photo: Todd Mandeville
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/1272937_10153558194334611_5993681900833348345_o-1024x682.jpg)
Finding the goods in the trees. Skier: Banks Gilberti // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12140946_10153386590339611_5228206506580573503_o-1024x682.jpg)
All dressed in white. Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Tal Roberts](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/1496155_10153417430389611_6108298247881858524_o-1024x682.jpg)
New Year’s Eve. Photo by Tal Roberts
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Flaviu Grumazescu](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12672177_10153489920729611_7442556176509598085_o-1024x731.jpg)
Sun Valley on fire. Photo: Flaviu Grumazescu
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Jon Mancuso](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12322557_10153385171264611_4811009679786764539_o-1024x683.jpg)
There were a few powder days to be had. Skier: Lexi Dupont // Photo: Jon Mancuso
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.21.07-PM.png)
This view never gets old. Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/886328_10153398716619611_5952860151252040823_o-1024x682.jpg)
More pow days. Skier: Gabe Schroder // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12357030_10153387418954611_1804585097908869591_o-1024x682.jpg)
Rider: Wyatt Caldwell // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Hayden Terjeson](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.18.45-PM.png)
Skier/Photographer: Hayden Terjeson
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12465906_10153450155879611_52598911245285854_o-1024x682.jpg)
Hot laps on the Sun Valley Nordic Trails. Skier: Arlene Schieven // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12710897_10153499694259611_442126292857094854_o-1024x682.jpg)
Scoping the backyard lines. Skiers: Olin Glenne & Gabe Schroder. // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Flaviu Grumazescu](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12356980_10153392980749611_2936878422686541474_o-1024x684.jpg)
Evening glow. Photo: Flaviu Grumazescu
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.17.50-PM.png)
Spinning it out on the Big Woods Sports Park. Rider: Adrian Montgomery // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12646678_10153488129639611_7129044451584075321_o.jpg)
This year’s terrain park was one of the best we’ve seen. Skier: Collin Collins // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Ray J. Gadd](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12489238_10153457790599611_6352574388131921633_o-1024x682.jpg)
Taking advantage of the buttery turns on Dollar’s backside. Skier: Danny Walton // Photo: Ray J. Gadd
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Cody Haskell](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12486079_10153444066369611_7066276974210060373_o-1024x683.jpg)
Mid-winter sundog. Photo: Cody Haskell
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Hillary Maybery](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12916312_10153632770994611_8108449335564559961_o-1024x683.jpg)
US Alpine Nationals. Photo: Hillary Maybery
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Oliver Guy](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.21.32-PM.png)
End of the season pond skim on Dollar. Photo: Oliver Guy
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Flaviu Grumazescu](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/12795092_10153556351254611_8283220216870712673_o-1024x683.jpg)
The Pioneer Mountains doing a bit of sun bathing. Photo: Flaviu Grumazescu
![Sun Valley Winter - Photo by Theo Rich](https://visitsunvalley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-04-20-at-3.22.03-PM.png)
That’s a wrap. Photo: Theo Rich