Let me tell you a secret about Sun Valley’s mountain bike scene: it’s kind of fun to fly under the radar. It’s not that we don’t love sharing our trails (we do) and it’s not that we aren’t proud of what we have (we are), but there’s something cool about being that place that people whisper about in hushed tones. And for the last decade, says local mountain bike advocate Adrian Montgomery, mountain bikers, in particular, have been whispering to each other on the trail, “Hey, have you been to Sun Valley?” The Sun Valley area has over 400 miles of singletrack (300-plus of which are accessible from downtown Ketchum), two closed-loop pump parks, over 40 miles of multi-use graded trails, and lift-serviced downhill mountain biking on Sun Valley Resort’s Bald Mountain. The trails range in difficulty from beginner to extreme, but they all have two things in common: they won’t be crowded, and you won’t be able to get enough of them. At least that is how Montgomery, a consultant at Ketchum-based CrankTank and former marketing director at SCOTT Sports and Backcountry.com, felt when he first landed in Sun Valley in 2004. “After six years of traveling for the …
Searching for Sun Valley
Ketchum’s Coffee Culture
Dubbed the “best city in America for coffee lovers,” Berkeley, California, boasts one café per 2,073 people. We hate to steal your thunder, Berkeley, but with roughly one coffee shop for every 580 people (calculated on a coffee-stained napkin, no less), we think we have you beat. When you’re in Sun Valley, you’ll never have to worry about where your next dose of caffeine is coming from. Whether you’re on the hunt for that perfect latte to kickstart your morning or need a spot to hunker down and catch up on work emails, we invite you to explore Ketchum’s coffee culture. Maude’s Coffee and Clothes 391 Walnut Avenue, Ketchum For that “hang with the locals” vibe head to Maude’s Coffee and Clothes. Maude’s serves locally-roasted organic coffee and espresso drinks alongside tea, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and pastries. The atmosphere at Maude’s is lively, so grab a table and catch up with a friend. When you’re done with your drink, wander through Maude’s “closet,” a clothing retailer that offers vintage and contemporary pieces. Java on Fourth 191 4th Street West, Ketchum Java on Fourth might well be considered an institution in Ketchum’s coffee culture and is known for its rich, deeply flavorful drinks. The …
How to Maximize Your Dollar in Sun Valley This Summer
At the time, Sun Valley has the perception of being too expensive to enjoy. But like anything in life, there are usually affordable or free ways to find a good time, even especially in Sun Valley. And while we’re not saying you’re a dirtbag, the following are tips on how to live the most…money averse couple of days in Sun Valley in the summer. Getting Here Flying directly into Hailey’s Friedman Memorial Airport can be pricey over the 4th of July week but there are often deals run at various points throughout the year. We recommend checking out our Getting Here page or scoping airfarewatchdog.com for your best and most affordable options. Flying into Boise or Twin Falls and renting a car is also a viable route. Places to Stay Summer is full of inexpensive or free options to stay, the cheapest being camping. There are campsites out Sun Valley Road at both Boundary Campground, a traditional campground with bathroom facilities and grills that costs $10/night. This is a great spot as it is located close enough to town to bike if you’re really looking to cut costs. North of town by the SNRA is the North Fork Campgrounds for $16/night and have water and bathroom facilities. …
Sun Valley Resort Partnership With the Epic Pass
What the EPIC pass means for skiing and snowboarding at Sun Valley Resort
Weather Related Air Diversions in Sun Valley
Unpredictable Weather They say in the Wood River Valley…and well, a lot of places, if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. At times it can work out handsomely in your favor yet it can also have a less desirable impact if you’re flying in and out of the Sun Valley area. We’re fortunate to have Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) located right here in the heart of the Valley, complete with nonstop commercial flights from 6-major cities. However, this amazing geographical location coupled with the unpredictable nature of weather in the mountains can interrupt the best laid air travel plans. We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to preparing for a possible weather-related delay or diversion when flying to and from Sun Valley. New Flight Approach Procedures The result of a multi-year collaboration between the Federal Aviation Administration, Friedman Memorial Airport, Flight Tech Engineering LLC, and SUN commercial carrier SkyWest and their partner airlines, Delta, and United, the new proprietary approach procedure is now in use. This allows flights to land with much lower ceiling and visibility than permitted by SUN’s past approach procedures. Alaska Airlines has used similar technology at SUN since 2016 and has seen a dramatic drop in their number of weather-related flight diversions. However, it is important to remember, this does not …
Outerbike Sun Valley
This will be the first visit for Outerbike to Sun Valley and we’re still left blushing knowing that we’ve been included in the mix. We have all the details on what Outerbike is all about.
Getting Hooked on Winter Fly Fishing in Sun Valley
For those of us brave, slightly crazy and over-dressed folks who like to fly fish in the winter, it’s pretty tough to top Sun Valley. To help you make the most out of it, here are a handful winter fly fishing tips.
What We’re Made Of: Maude’s Coffee & Clothes Owners – Jacob & Tara
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Jacob and Tara Frehling are the newest generation of a host of entrepreneurial Frehlings in the Wood River Valley. Jacob’s mother Annette owns the clothing shop Sister in Ketchum, cousins Maeme and Callie Rasberry own the lunch spot Rasberry’s in Ketchum, and father James opened the original Esta’s restaurant on Main Street. Now Jacob and Tara own Maude’s, a combination coffee shop and vintage clothing store in the heart of Ketchum. After owning a food truck before Maude’s and with aspirations for future businesses, these Frehlings plan to leave a long legacy in Ketchum. “Our whole pastime in life as a couple is spit-balling business ideas,” says Jacob. The business-minded couple, who married in 2017, met while attending the same high school in Portland, Oregon. Although Jacob grew up in the Valley, he attended the last few years of high school at Northwest Academy and then attended Portland State University a year behind Tara. “We were living in a house with seven other people, a total teenager house,” explains Tara. The couple began dating during college and graduated with degrees in psychology (her) and sociology (him) before Jacob headed back to his hometown to open the first …
Go Sledding Sun Valley-Style
There’s something about going sledding that screams “Winter Fun!” Flying down a snowy slope on a sled brings out the giggling kids in all of us. So if you’re looking for a good place to have some sledding fun then you’re in luck. Sun Valley has all kinds of places to go sledding. To help you make the most out of it, here some Sun Valley sledding basics. photo: Sarah Keefer Where to Get a Sled The best bets in to pick up some sleds in Ketchum are Sturtevant’s, Chateau Drug or The Toy Store, which also has a shop in Sun Valley. Just a short stroll down the Sun Valley Village from The Toy Store, Pete Lane’s Mountain Sports also sells sleds during the winter months. The local thrifts stores, The Gold Mine in Ketchum and the Barkin’ Basement in Hailey, also usually have selections of used sleds to choose from. What to Wear The key to any outdoor fun during the winter in Idaho is to be dressed properly. Layers are the way to go, especially wearing outers layer that can handle moisture. Good gloves and solid winter boots are also a must. Sun Valley and Ketchum offers all kinds of shops to buy everything …
Guide to Winter Fat Biking in Sun Valley
Two-Wheeled Winter Fun It is rare in the world of winter sports for a new activity to gain a foothold alongside alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. But over the past couple of years, fat biking has managed to do just that. Here in Sun Valley—where mountain biking reigns supreme during the summer—we jumped into fat biking with reckless abandon. Want to join us? Here is all about how to enjoy a day of winter fat biking in Sun Valley. What is Winter Fat Biking? Winter fat biking is the act of pedaling a bike with super-fat tires over a packed trail of snow. A fat bike’s signature tires, which are typically over 4 inches wide, provide a loft and float that allows the bike to glide over groomed snow trails. Fat bikes are beefy in size and stable in their construction. If you can ride a bike on the pavement, you can ride a bike on the snow. Where to Ride in Sun Valley You’ll find no shortage of places to ride a fat bike in Sun Valley and its neighboring communities. With over 60km of trails groomed for fat bikes, the world is your (snowy) oyster. Sun …