words by Hayden Seder

The Sun Valley area has hiking trails for any kind of excursion your heart desires: a short and quick jaunt to get the body moving first thing before spending the day on other activities; longer hikes, where you’ll want to bring a lunch to enjoy in a scenic destination; or day-long outings that are sure to leave you tired in the evening. For those looking to maximize the amount of hiking on a short trip to the area, we’ve compiled a one-day itinerary to get the most (realistic) amount in while still enjoying the area and not burning out your legs!

Morning Views

If getting going first thing in the morning is your style, start the day with some epic views for fairly minimal work. Hiking Dollar Mountain, one of the area’s wintertime ski mountains, is an underrated hike, considering its proximity to town. From the heart of Ketchum, it’s a five-minute drive, and if you’re staying in the Sun Valley Resort, it’s even closer! Start at the base lodge and start walking up a wide road that leads partway up the mountain. From there, you can walk along flat cat tracks until you find a trail that appeals to you; there are several well-worn paths leading up the mountain, with more cat track breaks at various sections along the way. The hiking can be a bit steep at times, so hiking poles may be needed for those who have less secure footing. All in all, you’ll gain about 685 feet in elevation, which will take anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour, depending on your hiking shape. The reward is panoramic views of the entire area.

Grab a Treat

After that warmup, it’s time to treat yourself! Since you’re already in Sun Valley, head to the Sun Valley Village’s Konditorei to grab a coffee to go and one of their assortment of daily, fresh-baked pastries (the Morning Bun is a local favorite!)

Midday Hike and Lunch

For your midday hike, you’ll want to grab some lunch to bring with you. Rasberry’s, Atkinson’s, and Ketchum Kitchens (all conveniently located within the same block in the center of Ketchum) all offer great deli counters and grab-and-go prepared foods sections, whether you want a sandwich, a small charcuterie box, or whatever catches your eye.

For your next hiking adventure, head to the Adam’s Gulch trailhead, located just a three-mile drive north of Ketchum. This area is the jumping off point to numerous trails, both within Adam’s Gulch as well as those that connect with other neighboring areas, like Chocolate Gulch, Warm Springs, Oregon Gulch, and more. If you’re lucky enough to visit the trailhead on a Wednesday between 9:30 and 1 in the summers, try out the local animal shelter Mountain Humane’s Hikin’ Buddies program, where you can hike with a shelter dog!

The must-do hike in this area is Sunnyside/Lane’s, a trail that’s 2.17 miles and gently ascends through aspens and wildflowers. This is a popular area, so look out for mountain bikers and other trail users. The peak of this hike has a picnic table, where you can enjoy your lunch and take in the mountain views before descending the rest of the trail, where it meets the Old Adam’s Gulch Road, which you can use to walk back to the parking lot.

Take in the Town

Now it’s time to explore town a bit, particularly the many outdoor shops where you can see the latest and greatest in terms of hiking gear. Park in Town Square for the easiest access—and so you can grab a locally made ice cream cone from the square’s small stand, Leroy’s. Head across the street to check out a longtime Ketchum shop, The Elephant’s Perch, for lots of gear and outdoor clothing. Other good outdoor retailers are Backwoods, Sturtevant’s, and Silver Creek Outfitters.

Head South

The best way to end a day of hiking is, of course, with a sunset hike, and for this, you’ll head south to Hailey, to do the iconic hike to the top of Carbonate. Located just mere minutes from the center of town, this hike can be done two ways: slowly, by climbing up switchbacks, or quickly (and more strenuously) by going straight up the ridgeline (though it’s recommended you come down the switchbacks, regardless). You can park right at the base of the trailhead before heading up the 1,351 feet of elevation gain to the top. The distance is roughly 3.7 miles roundtrip, though don’t let the low mileage fool you—this will be the hardest hike of the day! Once at the top, you can take in 360-degree views of Hailey and the surrounding area. Once you’ve made your way down, take a dip in the river located next to the parking area to cool down before heading into town for some dinner at a great local spot like the Powerhouse, CK’s, or the Wicked Spud.