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 fourteen days. The best spots are located on Corral Creek, where most spots have plenty of tree shade and river access, making it the perfect spot for enjoying an afternoon in a hammock and taking a river dip. These are primitive campsites, with just fire rings and no trash service, so be sure to leave no trace. There are no bathrooms out here, other than one at the end of Corral Creek Trail, so be sure to know your wilderness bathroom etiquette!
Another close camping spot is out Lake Creek Road, just north of Ketchum. There are about fifteen dispersed campsites, each fairly spaced apart. There are no amenities, but the access can’t be beat! Check out the Taylor Canyon Trail out this road or visit the Lake Creek trailhead across the highway from the entrance to Lake Creek Road for a jumping off point to numerous trails for the area.
For those willing to get a bit farther from town (and gorgeous mountain views in return), check out the North Fork Campground, a mix of tent and RV sites surrounded by a grove of aspens. These are first-come, first-served paid sites, running about $22–$44/night, depending on the season. The campground includes pit toilets, water spigots, picnic tables, and fire pits. This would be a great stop if you’re planning to head up north to the Stanley area the next day or want to do some exploring on trails north of town, like Baker Lake. Easley Hot Spring, with its swimming pool, hot tubs, shower, and small store, is located just six miles north.
Amenities: Water, Showers, Bathrooms, and Laundry
To find one or all of these amenities, the best options are those provided by the city. The Community Library is a great resource, with numerous spacious bathrooms free for public use and drinking fountains for filling water bottles. This is a great place to get out of the heat (and use some free WiFi, if you need it)! Next is the town square, next to the Visitor’s Center, both of which have several amenities. Inside the Visitor’s Center (which is also home to Starbucks), you’ll find drinking fountains, public restrooms, free WiFi, and tons of pamphlets and maps for information about town. Town Square also has outdoor public restrooms and drinking fountains, if you find yourself in need past the Visitor Center operating hours.
If you’re in need of a quick rinse, a jump in the river is the easiest solution, with there being numerous river access points located throughout Ketchum. The easiest way to find these is to follow the bike path and look for signs indicating public river access. If you need to get shampoo and conditioner involved, head to the YMCA, where for $6 you can access their showers and sauna, or for $23 get a day pass and enjoy their workout facilities, free classes, climbing wall, and more.
Laundry can be done at two locations in Ketchum, Grumpy’s Laundry and the LaundroMutt. Grumpy’s Laundry is next door to—you guessed it—Grumpy’s, meaning you can start your laundry and then treat yourself to a schooner of beer while you wait for your clothes. This is located on Warm Springs, just a couple minutes’ walk from the center of town. The other option is on the north end of town on Lewis Street, the LaundroMutt. This spot offers WiFi and restrooms and is also a dog-washing business, so if you’ve brought your pet with you and need to clean them off, this is the spot!
Free Activities
Now that all the necessities have been taken care of, it’s time to get into what brought you to Ketchum in the first place—the fun summer activities! The area is obviously home to numerous trails, rivers, and mountains free for hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, swimming, and enjoying in whatever manner you see fit. In addition to the great outdoors, the Sun Valley area is also full of free events in the summer, perfect for those looking to enjoy the area without breaking the bank.
Free live music abounds in Ketchum, starting with the famous Ketch’em Alive in Forest Service Park on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Sundays, check out Jazz in the Park at Rotary Park from 6 to 8 p.m. The Limelight Lounge has free music Thursdays through Mondays all summer from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Hotel Ketchum offers live music in the Pasture from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hailey offers plenty of free live music as well, including Hailey Rocks concerts at Hop Porter Park in Hailey on Thursdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m., the monthly Tiny Deck Concert Series at the Wylde Beet on Main Street, and Wicked Wednesdays at the Wicked Spud from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
For an even bigger treat, the Sun Valley Music Festival is entirely free, with patrons able to enjoy picnicking on the Sun Valley Pavilion lawn while taking in world-class symphony performances.
If you’re a history buff, there’s plenty of free opportunities to learn more about this historic area. Check out the free Wood River Museum of History and Culture in Ketchum or the Blaine County Historical Museum in Hailey. Take the “Hemingway in Idaho’s High Desert” audio tour, courtesy of the Community Library, to learn about twelve Hemingway-related locations in Ketchum and Sun Valley that you can explore in person.
The monthly gallery walk is a great opportunity to take in the art scene of Ketchum, with galleries opening their doors and offering free libations for those who want to come explore the cultural side of the area.
The Community Library offers tons of free programming, including writing workshops, author talks, informational lectures, and more. The Sawtooth Botanical Gardens is also a great resource, where you can get free garden tours or simply go to enjoy the beautiful space. For some fun recreational opportunities, head to Atkinson’s Park or Sun Valley Lake for some beach volleyball or the Sun Valley Club House to try out their putting course; putting is free if you bring your own putter and ball, otherwise it is $8 per adult.