Every spring, the Sun Valley, Idaho area transforms from a skiing and snowboarding Mecca into a lush, wildflower-filled valley with miles of hiking and biking trails in the surrounding five mountain ranges. From mellow loops skirting lakes and rivers, to 12,000-foot rocky mountain peaks, there are plenty of hiking trails to please all levels of hikers throughout Hailey, Ketchum, Sun Valley and beyond.
Best Hikes to Catch the Blooming Wildflowers
Spring and early summer in Sun Valley, Idaho is full of blossoming wildflowers. We’ve compiled a list of the best hikes to view the vibrant wildflower blooming throughout the Wood River Valley.
Chasing Elevation: Trail Running Adventures in Sun Valley
“Some places are built for trail running. Sun Valley feels like it was born for it.” Early mornings on alpine singletrack. Cool mountain air even in July. Long climbs that open into massive views of Idaho wilderness. Whether you’re chasing a finish line or simply looking for your next favorite trail, summer in Sun Valley offers a rare combination of race culture, high-elevation adventure, and endlessly runnable terrain. Why the Sun Valley Area is a Trail Runner’s Dream Destination Sun Valley and Ketchum sit at 5,850 feet in elevation, making the area an ideal place to experience the benefits of altitude training without immediately pushing into extreme elevations. Summer weather opens the door to endless trail running opportunities, with cool mornings and crisp mountain air creating perfect conditions for longer adventures before the afternoon heat arrives. From Bellevue to Galena Summit and beyond, the Wood River Valley offers an expansive network of trails ranging from smooth beginner-friendly paths to rugged mountain terrain built for serious endurance athletes. One of the best parts of running here is accessibility. Many trails begin just minutes from downtown Ketchum, allowing runners to move from coffee shop to trailhead in no time. Around here, the …
How to Fall in Love With Sun Valley in 11 Easy Steps
THERE’S A LOT TO LOVE in Sun Valley — just ask around and you’ll pretty quickly encounter folks who left behind their lives and high-powered careers in big cities like New York and Los Angeles for a chance at the good life in this one-of-a-kind mountain town. If you’ve never been to Idaho’s Wood River Valley, here are a handful of experiences to expect…and which may just turn you into Sun Valley’s newest year-round resident. It’s happened plenty of times before!
What We’re Made Of: Ketchum Run Club
written by Hayden Seder It’s hard to imagine in a town as active as Ketchum that there’s never been a run club before, but indeed, before this summer, this was the case. Enter Ketchum Run Club, the Wood River Valley’s newest way to socialize, meet new people, and, of course, run. How It Started Ketchum Run Club (KRC) is the brainchild of two area natives, Meggie Rose and Madison Hendrix. Rose is a personal trainer and group fitness coach at The Mill SV in Ketchum and also offers a variety of online training programs through the Solin app. Despite her obvious love of fitness, running is a relatively new hobby for Rose. Though she did cross-country running in high school and ran on and off in her twenties, it wasn’t until signing up for a half-marathon in Jackson Hole in spring 2024 and getting into the training of the sport that she really fell in love with it, both for the mental clarity and the freedom it provides. Although Madison Hendrix also grew up in the area and thus is plenty active outdoors, it wasn’t until signing up for the Standhope Ultra Challenge 30k two years ago (a lengthy trail …
Fly and Ride! Traveling to Sun Valley with your Bike
words by Hayden Seder While there are plenty of places to rent a mountain bike in the Sun Valley area, having your own bike on the trails makes them that much sweeter. But flying with your bike is a pain . . . right? Not so much these days, where for a short amount of prep and the cost of checking a bag, you can have your bike on your next vacay to Sun Valley, where the area promises over 400 miles of singletrack. With how much riding you’re going to be doing, you’re going to want a bike that fits you perfectly and has all the specs adjusted to your liking. So read on for Visit Sun Valley’s guide to flying your bike to Sun Valley. Getting Your Bike Ready to Fly There are a few options for what to pack your bike in to fly, namely either a hard or soft case or a cardboard bike box. Many local bike shops carry the cardboard boxes and will either give them to you for free or for just a couple bucks. Assuming you pack the bike correctly, most airlines will accept this. The other option is a soft or …
Sun Valley’s Backcountry: A Short Guide to Long Runs
Sun Valley is a gateway to endless, powder-filled backcountry terrain with awe-inspiring views. Accessible by helicopters, hut systems, snowmobiles, and by human powered means, enthusiasts will revel in the area’s expansive mountain ranges. Here is a short guide to making safe and endless turns across the surrounding bowls, peaks, and glades.
The Fab 5: Winter Family Activities in Sun Valley
The best Fab 5 you’ll ever find is right here in America’s Original Destination Mountain town, Sun Valley. That’s especially so if you’ve got an active family and like to do really cool and memorable stuff together. Dig in to 5 fabulous Winter Activities for your family that are unique to Sun Valley, Idaho.
15 Things You Must Do in Sun Valley This Winter
Sun Valley, ID is America’s ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUND with near limitless opportunities. We’ve narrowed down the list down to highlight our top 15 things you must do in Sun Valley this winter. Whether you are up for a grand adventure outdoors, or prefer a mellower pace around town, there’s bound to be something to match your cadence. Here are a few of our favorites–feel free to mix and match to create your ideal Sun Valley getaway.
Dreams of Yurts and Heli-Drops
Sun Valley offers something pretty unique. It’s one of the very few resorts where you can ski the resort and heli-ski all in the same day. Sun Valley Heli-Ski is right in Sun Valley Resort’s backyard with bumps off the summit available most of the year.
10 Ski Experiences You Can Only Have in Sun Valley
From tailgating in the same parkign lot that Warren Miller used to hang to sharing the half-pipe with a gold medalist there are a variety of unique experiences that Sun Valley offers. Check out our top 10.