Join naturalist Kristin Fletcher for a free evening walk on Wednesday, May 14, along a portion of the new trail system up Slaughterhouse Canyon, just east of Bellevue. Participants should meet at Hop Porter Park, leaving at 5:30 PM, or at the south side of Bellevue’s Memorial Park, leaving at 5:45 PM. The hike will conclude between 7:00 – 7:30 PM. Participants will learn about the fascinating Sagebrush Ocean in our midst. We’ll share a little about the local geology and mining history of the canyon and then saunter to a fine spot overlooking the Wood River Valley, observing spring blooms along the way. Travel will be mostly easy walking with a very short, moderate stretch on an uneven surface. Please, no dogs. For more information, visit https://idahonativeplants.org/wood-river/ or call 559-696-9953.
Locals Guide to Sun Valley’s Trails
With over 400 miles of trails spread across the Wood River Valley, from Bellevue all the way up north to Galena Lodge, it’s hard to know where to start. The area’s extensive, multi-use trails are fit for all kinds of recreation—biking, hiking, trail running, and horseback riding. Whether you’re new to the area or just new to the trails, there are some great starter trails in Hailey, mid-valley, and Ketchum. We talked to Sara Gress, the Executive Director of the Wood River Trails Coalition which works to create, maintain, and sustain the Valley’s network of trails to get her take on the best spots to try first. Hailey Sara: You have to ride Croy because it’s super fun for biking. The Two Dog Loop [6.7 miles] is fun and flowy, and you get some good views of the Pios, but it’s not butt-puckering. And it’s still enjoyable enough that if you’re an advanced rider, it’s still a really good ride. It’s a good place to hone your skills. I ride out there because it’s enjoyable and it’s not scary. People hike and trail run the trails out Croy and even ride horses sometimes too. Also try: Quigley Trails Park which …