Recreation

Sun Valley Resort

“Sun Valley Resort exists because of three men: Hannagan, William Averell Harriman and Count Felix Schaffgotsch. The brains, the money and the brawn behind the project respectively, this trip turned the then crazy idea of building a magnificent palace in the snow into a reality. Harriman, chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, was a famous playboy whose passion for glamorous pursuits inspired the idea of creating America’s first destination ski resort at the end of one of his railroads. The promise of passenger traffic on the freight-heavy line was enough to convince UP’s board and, after a snow-seeking odyssey across the Wild West, Count Schaffgotch found the perfect spot. Then, with Hannagan’s marketing genius, Harriman’s cash and connections, and the charming Count’s direct line to the best ski instructors in Europe, a legend was born.” — Jennifer Tuohy

 

Bald Mountain

Baldy is considered by serious skiers as the country’s single best ski mountain with 13 lifts and 64 runs. Seven high-speed quads, four triples and two doubles send skiers up 3,400 vertical feet to a summit altitude of 9,150. Recognized for both its absence of lift lines as well as its incredibly light and fast snow, Bald Mountain has terrain for everyone. From glades to bowls, bumps to groomers, tree skiing to easy rollers, this mountain has it all, including a super pipe on the Warm Spring side of the mountain.

Summer

Dates & Hours

  • Lift operates late June – Labor Day weekend
  • Lift accessed mountain biking begins late June or early July
  • Hours of Operation: 9am – 3:45pm daily
  • Foot Traffic: Last ride up 3:15pm, last ride down 3:45pm

Elevation

  • Base elevation: 5,750 ft
  • Peak elevation: 9,150 ft
  • Vertical rise: 3.400 ft

Activities

  • Ride the gondola to the Round House mid way up the mountain, then take a lift to the top of Bald Mountain for a picnic or lunch at Lookout Restaurant before hiking along the ridges while taking in the view of the entire Wood River Valley
  • Ride the gondola/chairlift with your mountain bike to the top for an exhilarating ride down 3,400 vertical feet
  • Hike the just over 5 miles to the top of the mountain and take a well deserved rest before taking a gentle chairlift ride to the bottom
  • Along the way, admire the wildflowers and be on the lookout for deer, elk, fox and a variety of birds

Winter

Dates & Hours

  • Ski Season: Thanksgiving Day – Mid-April
  • Hours of Operation: 9am – 3:45pm (access to the bowls closes at 2:45pm)

Elevation

  • Base elevation: 5,750 ft
  • Peak elevation: 9,150 ft
  • Vertical rise: 3.400 ft

Snow

  • Average annual snowfall: 200 inches
  • Sun Valley is home to the largest snowmaking system in the world and operates on both Bald and Dollar Mountain
  • Snowmaking Vertical: 3,260
  • Snowmaking: 630 acres

Acreage

  • Total skiable acreage: 2,054 acres
  • Groomable acreage: 810 acres
  • Snowmaking: 630 acres

Trail Classification

  • 27% Beginner
  • 44% Intermediate
  • 29% Advanced/Expert
  • Longest run: 3 miles

Lifts

  • Total number of lifts: 14
  • High speed quads: 7 (plus 2 on Dollar Mountain that are new for the 07-08 season)
  • Lift capacity per hour: 23,380
  • Average number of skiiers per day: 3,500

Climate

  • Average summer temperature: 78F degrees
  • Average winter temperature: 23F degrees
  • 250 days of sunshine a year

Dollar Mountain

The treeless, groomed slopes of Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain have long been ideal for learning to ski and snowboard. With 3 chairlifts and 13 runs, Dollar has gentle terrain mixed with more challenging slopes to allow beginners to progress to more difficult runs as their skills improve. It also has its own halfpipe and terrain park, perfect for a day of activities with the kids.

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