Copyright 2007
Sun Valley Trekking
 

LOCAL INFORMATION

Because of its early skiing heritage, Sun Valley was home to some of the first European-style backcountry hut skiing in North America. Several generations of movie stars, Olympic athletes, and Hemmingways later, from Ginger Rogers to Demi Moore, Friedl Pfeifer and Alf Engen to Picabo Street, Sun Valley remains the finest year-round destination in the Rockies.

The first destination ski resort west of the Mississippi, Sun Valley was founded in 1935 by Union Pacific Railroad magnate, Averell Harriman, and Dollar Mountain is still home to the world's first chair lift.

Nestled in the beautiful Wood River Valley, Sun Valley hosts one the largest groomed nordic trail systems anywhere. In the summer months, these same trails become a mountain biker's mecca. The lift-served skiing at Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain is world class (Bald Mountain boasts a vertical drop of nearly 4,000 feet). Blue Ribbon trout streams abound, and five adjacent mountain ranges offer a lifetime of backcountry adventures.

The Wood River Valley straddles two magnificent ecosystems. Born in the high peaks of the northern Rockies, The Big Wood carves its southerly course from the alpine tundra, through a broad valley flanked by three mountain ranges, to the high-desert sagelands of the Snake River Plateau, on the northern edge of the Great Basin. Travel north from the headwaters, crest the Galena Summit, and the spectacular Sawtooths, White Clouds, and the upper reaches of the Salmon River open up like a textbook panorama of wild grandeur

Because of central Idaho's extensive wilderness (our huts and yurts back up to the largest roadless area in the lower forty-eight states), an abundance of wild critters roam the hills. There was recent sign of a wolf pack in the Sawtooth's Fishhook Valley (where we have a yurt), and last winter, a wolverine was sighted near Bench Hut, several miles to the south. Moose and elk sightings are common, and bighorn sheep and mountain goats negotiate the jagged heights.

This unique blend of geography lends itself to a wonderful climate. Dry, fluffy powder prevails in the winter months, and when it's not snowing, the sky is dependably sunny and blue. Nevertheless, locals will often say that while they originally came to the area for the winters, they stayed for the beautiful summers. To cap it off, the Wood River Valley is rich in cultural opportunities. There are at least 40 art galleries, symphonies and dramatic performances, outdoor concerts, and a multitude of culinary excursions from sushi to prime rib. In Sun Valley, there is truly something for everyone.

Check these websites for more information:
Chamber of Commerce
Center for the Arts websites