It turns out that I've apparantly never thought to take a single picture while riding in Sun Valley! Please add your images to this page if you have any of the area. I'll get some pictures of my own next summer if nobody posts any. Thanks!

Overview

Sun Valley... an area and affluent resort community in Southcentral Idaho that is known around the world mostly for its skiing. However, the mountain biking in the Sun Valley/Ketchum area is equally as impressive.

The term "Sun Valley" is also used more generally to speak of the region surrounding the city, as far north as Galena Summit and further south to include the neighboring city of Ketchum and the valley area winding south to Hailey.

Bald Mountain, or "Baldy," has a summit of 9150 feet and a vertical drop of 3400 feet. This is accessible in the summer (when not closed down due to forest fires) from the ski chairlift. There are also countless options if you want to get the satisfaction of getting to the top of your downhill fun on your own power as well.

The Sawtooth National Forest consists of the majority of Sun Valley. The northern part of Sun Valley is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Geology

The Sawtooth National Recreational Area in Idaho is part of the 756,000 acre publicly owned Sawtooth National Forest managed by the U.S Forest Service. It is one of the largest wilderness regions in the U.S.

The area is covered by four mountain ranges: the Sawtooths, Boulders, White Clouds and Smokies, all part of the Idaho Rockies. Idaho's major rivers, the Payette, Salmon, Boise and Big Wood Rivers all originate in this region.

Wildlife

There is a wide variety of wildlife that you could possibly see while riding the trails in the Sun Valley area. Larger species such as deer, elk, black bear, mountain lions, and coyotes are frequently seen in their natural habitat. There are smaller numbers of moose, mountain sheep and wolves.

Interesting History

People

Ernest Hemingway completed For Whom the Bell Tolls (which many consider his greatest novel) while staying in suite 206 of the Lodge in the fall of 1939.

Gary Cooper was a frequent visitor as a hunter and fisher, as was Clark Gable.

Warren Miller, while in his early 20's, wintered in Sun Valley from 1946-1949, first living in a car and small teardrop trailer in the River Run parking lot. Miller would later rent an unheated garage for five dollars per month and sublet floor space to friends to pitch their sleeping bags(at fifty cents per night).

The region has been home to the rich, famous, and powerful, including Mats Wilander, Walter Annenberg, Adam West, Ernest Hemingway, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger...I haven't heard of half of these people myself, but they must be important if they lived in Sun Valley.

Historic Uses

During World War II, the resort was closed and converted to a convalescent hospital for the U.S. Navy (Pacific Theater). It re-opened to the public in December 1946.

Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Congress established the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Sawtooth Wilderness in 1972 to create 756,000 acres of public land. Mountain bikes aren't allowed in the wilderness areas, but the SNRA is open to mountain bikers providing a mecca of alpine mountain biking options.

Local Bike Shops

Elephant's Perch (208) 726-3497 280 East Ave N Ketchum, ID	Backwoods Mountain Sports (208) 726-8818 Warm Springs Rd & Highway 75 Ketchum, ID
Bigwood At Thunder Spring Golf (208) 726-4024 115 Thunder Trl Ketchum, ID	Durance Cycleworks Inc (208) 726-7693 131 E 2nd St Ketchum, ID
Lost River Outfitters (208) 726-1706 171 N Main St> Ketchum, ID	Sturtevants Mtn Outfitters (208) 726-4501 340 N Main St Ketchum, ID
Sun Summit Ski & Cycle (208) 726-0707 791 Warm Springs Rd Ketchum, ID

Where to grab a beer!

Local Brewery

Sun Valley Brewery in Hailey
208-788-0805
202 North Main Street
Hailey, Idaho

Beer Menu

WHITE CLOUD ALE
Creamy head, medium body with Northwestern Cascade and Liberty hops.

GRETCHEN’S GOLD LAGER
German style golden lager with four hop varieties and a hint of wheat.

BLONDE PILSNER
Pale golden pilsner comparable to a domestic macrobrew but without the chimicals and conditioners.

ROUNDHOUSE INDIA PALE ALE
British style pale ale with plenty of hops.

LOST PLANET PORTER
Black robust porter with blends of chocolate and roasted barleys with a blend of hop strains.

HONEY WEIZEN SUMMER SEASONAL
Unfiltered creamy wheat beer made with pure, raw, local honey.

CABIN FEVER ALE WINTER SEASONAL
A Scottish brown ale with a nutty scotch flavor dark blend of local and imported barley. One of America's most decorated beers!

MOUNTAIN MÄRZEN SPRING SEASONAL
A spicey, hopped, red viennese style lager.

OKTOBERFEST FALL SEASONAL
A strong, fall harvest celebration beer in the German tradition. Red and robust with a smooth malty finish. Prost!

Pubs

Whiskey Jacques 251 N Main St Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 726-3200	Pioneer Saloon 320 Main St N Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 726-3139
Cellar Pub 400 Sun Valley Rd E Ketchum, Idaho (208) 622-3832	Lefty's Bar and Grill 213 6th St E. Ketchum, ID (208) 726-2744

Getting There

For the purpuose of this page, "Sun Valley" will refer to the area between Hailey, ID and Galena Summit.

From Interstate 84, exit at Twin Falls and go north on Highway 93. Follow this highway north until you reach the town of Shoshone. Here, you'll cross the railroad tracks and keep heading north on Highway 75. Continue north through Hailey, ID where the "Sun Valley" really begins.

Further north on Highway 75 is Ketchum and the actual Sun Valley Resort. Further still you end up at Galena Lodge and finally Galena Summit.

External Links

Click here for a list of popular trails close to the town of Ketchum

Sawtooth National Forest

Wikipedia has a lot of good additional information on Sun Valley