SUN VALLEY LOCATION IN IDAHO
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The resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho is known for its ski areas at Bald Mountain and nearby Dollar Mountain, the latter with gentler slopes. In summer, the resort is a mecca for fly fishing and mountain biking with miles of equestrian routes and wildflower-filled meadows.
Sun Valley, Idaho is located in Blaine County, 1 mile away from Ketchum and just a 2.5-hour drive from Boise. We have an airport in Hailey just 12 miles south of Ketchum and other options if not flying direct into Sun Valley are Twin Falls and Idaho Falls. For such a remote destination it’s easier getting here than most people think.
Sun Valley is the oldest ski resort in North America. In the early 1800’s after the mining boom Ketchum returned to ranching and sheep replaced ore as the major freight shipped out of the Wood River Valley. After the Great Depression, W. Averell Harriman, Chief Executive of the Union Pacific Railroad, began searching for a way to build rail passenger traffic to the West. Following the Lake Placid Olympic Game of 1932, Harriman commissioned Count Felix Schaffgotsch, to search for the perfect site for the ultimate ski resort.
In 1936 he happened upon the mining town of Ketchum. To Mr. Harriman he wrote, “It contains more delightful features for a winter sports center than any other place I have seen in the United States, Switzerland or Austria.” In a mere 7 months and at a cost of $1.5 million, a four-story lodge was constructed on the former Brass Ranch, along with ski runs created on nearby Dollar and Proctor Mountains. The present location of the Sun Valley Resort’s primary ski runs on Bald Mountain was not part of the original plan, as it was beyond the ski technology of the 1930s.
RELOCATING? Follow links to these local websites for current info.
https://www.ketchumidaho.org/discover-ketchum
https://www.visitsunvalley.com/about-sun-valley/community-resources/
NEIGHBORING TOWNS AROUND SUN VALLEY
MACKAY
Mackay is an old mining town, nestled at the “Top of Idaho,” as their motto goes. Tucked beneath the state’s highest point, Borah Peak (12,662 ft.), the town of Mackay (5,891 ft.) has a rich Western history as deep as the Lost River Valley it calls home. Most of Mackay’s residents are as rugged as you’ll find in any Old West town, with good senses of humor, tough hides and deceptively soft hearts. A drive over Trail Creek Road is like going back in time. Outdoor recreation with world class hunting and fishing is why I like to call. Even though it’s only a short distance, as the crow flies, from the swank and sophistication of Sun Valley, Mackay is a world—or at least a half-century—away. But this tiny town pulls off its throwback western charm flawlessly and with plenty of natural beauty thrown in, creating the perfect place to visit or settle down… you just haven’t been properly introduced yet. http://mackayidaho-city.com/about-us/
CHALLIS
Located in the geographical center of the state of Idaho, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Challis is surrounded by Salmon-Challis National Forest. Challis is the largest city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. It is the county seat and its population was 1,081 at the 2010 census, up from 909 in 2000. On Friday, October 28, 1983, the Borah Peak earthquake occurred at 8:06 am MDT, measured at 6.9 on the Richter Scale. Challis is the ideal base camp for recreating in the vast 3 million acres of Custer County, in the heart of Central Idaho. https://www.challisidaho.com
BELLEVUE
A beautiful farming community that is quickly filling with residences, is in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 2,287 at the 2010 census, up from 1,876 in 2000. It is located in the Wood River Valley, about 18 miles (29 km) south of the resort area of Ketchum and Sun Valley. The city of Hailey and the Friedman Memorial Airport are a few miles north of Bellevue. The Big Wood River flows near downtown. https://www.bellevueidaho.us
STANLEY
The Gem State has many lesser-known destinations that are packed with adventure and jaw-dropping scenery, but Stanley, Idaho, tops the list. Located in the central part of the state and surrounded by the Sawtooth, White Cloud, and Lost River ranges, Stanley has become a basecamp for some of the best hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing in the country. You’ll find hundreds of high mountain lakes accessible by a well-developed trail system just minutes from downtown. World-class rock climbers make the trek to explore the town’s unparalleled granite walls. Fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting are all popular and easily accessible. https://www.stanley.id.gov
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