Sun Valley: Glamour, peace and world-class skiing meet in Idaho
Base of Bald Mountain
“Is it always sunny at Sun Valley?” I asked the local sitting next to me on the chair lift. “Sure”, he replied, and then laughed. “Now you know how Sun Valley got its name.” He further explained that the Cascade Ranges across California, Oregon and Washington absorb most of the clouds that move off the Pacific before they reach Idaho. William Averell Harriman, the founder of the resort in 1936, took advantage of the clear skies, naming the resort Sun Valley. Harriman’s efforts to promote Sun Valley worked successfully with Hollywood and celebrities, even going so far as to producing a film at the resort, Sun Valley Serenade (1941). Several other films have been made since taking advantage of the landscapes and ski culture.
It is where bold-faced names like Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, and the Kennedys spent their vacations. It was a marquee resort for the Hollywood crowd of the 50s and 60s, and that old Hollywood glamour still remains today.
Hemingway certainly left his mark on Sun Valley, and his stories are still told lovingly by locals. Even certain trails have been named after him (upper, mid and lower Hemingway). The Hemingway runs are so wide that you can ski down to Warm Springs as though the slope was entirely yours. The Warm Springs Day Lodge at the slopes base provides a perfect place to take a break and enjoy a cozy open hearth fire and panoramic sweeping views of the slopes. The River Run which is a similar scene, is located near the main entrance to Bald Mountain, great to sit back and enjoy the band or have a drink at the bar.
Take a tip from the legend himself and hire a personal ski instructor for the day or just “do a Hemingway” and have a five hour lunch at the Roundhouse. Or make more time for skiing by opting for a quick bowl of chili at the Lookout or Seattle Ridge, which furnish elegant cafeteria style dining at the top scenic peaks of Bald Mountain. Both boast sweeping views of the distant Sawtooth National Forest, the Boise National Forest and the Salmon Challis National Forest.
Sun Valley 1961
Friendly quant downtown Ketchum houses numerous restaurants including Cornerstone and Michel’s Christiania where Hemingway had his own permanent table. The ruby trout is a local favorite, and serves the town’s signature fish.
Sun Valley is clearly in a class of its own when it comes to superb skiing, crystal clear long sunny days, few crowds, privacy, great on-slope and downtown dining, and long epic runs with sweeping majestic mountain views. It also boasts the scenic beauty and sophistication of downtown Ketchum and world class art galleries featuring Picassos, Warhols, Chagalls and other famous and rare masterpieces.
Escape the California and Colorado-resort crowds at Sun Valley. Locals know its Idaho’s best kept secret and keep it so. Enjoy the unique meeting of perfect alpine snows and sun filled bliss. The ideal unique winter sports retreat for discerning enthusiasts worldwide.
Key Facts
- 2.5 hour drive from Boise, Idaho
- 30 minutes from Friedman Memorial Airport, Hailey
- 5 hours from Park City or Deer Valley Utah
- Lifts open from 9am to 3:45pm
- Snowboarding is not very popular on the slopes at Bald Mountain it is majority skiers
- Dollar Mountain attracts beginners or families with children learning to ski
- Dollar Mountain has more snowboard friendly facilities
- The best locations for lodging are near Bald Mountain or downtown Ketchum where everything from the slopes to restaurants are within walking distance
- Bald Mountain base / top elevation: 5,750ft / 9,150ft
- Bald Mountain lifts: 14
- Bald Mountain terrain type: 36% beginner, 42% intermediate, and 22% advanced
- Lift Ticket Prices: Adult Day $99, Adult Week $650, Season Pass $1,949
- Lift operating hours: 9am-4pm
- Popular old Hollywood hangout and final resting place of Hemingway
- Popular hangout for Australian champion surfer Nat Young and his entourage
- The local ruby trout is a must try but it sells out quickly
Sun Valley
Why Sun Valley
- Ski resort with the best visibility
- Known for its quality champagne snow
- Can be enjoyed by any level of skier
- Long runs and tree skiing
- Distant mountain views of Sawtooth National Forest, the Boise National Forest and the Salmon Challis National Forest
- Wide variety of dining, bars and galleries
- Great on-mountain dining options
- Wide variety of accommodation
- The elite nature of Sun Valley was set from its start due to its isolated location
Be Aware Of
- Need to book restaurants in advance as popular downtown Ketchum restaurants can be hard to get into
- Heavy lunchtime crowds at River Run, Warm Springs, Seattle Ridge and the Lookout
- Pricy flights during the ski season into Friedman Memorial Airport, Hailey
- The Cold Springs two-man lift at Bald mountain is older style with no support bar
- Icy snow and shady pockets in the late afternoon
To find out more about Slipstream’s unique travel services, you can check out our website www.slipstream.travel.
Images credits: Base of Bald Mountain from Flickr by Jurvetson, Sun Valley 1961 by Chuck Battles from Flickr by Homini, Sun Valley from Flickr by Rennett Stowe.
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