Sun Valley
Idaho
Our Visit
Mid May through June 2026
Area population
5,334
Elevation
5,750 feet
County
Blaine County
Sun Valley was built in 1936 as the first winter resort next to the mountain town of Ketchum in Central Idaho. It's shockingly beautiful with velvety rolling hills and streets lined with pines and shimmering quaking aspens.
Photo Albums
May 28, 2026
Dollar Mountain
We are staying at a condo at the base of Dollar Mountain. There are great hiking trails all over the mountain and she provides a lovely backdrop for our day-to-day.
May 30, 2026
Proctor Visit & Adams Gulch
Mom and Kayti (and Baby Dog) drove up from Boise to visit for the day. We hiked up the Warm Springs side of Adams Gulch which was my parent's favorite when they lived in Ketchum in the early 80s.
June 6, 2026
Proctor Mountain Hike
I guess it's appropriate that I loved my namesake hike. Proctor Mountain was one of the original ski hills when the resort opened in 1936. It is also the site of the first chairlift. A marker on the trail indicates the original base of the lift which was later moved to Baldy as Proctor Mountain lost favor to its higher neighbor. It was a beautiful day for a hike despite the wind kicking up during our descent. According to my Apple Watch we did 5.81 miles with 2,094 feet elevation gain up to the 7,798 summit. 10/10
June 15, 2026
Just, like, a lot of mountain pics
The scenery here is ridiculous beautiful. We are compelled to take pictures of it.
May 24, 2026
A Few Other Random Pics
Our Thumbs Up List
- Bald Mountain (aka Baldy) in the background of everything. The 9,150 foot summit creates an iconic backdrop.
- Pioneer Saloon (opens in new tab) is an obvious pick but one that cannot be missed. Baked potatoes the size of your head.
- The papaya salad at Rickshaw (opens in new tab) is unique and fantastic.
- The Mountain Rides (opens in new tab) bus system here is A+. There is a route through Ketchum and Sun Valley as well as airport shuttles, lines to neighboring towns, and additional routes in peak seasons. All for free. Plus their website highlights the next stop in real time.
- If you get here before June the White Clouds, Trail Creek, and Elkhorn (opens in new tab) golf courses have off-season pricing. Nice if you aren't up for selling a kidney.
- Merlin's Magic Lantern (opens in new tab) movie theater in Ketchum offers half price tickets on Mondays. Plus they sell beer and wine.
- FRXSKIHQ is a whole vibe. The staff is personable and kooky in the best way. Get a $5 chicken sandwich and a $1 PBR and take in the ski shack meets dorm room decor.
How to Speak Like a Local
- Slack season: Slack refers to the spring and fall seasons when there are few tourists. Locals get to enjoy quiet trails and abundant parking but some businesses reduce their hours or shut down all together.
- Baldy: At 9,150 feet, Bald Mountain is the most prominent mountain overlooking the valley. When Sun Valley resort opened in 1936, Baldy was considered too steep and technical for tourists with planks of wood strapped to their shoes. Now, Baldy is the crown jewel of downhill skiing and photo ops.
- Ketchum vs Sun Valley: The town of Ketchum was first established as a mining camp in the late 1800s. Sun Valley was originally just the name of the ski resort but was later incorporated as its own municipality.