Community Profile
The Wood River Valley consists of four towns in Blaine County Idaho.
Hailey, Idaho
Population 8,218
The largest city in the Wood River Valley, Hailey is a welcoming community in every respect. With a colorful history rooted in the mining and sheep industries, Hailey today is a diverse year-round community that thrives on tourism, business, recreation, and the arts
Each year the city hosts unique events that draw thousands of visitors, including the acclaimed Trailing of the Sheep Festival, Crosstoberfest Bike Race and Beerfest, the Wood River Studio Tour, and the “Days of the Old West” Fourth of July celebration, complete with a three-day rodeo, all-American parade, and spectacular fireworks.
Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) in Hailey serves the region with nonstop flights from seven major cities, and comfortable lodging options abound at every price point. Come see why Hailey is known as Idaho’s Hometown in the Mountains!
City of HaileyKetchum, Idaho
Population 2,753
Located at the base of Bald Mountain and surrounded by national forest, Ketchum is the ideal place to live, work, and play. Since its founding in 1880, it has alternately been a rich mining district, the nation’s largest sheep-shipping station, home of the first ski chairlift, and a rowdy gambling town. This rich and wild history makes it more than one of America’s top ski destinations—it’s a small town where locals and visitors alike can enjoy the big life.
Thousands of acres of public land offer outdoors en- thusiasts a bounty of fishing, hiking, rafting, biking, and backcountry skiing opportunities. If you prefer to enjoy beauty indoors, the town’s thriving arts, music, and restaurant scene is second to none.
So take off your boots, grab a beer, and discover the many ways you can make Ketchum your own.
City of KetchumSun Valley, Idaho
Population 1,436
It doesn’t get more iconic than Sun Valley.
Since 1936, America’s first destination ski resort has captivated the imaginations of ski bums, big-city refugees, and lifelong residents who refuse to leave due to its uncrowded slopes, leg-burning fall line pitches, and stellar guest service. Today, Sun Valley’s 2,000 acres of skiing across Bald and Dollar Mountains complement a bevy of year-round on- and off-mountain adventures for the whole family.
With an expansive network of hiking and biking trails, an unrivaled arts and culture scene for a town its size, as well as some of the best dining and shopping you’ll find in any mountain town, this is a place that once you visit you’ll never want to leave.
City of Sun ValleyBellevue, Idaho
Population 2,315
First settled in 1882 and situated at the southern gateway to the Wood River Valley, Bellevue blends a rich history as a mining boom town with an irresistible small-town charm and easy access to a host of off-the-beaten path experiences.
Without a doubt, Bellevue is your first stop for unforgettable snowmobiling, off-roading, and fly-fishing adventures. Lose yourself on the hiking and snowshoeing trails in the beautiful riverside Howard Preserve at the edge of town, and cool off in the summertime at some of the secret swimming holes along the Big Wood River. With some of the most affordable lodging options in the area, Bellevue is a perfect home base for all your Wood River Valley adventures.
City of Bellevue