Tal Roberts image Skiing in Sun Valley Idaho

Skiing in the Wood River Valley is EPIC!

Sun Valley is not only home to America’s first destination ski resort, we’re also home to the first ski lift. You can even see its remnants at Proctor Mountain, just east of the resort.

We’re awfully proud of our skiing history around here, and for good reason. From Sun Valley’s celebrity-filled start in 1936 to officially being named “Nordic Town USA” a few years ago, skiing is part of the foundation of our community.

One of the biggest reasons skiing is so big around here is that we offer something for everyone. Maybe you like Black Diamond bump runs or carving endless slalom turns on Baldy. Perhaps playing in the terrain parks or learning to ski or board on Dollar is more you’re style. Maybe you like to Nordic or cross-country ski on our more than 100 miles of regularly groomed trails. Or maybe you love to earn your turns and hit the backcountry and make laps along Galena Summit. Even if a simple snowshoe followed by a cup of hot cocoa is your style, we’ve got you covered there, too.

Baldy

Baldy, also referred to as the Sun Valley Ski Resort, offers 100 runs and 3,400 vertical feet of alpine skiing. Baldy is well known for its consistent snow (averaging nearly 20 feet each season) and groomed runs, which are some of the best in the world thanks to the nation’s finest snowmaking system.

Dollar Mountain

Dollar Mountain is located on the other side of Ketchum from Baldy. Offering 22 runs and nearly 1,000 feet of vertical, Dollar is home to a variety of terrain parks that get changed throughout the season. It also offers a Magic Carpet and plenty of runs for those new to skiing.

Rotarun

Rotarun is the “little mountain with the big heart” in Hailey. Skiing and riding is available on weekends at the 475-foot-high ski hill. The ticket price to ride the J-bar is a simple donation to the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, which runs Rotarun and offers learn-to-ski programs there for elementary school kids.

Soldier Mountain

Soldier is just outside the county in Fairfield but it boasts some pretty epic powder and is one of the best places to soak up some terrain. Soldier Mountain has affordable ticket prices and has two chairlifts reaching up to 7,177′ and a magic carpet for the little ones to learn on.

Or, if you want to reach 10,095′ Smoky Dome’s awesome acreage, then Soldier Mountain’s Snow Cat skiing will promise private powder. You can enjoy this awesome experience with your friends and family as long as all are expert skiers and you get set up with a cat skiing appointment.

Sun Valley Heli-Ski

Most people don’t realize that Sun Valley Heli-Ski was issued the first U.S. Forest Service heli-ski permit in 1966 and is still lucky enough to lay claim to the largest permit in the lower 48 states. Their skiable terrain includes three ranges (Smoky, Boulder and Pioneer mountains) and covers more than 750,000 acres.

Nordic Trails

Nordic skiing in the Wood River Valley is as good as it gets. From Quigley Canyon in Hailey, following the groomed Wood River Trail (which also serves as the bike path) over to Sun Valley Resort’s Nordic Center and then up through the Sawtooth National Recreational Area to Galena Lodge, you can find some of the best cross-country and skate skiing in America.

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