Sun Valley (Idaho)



Sun Valley is a mountain resort city at 6,000 ft (1,830 m), in central Idaho. It was founded in 1939.

Understand


Sun Valley is located in Blaine County, which began its life over a century ago in much the same way other Idaho mountain communities did: as a hardscrabble mining area. By 1900, mining was clearly in decline in southern Idaho. Many Idaho mountain mining settlements eventually became ghost towns, but the Blaine County communities managed to hang on, mostly due to the sheep industry.

In 1936, tourism entered Blaine County in a big way with the opening of the Sun Valley resort, which attracted the rich and famous from day one. A particularly famous early visitor was Ernest Hemingway, who spent his final days in the area and is buried in Ketchum. Today many well-known people maintain first or second homes in Blaine County.

Sun Valley revolves around tourism, with skiing in the winter and outdoor activities in the nearby Sawtooth National Recreation Area in the summer dominating the itinerary. The area has a reputation as a highbrow and unapologetically liberal enclave in largely conservative Idaho. While vegan and organic lifestyles may be openly scoffed at only a few miles away, it's no problem at all to indulge in them here.

By bus or shuttle
Sun Valley Stages offer charter service to Sun Valley from Boise, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls.

Sun Valley Express offers daily bus service to the resort from the Boise, Idaho airport.

Salt Lake Express offers service from Twin Falls and other destinations in Idaho and beyond.

By car
Sun Valley is located adjacent to the town of Ketchum on Idaho State Route 75, about two hours north of Twin Falls.

See




Buy
The Sun Valley area is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, either to visit or to live in. Out of sheer economic necessity, many people who work in the area commute daily from as far away as Twin Falls. If money is no object, pretty much anything can be had here. Otherwise you may want to do as many of the locals do: see the sights, then head for less expensive locales.

Drink

 * Grumpy's - Classic apres-ski bum bar
 * Casino Bar
 * Warfield Distillery & Brewery - rooftop bar
 * TNT Taproom - brewery

Go next

 * North on Hwy 93, will take you over Galena Summit and into the beautiful town of Stanley. From there, Hwy 21 leads to Boise, or Hwy 93 continues on to Challis and Salmon, then into Montana.
 * South on Hwy 93 leads to the Sun Valley airport and Hailey, Idaho, 11 miles from Sun Valley, then onwards to Twin Falls or Boise.