Overview

The mountains in southern Idaho see over 250 days of sunshine each year. No wonder Sun Valley acquired its name. Despite sunshine, cool temperatures prevail in the mountains with the average summer temperature around 78 degrees. The combination of sunshine and moderate temperatures lures visitors in summer for outdoor adventures.

Sun Valley Resort nestles in the scenic Wood River Valley, bordering the larger town of Ketchum. Over time, though, the entire valley has acquired the accepted name of "Sun Valley." The scene vibrates with high-end art galleries, an active theatre circuit, summer festivals, and posh boutique stores, while the surrounding mountains yield endless outdoor recreation.

Stay in the Sun Valley Lodge to taste the elegant history of the resort. Cabins, condominiums, hotels, and rental homes are also available throughout the area from budget to upscale.

Nearly a million acres of wilderness surround Sun Valley. Fishing, hiking, sightseeing, golf, rock climbing, horseback riding, paragliding, whitewater kayaking and river rafting, and bicycling yield more than enough to fill a week's vacation.

The Silver Creek Preserve lures anglers for its trophy fish. Stock up on locally-made flies at one of the shops in town, and hire one of the many local outfitters to take you to some of the region's legendary fishing holes.

Sun Valley Resort operates its lift on Bald Mountain for summer sightseeing, hiking, and mountain biking. Golfers enjoy swinging clubs at one of three award-winning courses. Bicyclists revel in over 30 miles of paved trails along the Wood River Valley. Horseback riding outfitters lead single-day or multi-day trips into the mountains, or you can hire a guide to hike with llamas, too.

The renowned Salmon River cuts through some of Idaho's most remote mountains in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Explore grottoes, crash through big whitewater, and dip into natural hot springs along the Middle Fork on five-day trips. Single-day rafting trips tour the Salmon, too, with tame scenic floats to wild Class IV rapids. Try the rapids in an inflatable kayak for some bouncing fun.  

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area sits just north of Sun Valley. Drive over Galena Pass to see the dramatic, jagged spires line up across the sky. Forty of the peaks climb higher than 10,000 feet, and over 750 miles of trails criss-cross the backcountry for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.

Get to Sun Valley via plane by heading to either Boise or Hailey. Fly into the Boise Airport on one of eight carriers, and then drive three hours to Sun Valley. Horizon and SkyWest fly into Hailey's Friedman Memorial Airport, which sits only 17 minutes south of Ketchum.

You can hop free buses in town. But rent a car if you plan to explore the mountains outside of town in the region's renowned sunshine.