Sun Valley, Winter resort in Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Sun Valley is a winter sports facility in Blaine County, central Idaho. The complex spreads across two mountains with several hotels, ski runs, and hiking trails suited to different skill levels.
The Union Pacific Railroad founded the location in 1936 as the first winter destination with specially built facilities for ski tourism in the United States. During the Second World War, the entire facility served as a rehabilitation hospital for naval personnel.
The area takes its name from the high number of sunny days that shape the ski resort throughout the year. Local sports shops and restaurants inside the lodges preserve the alpine style from the founding era.
The facilities open from November to April for winter sports and offer hiking and mountain biking routes during summer. Ski runs range from green beginner slopes to black diamond descents for experienced skiers.
The location introduced the world's first chairlifts in 1936, developed from cargo loading systems used on banana plantations. Ernest Hemingway is buried in the local cemetery, having spent regular time here during the early years.
Location: Blaine County
Inception: December 21, 1936
Founders: Felix von Schaffgotsch
Elevation above the sea: 1,812 m
Part of: Central Idaho
Shares border with: Ketchum
Website: http://sunvalley.govoffice.com
GPS coordinates: 43.68056,-114.34278
Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:05
Idaho's remote locations offer access to diverse landscapes ranging from alpine lakes nestled in mountain ranges to volcanic formations and high desert terrain. The state contains geological features formed over thousands of years, including lava tubes that preserve ice year-round, sand dunes rising hundreds of feet, and one of North America's deepest river canyons. Historic mining towns preserve architecture from the silver boom era, while natural hot springs dot the landscape alongside waterfalls that cascade through forested valleys. These destinations span from the granite spires of City of Rocks National Reserve, where climbers tackle routes on 600-foot rock formations, to Priest Lake in the northern forests, stretching 19 miles through conifer-covered wilderness. Visitors can explore the black lava fields of Craters of the Moon, spanning over 1,100 square miles, or descend into caves where ice formations persist despite surface temperatures. The Snake River carves through Hell's Canyon at depths reaching 7,900 feet, creating opportunities for rafting and fishing. Whether hiking to Sawtooth Lake at 8,800 feet elevation, observing stars from an observatory at Bruneau Dunes State Park, or walking through the Victorian streets of Wallace, these locations provide experiences across Idaho's varied terrain.
Bald Mountain
6.1 km
Hyndman Peak
18.7 km
Castle Peak
44.5 km
Magic Reservoir
44.6 km
White Clouds Wilderness
46.8 km
Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness
27.9 km
Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Wilderness
37.6 km
Homer Pound House
18.3 km
Ryan Peak
25.2 km
Sawtooth Botanical Garden
5.8 km
Smoky Dome
52.2 km
Merriam Peak
45.6 km
Gimlet Pegram Truss Railroad Bridge
9.2 km
Blackmon Peak
48.9 km
Standhope Peak
28.1 km
Kent Peak
24.5 km
Cobb Peak
18.3 km
Old Hyndman Peak
19.4 km
Cold Springs Pegram Truss Railroad Bridge
3 km
Glassford Peak
28.1 km
Big Peak
31.1 km
Hailey Masonic Lodge
18 km
Baker Peak
27.2 km
Bellevue Historic District
25 km
Eben S. and Elizabeth S. Chase House
17.7 km
Fox–Worswick House
18 km
Blaine County Courthouse
18.2 km
Roundhouse Gondola
3.3 kmReviews
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