Sun Valley Resort in Idaho is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Sun Valley Resort, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
is a ski lover's paradise, with trails for all skill levels and a wealth of entertainment off the slopes. Thanks to the nearby
, Idaho's Sun Valley Resort is a quick flight from several West Coast cities, including Seattle, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Skiers looking to fly in to a larger airport can land in
and hop on a resort-provided shuttle, the
, for a 150-mile trip.
The Mountain
Sun Valley Resort includes two mountains:
, with 3,400 vertical feet and a summit of 9,150 feet, and
, with a 628-foot vertical rise. Bald Mountain is the more well known and spacious of the resort's two mountains, with runs, including one that measures 1.2 miles, stretching across 2,054 acres. Novices will enjoy Dollar Mountain's smaller peak, while experienced skiers will be challenged on the slope affectionately known throughout the resort as Baldy. Both mountains feature packed powdered snow and an average
of snowfall per year. Sun Valley Resort's season begins around Thanksgiving and typically ends in April.
Trails And Lifts
Sun Valley's two mountains feature 76 trails: 66 on
and 10 on the smaller
. Novice skiers can enjoy the gentle slopes on Dollar Mountain, while more advanced skiers can tackle Bald Mountain trails, such as Warm Springs and the Firetrail in Seattle Ridge. The resort includes 12 lifts, including a gondola on Baldy and five lifts: two quads, one triple lift, one double lift and one magic carpet. Three
feature a variety of challenges for skiers, including a half-pipe, barrel jib, multiple jumps and a battleship rail.
In The News
Sun Valley has hosted a number of national competitions, including the 2011 U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships and the 2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country National Championships. The resort's ice-skating rink has welcomed Olympic medalists, including Brian Boitano and Evan Lysacek, for its all-star ice shows. The resort also served as the site for two classic
:
I Met Him in Paris
and
Sun Valley Serenade
. Sun Valley also attracts
such as Bruce Springsteen, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, all of whom have been spotted at the resort.
Cost
Adult skiers can purchase half-day lift tickets for Baldy for $54 and full-day tickets for $62; two-out-of-three-day and three-out-of-five-day tickets are available as well (
for details). Budget-conscious skiers can ski Dollar Mountain for significantly less, with full-day tickets costing $34 for adults.
handles equipment rentals for the resort, with daily ski/snowboard packages starting at $39. A two-hour
runs $345; group lessons represent a more economical option, costing $80. Adult ski and snowboard
, which take place on three consecutive Saturdays, cost $135.
Apres-Ski
Sun Valley Resort offers plenty of activities for a range of interests. Families can check out the
, which features six bowling lanes, video games, a pool table and a snack bar. The year-round
is open for general skating and hosts summer ice shows. The 340-seat
regularly hosts plays and concerts. At the
, guests can enjoy a day of pampering, with facials, massages, acupuncture and body wraps.
WATCH: Sun Valley Resort
The majesty and magic of Sun Valley Idaho makes the resort a ski lover's paradise.
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