Overview

Central Idaho has great snow, fabulous weather and lots of sunshine – all combined to provide some of the best skiing days you’ll ever experience. However, not every Sun Valley winter skiing trip requires a lift ticket. The surrounding area supplies visitors with an endless variety of spectacular scenery. And the Rocky Mountains provide excellent terrain for all types of skiing – alpine, heli-skiing, backcountry and cross-country.

Ski Resorts

Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain
Bald Mountain has fantastic intermediate runs with picturesque views. This is a prime location for the intermediate or advanced skier or snowboarder. The Mountain has fourteen lifts and sixty-five diverse runs on either side of the Mountain. The ski runs total 2,054 acres and border the Sawtooth National Forest. The ski runs total 3,400 vertical feet from top to bottom. Bald Mountain has some of the longest ski runs of any ski resort. Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley, Idaho provides ten runs and nearly 627 feet of easy, gradual vertical rise. This mountain is ideal for those who have never skied before or who want to renew their skills before tackling the larger, steeper slopes. Dollar has ten runs and nearly 627 feet of easy, gradual vertical rise.

• Season: Mid December through March 
• Price: $89-$149 for Adult Full Day  
• Location: Ketchum, Idaho. 1 ½ miles west of Sun Valley.

Soldier Mountain
Soldier Mountain offers 1150 acres of groomed terrain to satisfy skiers of all levels. Soldier Mountain is also the base for the area’s only snow cat skiing operation. In addition, Soldier offers a special lift ticket price for those backcountry skiers who need only one trip up the mountain in order to access the back country terrain.

• Season: December thru March 
• Price: $43 for Adult Full Day
• Location: Fairfield, ID – 70 miles southwest of Sun Valley

Heli-skiing

Sun Valley is the birthplace of United States Helicopter skiing. It has a long tradition of flying skiers to untouched powder slopes in the tops of the Rockies. Don’t get the impression that heli-skiing is only for the most advanced skier. There are plenty of inviting, low-angled slopes ideally suited for the first-time or family heli-ski experience. And with the new fat ski technology, skiing in deep powder and un-groomed snow is a breeze.

Back Country

Sun Valley’s backcountry has an extensive network of well-equipped huts and Mongolian-style yurts that offer a welcome shelter at day’s end. The huts and yurts are shared by local guiding companies and are available for use by skiers on guided tours as well as for rent by independent skiers. For information on renting a yurt or backcountry guide service contact Sawtooth Mountain Guides and Sun Valley Trekking.

Cross Country

The Sun Valley area is known for having some of the best Nordic ski terrain in the U.S. The Norwegian Olympic Ski team even comes to Sun Valley to train! There are over 200 miles of groomed trails. Nordic ski trails in the Sun Valley area are open from mid-November to late April, depending on snowfall. Ski rentals, instruction, guided tours and other activities and services are offered by both Galena and the Nordic Center.