Idaho: Sun Valley Off-Slope Time.
Of course Sun Valley has a world-class ski mountain. Doesn’t every ski resort? What sets Sun Valley apart from the rest of the Rocky Mountain West is the plethora of off- slope activities, the vast wilderness that envelops the region and the small town atmosphere of Ketchum and Sun Valley.
Ride with the dogs. Sun Valley Sled Dog Adventures, the only outfitter of its kind in the valley, follows in the paw prints of Sun Valley's long mushing history and provides exciting off hill adventure for visitors. In the 1930's, local gold miners to haul in supplies used sled dogs. When Sun Valley became an exclusive ski destination, movie legends took a break from skiing the slopes, bundled themselves in wooden sleds driven by Inuit guides, and experienced the thrill of being pulled by a powerful team of sled dogs. One and a half-hour rides, half-day, full day, and overnight excursions are available.
Snowshoe the Valley Trail. Snowshoeing is an ancient sport, but remains a popular winter activity. The North Valley Trail system and the Sun Valley Nordic Center provide packed snowshoe trails. The Galena Lodge will begin offering 1.5 -2 hour snowshoe tours with a Forest Service Ranger beginning in January of 2004. Galena as well as other local outfitters offer rentals and trail maps to guide snowshoers on their journey. Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain offers a chair lift pass to access 1.4 miles of snowshoe trails along the apex of Baldy to Seattle Ridge Lodge. This enables non-skiers or snowshoe enthusiasts to access the top of Bald Mountain without snow shoeing the entire mountain.
Take a sleigh to dinner. A classic horse drawn sleigh brings visitors to enjoy a full course dinner at Trail Creek Cabin; a historic hunting lodge tucked in the forest just outside the Sun Valley Resort. Or for those looking for something a little different, A Winter’s Feast sleigh ride can also bring diners to an authentic Mongolian yurt for a gourmet dinner. Sleigh rides, sans food, are available for individuals and groups through Warm Spring Sleighs. Enjoy the scenic, creekside ride through the Warm Springs area. Sleighs are pulled by two draft horses and capable of handling groups of 13-16 people.
Enjoy a stargazing dinner. The lack of light pollution makes the Idaho night skies spectacular; assuming there is no snow falling. On selected nights Galena Lodge, in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, serves four course family style dinners. On full moon evenings guests can take a ski before or after dinner and on starry nights astronomer Dr. Steven Pauly will let you look through his telescope at the sky’s treasures.
Glide the ice on skates. Skating at the Sun Valley Ice Rink, home to the world famous ice shows in the summer, is open to the public year round every day of the week and is great for all ages and abilities. Join a pick-up game of hockey or broomball at one of the two natural ice rinks in the area -- Atkinson’s Park in Ketchum where they just may have a pair of skates you can borrow. Although you might have to shovel the ice, admission at this natural ice rink is free. If hockey is of interest, Sun Valley has its very own team, the Sun Valley Suns. Their game schedule runs throughout the winter.
Go hiking in the snow. Skiers, snowshoers and other outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy an easy ski or snowshoe hike with a Forest Service guide to learn about the cultural and natural history of the Galena area. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) has a Visitor Center on the way up to Galena Lodge (25 miles north of Ketchum) be sure to stop at the SNRA to view exhibits on the area and to find out more about the history of the area.
Try backcountry hut skiing. The skiing experience in the Sawtooths is a well-kept secret. The Sawtooth's high alpine reaches are laced with granite spires and inviting cirques. The shoulders of these and other surrounding mountain ranges offer superb backcountry slope skiing and the forests of pine and aspen are a delight for Nordic ski touring. At day's end, a Mongolian style yurt welcomes you for dinner or an evening’s rest before heading out for another great day in the backcountry. Guided tours are also available as well as yurts to rent for the night.
Stop by a museum. While in town shopping or just getting your caffeine fill at the local coffee shops, don’t miss the Ketchum/Sun Valley Heritage & Ski Museum at 4th and Washington, Ketchum. Seasonal exhibits include information on Hemingway and his time spent in the Sun Valley/Ketchum area, Native American heritage in the Wood River Valley, and a new building dedicated to the history of skiing which includes costumes and ski equipment from each of the past ten decades. For a glimpse into Ketchum’s mining history, the Ore Wagon Museum located at 5th & East Avenue in Ketchum has the original Lewis String Ore Wagon, also known as the Big Hitch. It is housed there where visitors can view it from the outside of the building all year long.
Relax and be pampered. Pamper yourself at one of our full-service day spas and salons. Whether it’s a massage and hydrotherapy session after a long day on the hill, or a full day of body and beauty treatments like seaweed wraps, exfoliation, spa facials and aromatherapy, you’ll find plenty of ways to refresh your body and your mind. Solavie Day Spa offers everything from a deep relaxation hydrotherapy session and a gentle honey almond scrub to a one and a half-hour deep spa massage and every combination in between.
Glide like an eagle. Fly off Mount Baldy with a Fly Sun Valley Paragliding guide and experience the exhilarating sensation of free flight. It’s definitely a gentle route down from the peak of Bald Mountain. Tandem paragliding flights are available.
For fun, kid-friendly
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