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Sun Valley

Idaho

<p>In 1935, Count Felix Schaffgotsch was commissioned by Union Pacific Railroad to begin a search for the perfect North American ski destination. After months of exploring the western United States, the count found Ketchum Valley and was overwhelmed by the area&rsquo;s terrain features and charm. After just seven months of construction, Sun Valley opened to the public for the winter of 1936.</p>
<p>Sun Valley Resort is a unique combination of Old World European styling mixed with a Wild West heritage. Sun Valley is a ski destination that every skier should have on their bucket list.</p>
<h2>Where Is Sun Valley Ski Resort Located?</h2>
<p>There are direct flights to the Sun Valley area via six U.S. cities: Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. There is a shuttle between the Boise Airport and the Sun Valley Lodge.</p>
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Lodging available at Sun Valley Resort; additional lodging can be found nearby.  Free bus service to mountains. Camper facilities not available at Sun Valley; there is service two miles away in Ketchum. 

<h3>Breakfast</h3>
<ul>
<li>Konditorei Restaurant provides fresh-baked pastries and organic coffees each morning so you can get off on the right foot. 1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, ID 83353</li>
</ul>
<h3>Lunch</h3>
<ul>
<li>A stop at the lunch-only Sun Valley Club is a must. With their amazing views and fireplace, it&rsquo;s the perfect short time escape from the cold. 200 Trail Creek Road, Sun Valley, ID 83353</li>
</ul>
<h3>Dinner</h3>
<ul>
<li>With its rustic ambiance and wonderful food, Trail Creek Cabin is the place to go after a long day on the slopes. 300 Trail Creek Road, Sun Valley, ID 83353</li>
</ul>
<h3>Apres/Nightlife</h3>
<ul>
<li>Located right at the lodge, Duchin Lounge has amazing ambiance and service, and is great if you need a late-night snack. 1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, ID 83353</li>
</ul>

<h3>Terrain</h3>
<p>Sun Valley is situated across two mountains: Bald Mountain (very sunny slope that&rsquo;s nearly all downhill) and Dollar Mountain (628 feet of vertical on a treeless slope). Baldy offers expert skiers and snowboarders a variety of challenging bowls and glades off the peak while Dollar Mountain is a beginner's dream with gentle, perfectly groomed slopes.</p>
<p>Sun Valley is serviced by a modern lift infrastructure and a well-designed trail system. The resort has terrain for all ability levels and has 2,154 skiable acres. The summit elevation is 9,150 feet with 2,400 feet of vertical drop. Base elevation is 5,750 feet. The area receives about 220 inches of snowfall per year. There are 121 trails serviced by 18 lifts along with 2 terrain parks, a Super Pipe and Jib Park.</p>
<p>The steepest run is Inhibition, which is 70% or 35 degrees, and the longest run is a total of 3 miles. The slope ratings are 36% beginner, 42% intermediate, 20% advanced and 2% expert. Snowmaking is available on 645 acres, and there are 55 snow guns. Groomed acres sit at 810 with snowmaking on 78% of these acres.</p>

<p>Sun Valley Resort has been welcoming skiing enthusiasts since the winter of 1936 when the lifts started turning. The resort was the first ski area in the world to install chairlifts. Developed in Omaha, Nebraska, at Union Pacific&rsquo;s headquarters, the Original Proctor Mountain Ski Lift is based on a banana loading conveyor used for loading the fruit onto ships.</p>
<p>For short lift lines, head to Bald Mountain. You can ski nearly all day long without a wait. There are 14 kilometers of snowshoe trails and 40 kilometers of tracks for cross-country and skate skiing as well as ski touring.</p>
<p>To enjoy the total Sun Valley experience, one must stay at the famed Sun Valley Lodge. This is where filmmaker Warren Miller slept in his trailer in the parking lot, stole oyster crackers from the kitchen and began his amazing filmmaking career.</p>

<p><span>Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) serves as the closest commercial airport to Sun Valley Resort, conveniently situated approximately a 25-minute drive away. Exploring alternative flight paths, travelers might consider flying into Boise Airport (BOI), roughly a 2.5-hour drive from the resort, or Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), although it involves a scenic 4 to 4.5-hour drive to reach Sun Valley.</span></p>

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