Sun Valley
2,054 acres, 121 runs at Ketchum. America's original destination resort, Ikon Pass access.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
2 Dec 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
130
Annual snow
220in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Sun Valley's summit reaches 9,150 feet, dropping 3,399 vertical feet to a base at 5,751 feet across 121 runs spread over 2,054 acres near Ketchum, Idaho. Terrain splits 42 per cent intermediate, 36 per cent beginner, 20 per cent advanced and 2 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 220 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass access across its Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain terrain. Nineteen lifts, including nine quad chairs, one six-person chair, three triple chairs and a gondola, serve the two mountains alongside two double chairs and three surface lifts.
Sun Valley holds a unique place in ski history as North America's first purpose-built destination ski resort, a status reflected in its world-class grooming and consistently low lift-line waits despite its fame. Bald Mountain carries the resort's main advanced and intermediate terrain, while the gentler Dollar Mountain serves beginners and families. The resort's Hollywood-era glamour heritage remains part of its identity alongside its modern Ikon Pass destination status.
In 1935, Union Pacific Railroad chairman Averell Harriman set out to build North America's first destination ski resort, sending Austrian ski instructor Count Felix Schaffgotsch to scout locations across the American West. Schaffgotsch chose Ketchum, a mining town surrounded by mountains, and construction began in May 1936 on the 3,200-acre former Brass Ranch. Sun Valley Lodge opened in December 1936, followed by the Swiss-style Sun Valley Inn in 1937 and The Ram restaurant in 1938.
That same 1936 season, Sun Valley became the birthplace of the modern ski lift: a railroad engineer who had built a system for loading banana bales onto cargo ships adapted the concept into the world's first chairlift, installed on Dollar Mountain. Publicist Steve Hannagan coined the resort's name and tagline, 'Winter sports under a summer sun,' and orchestrated the celebrity visits that made Sun Valley famous, with Ernest Hemingway becoming its most notable long-term resident. Adult daily tickets run from 89 to 149 US dollars, with season passes from 975 dollars for Dollar Mountain-only access.
3,399ft
Vertical
121
Runs
2,054 acres
Skiable
220in
Annual snow
Ikon
Pass
The Terrain
121 runs across 2,054 acres skiable
Sun Valley is built around two mountains, Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, and offers 121 runs across 2,054 acres (831 hectares) above Ketchum. Bald Mountain tops out at 9,150 feet (2,789 m) over a base of 5,750 feet (1,753 m), a vertical of about 3,400 feet (1,036 m), and that is among the biggest drops in the Rockies. Intermediates hold 42% of the terrain, beginners 36%, advanced skiers 20% and experts only 2%. A gondola, a six-pack, nine quads and several other lifts move people fast, so the fall-line runs are rarely queue-bound.
Baldy's skiing is about long, consistent pitches. Warm Springs is the signature, running top to bottom for the full vertical and taking afternoon sun, while Seattle Ridge and Greyhawk offer smooth groomed cruising. Limelight and the Christmas Bowl area deliver steeper, bumpier skiing for stronger skiers, and Ridge Run is a favourite for fast carving. Dollar Mountain handles beginners and freestyle riders with gentler slopes and parks. Sun Valley suits intermediates and confident advanced skiers who prize groomed runs and speed over extreme terrain, plus beginner families with a separate learning mountain.
Terrain split
121
runs
121 runs across 4 grades
Beginner44 runs · 36%
Intermediate51 runs · 42%
Advanced24 runs · 20%
Expert2 runs · 2%
Time it right
When to visit Sun Valley
The 2025-26 season at Sun Valley ran from 25 November 2025 to 19 April 2026, a roughly twenty-one-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 220 inches. While this snowfall total is moderate compared with some Pacific Northwest resorts, Sun Valley's extensive snowmaking and grooming operations have long been central to its reputation for consistently excellent surface conditions. Season dates can shift slightly year to year.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically offers the most reliable natural snowpack across Bald Mountain's advanced terrain. As an Ikon Pass destination with a nearly ninety-year history, Sun Valley draws visitors from across the country, with holiday periods bringing the heaviest crowds despite the resort's reputation for well-managed lift lines. Weekday visits generally remain calmer.
Sun Valley's identity as North America's first destination ski resort continues to shape its seasonal programming, with a heritage of celebrity visits and Hollywood-era glamour still part of the resort's marketing and atmosphere. Dollar Mountain's dedicated beginner terrain supports significant ski school and family programming throughout the season. School holiday periods bring particularly strong demand for these family-oriented offerings.
Specific event programming beyond standard lift operations and ski school is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's long-running association with author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in the area for two decades, remains part of the broader Sun Valley and Ketchum cultural identity through the winter season. Grooming quality across Bald Mountain remains a defining feature cited consistently by visitors.
Season 2026 - 2027
2 Dec 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
130
Days open
220 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Sun Valley
Daily snow reports at Sun Valley go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
12 in
Snowiest day
22 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
100 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Sun Valley, and where to stay
Sun Valley sits adjacent to Ketchum, Idaho, with a base elevation of 5,751 feet and a summit at 9,150 feet across a 3,399-foot vertical drop over 2,054 acres split between Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. The resort and Ketchum together form one of the most established mountain communities in the American West, built specifically around the ski resort since the 1930s.
Ketchum itself offers extensive lodging, dining and shopping befitting Sun Valley's decades-long status as a destination resort, with a level of infrastructure that has grown alongside the mountain since 1936. The broader Wood River Valley combines skiing with a resort-town culture that has attracted visitors, celebrities and long-term residents throughout the resort's history. Ketchum's compact, walkable centre sits within easy reach of the mountain itself.
Idaho State Highway 75 connects Ketchum and Sun Valley to the wider region, running north from the interstate network through the Wood River Valley. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice, though the route is well maintained given the resort's status as a major destination. Local shuttle services within Ketchum and Sun Valley reduce the need for a vehicle once visitors arrive.
Friedman Memorial Airport in nearby Hailey, nearly the closest airport to any major US ski resort, offers direct flights from several major cities and sits a short drive from the resort itself. This convenient air access has long supported Sun Valley's role as a fly-in destination for visitors from across the country, reinforcing its identity as America's original purpose-built ski resort.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Sun Valley, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.
4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Sun Valley Webcams
6 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Sun Valley's live webcams
Check live conditions across Sun Valley with 6 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Roundhouse – Summit Views6,798ft
- Experience America's original destination ski resort through this stunning Sun Valley webcam positioned at the mid-mountain Roundhouse location at 2072 meters elevation. This strategic vantage point showcases the legendary Olympic green trail while delivering expansive views across the picturesque Wood River Valley, encompassing both the charming resort town and the surrounding Idaho mountain ranges. This Sun Valley live cam captures the essence of luxury mountain skiing that has attracted celebrities and skiing enthusiasts for generations.
- White Clouds - Bald Mountain6,798ft
- Witness the grandeur of America's most iconic ski destination through this Sun Valley webcam positioned at village level at 2072 meters elevation. This Sun Valley live cam offers unobstructed views of the legendary Bald Mountain, perfectly capturing the dramatic scale and alpine beauty that has made Sun Valley synonymous with world-class skiing since 1936. This live snow cam provides essential visibility updates across the resort's challenging terrain while showcasing the stunning mountain backdrop that defines this historic Idaho ski destination.
- Snow Stake Cam8,898ft
- Track precise snowfall accumulation at Sun Valley ski resort through this high-altitude snow stake webcam positioned at 2712 meters elevation. This specialized Sun Valley live cam provides real-time snow depth measurements and fresh powder updates throughout the day until its daily clearing at 4pm. Essential for powder hunters planning their approach to America's premier destination resort, this Sun Valley web cam delivers the accurate snow data needed to time your visit for optimal skiing conditions on Bald Mountain's legendary terrain.
- Sun Valley Bowls Live Cam9,026ft
- Experience breathtaking alpine perspectives through this Sun Valley webcam positioned near the summit above the renowned Lookout restaurant at 2751 meters elevation. This high-altitude Sun Valley live cam delivers stunning views of the resort's signature alpine bowls and advanced terrain against a dramatic backdrop of Idaho's mountain ranges. Perfect for expert skiers assessing conditions, this Sun Valley web cam showcases the challenging slopes and pristine powder that have made this destination legendary among serious skiers worldwide.
- River Run Live Cam5,751ft
- Monitor the vibrant activity at Sun Valley resort's River Run base area through this essential webcam positioned at 1753 meters elevation. This Sun Valley live cam captures the bustling base village atmosphere, gondola operations, and guest arrivals, providing real-time views of current mountain conditions. Perfect for planning your visit timing, this Sun Valley web cam shows the operational pulse of America's original destination ski resort, helping you gauge crowd levels and weather conditions before your luxury mountain experience.
- Warm Springs Live Cam5,886ft
- Watch the skiing action unfold at Sun Valley resort's historic Warm Springs base area through this strategically positioned webcam at 1794 meters elevation. This Sun Valley live cam provides direct views up the lift lines and ski trails that lead to the resort's renowned Lookout summit region. Essential for monitoring lift operations and trail conditions, this Sun Valley web cam helps experienced skiers plan their route through the challenging terrain that has attracted skiing legends to this iconic Idaho destination for nearly a century.
Sun Valley snow cams FAQ
How often do Sun Valley snow cams update?
All Sun Valley snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Sun Valley.
Which Sun Valley webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Sun Valley Bowls Live Cam webcam at 2,751m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Sun Valley webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Sun Valley lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Sun Valley snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Sun Valley snow cams?
Check Sun Valley webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Sun Valley lift tickets?
Use our Sun Valley webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Sun Valley webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Sun Valley snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Sun Valley intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.