Sun Valley Area Guide

SUN VALLEY Perfectly Balanced­

A Buyer’s Guide to the Area

What does “Perfectly balanced” mean?

• Sun Valley is a sophisticated mountain town, hosting world-class speakers, performers, and festivals throughout the year.

It’s also down-to-earth, with an unending trail system, countless campgrounds that begin just three miles out of town, and 1500 sheep that trot through town every October.

• Sun Valley is modern, with a new boutique hotel being built in downtown Ketchum and the world’s greatest snow-making equipment helping blanket our mountain with perfect snow.

It’s also a traditional mountain town, with Western roots that still permeate our culture, and jeans and boots passing for dressing up.

• Sun Valley is busy and full of people during the winter and summer months, when skiers and summer tourists fill the slopes, the streets, the rivers, and the restaurants and bars.

It’s also an incredibly quiet and easily-navigable village where ten people on a ski run feels crowded and the locals will always make room for you at their table.

• Sun Valley is home to multi-million-dollar estates and exquisite ranches, owned by some of the most influential people in the business and entertainment worlds.

It’s also a place where being ostentatious and opulent will never be in style, and movies stars will smile and say hi.

• Sun Valley is easy to get to, with nonstop flights from five major hubs, and one-stop flights from everywhere else. Skiing is 15 minutes from the airport.

It’s also off the beaten track, the crowds are few, and the space unlimited.

The following pages describe the distinct areas that comprise Sun Valley, from north to south.

At the bottom of each page are three Sun Valley Sotheby’s International Realty properties from that area that demonstrate the range of mountain luxury available.

Sun Valley.

The original ski town. And still the best.* *Or at least #2, according to Ski Magazine’s 2016 Readers’ Poll!

291 N Main Street | Ketchum, ID 83340 | p 208.726.5300 f 208.726.4311 | s u n v a l l e y s i r . c o m

stanley & the sawtooth basin

Just 45 minutes north of Sun Valley, Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains is the sparsely-populated playground of choice for Sun Valley-ites. Known as Idaho’s Alps and encompassing millions of square acres, the recreational opportunities available north of Sun Valley are endless. The Salmon River, mountain lakes, campgrounds, 12,000’ peaks, hundreds of miles of bike/hike/horse trails, and whitewater opportunities make the SNRA unforgettable.

Getaway cabins mesh perfectly with the expansive mountain retreats tucked along the Salmon River or in the mountains. An airstrip by Smiley Creek, general stores, and recreational guiding services make it easy to stay in the Sawtooth Basin for weeks at a time. This is where the phrase “My Own Private Idaho” originated.

4300 & 4310 Valley Rd $5.4m

250 Goat Creek Way $1.75m

233 Vader Court $495k

Insider’s tip: The headwaters of the justifiably famous Salmon River start just over Galena Pass--follow the road as far as you can.

north of ketchum

Just a couple miles north of Ketchum, the change is palpable. There are fewer homes, frequent National Forest signs, and the Boulder Mountains rise up more suddenly than seems possible. Driving through this stretch, which is roughly from Adams Gulch to the SNRA Headquarters, it’s difficult to get a sense of where the houses are. This is the allure of the area, as the large estates have plenty of cover along the Big Wood River.

The more populous areas include developments such as Hulen Meadows, Lake Creek, and Chocolate Gulch, while many of the freestanding estates are gated and tucked along the river. If you’re looking for secluded space, unrivaled views, and convenience, head north.

20 Eagle Springs Court $7.9m

13391 State Hwy 75 $3.295m

101 Alpine Drive $895k

Insider’s tip: Drive up Lake Creek Road four miles beyond the pavement to the lake to see trout swimming in crystal clear water.

ketchum

The cultural hub of the Sun Valley area, Ketchum is home to some of the area’s top restaurants, art galleries, and shopping. River Run, Sun Valley Ski Resort’s main base area, is at the southern end of town. Many worldrenowned festivals happen in Ketchum, including Wagon Days and Trailing of the Sheep. Everything is in walking distance, including a range of restaurants and watering holes that hearken back to Ketchum’s Western roots.

Real estate offerings include surprisingly private and secluded homes to sophisticated condos to smaller condos just right for ski getaways. Wherever you call home in this friendly town, you’re guaranteed great views, easy access to the ski lifts, and every possible resort need at your finger- and toetips.

518 Wood River Dr $3.45m

126 Latigo Lane $1.875m

212 Glade Court $899k

Insider’s tip: Walk 4th street for great street art, and keep your eyes open for the custom-made man-hole covers.

warm springs

Warm Springs distinguishes itself by sitting in an east/west canyon towards the northwest end of Ketchum.

Warm Springs Road roughly follows Warm Springs Creek, which, true to its name, has several warm and hot springs feeding it. A second base for the ski mountain, offering steeper terrain and longer-lasting snow, is towards the western end.

If you want ski-in/ski-out access, Warm Springs is your destination. It’s a family-friendly neighborhood that boasts exclusive estates to perfect ski getaways. The expansive Warm Springs Dog Park is the most popular place in the valley for canines and their human friends.

508 N Canyon Run $9.95m

119 Dollar Dr $2.45m

119 Picabo St #D7 $545k

Insider’s tip: Take the trail off of Wanderer’s Way (park by the horses) over the saddle and into Adam’s Gulch--it’s like teleporting.

sun valley

Sun Valley, the Cradle of Skivilization, where the idea of a ski resort was born in 1936. The venerable, worldrenowned (and just renovated) Sun Valley Lodge provides the epitome of luxury to guests from all over the world, offering high-end shopping and dining, a modern spa, year-round ice skating, and an outdoor pavillion that hosts free symphonies all summer long. The leader in luxury for 80 years, Sun Valley is still raising the bar.

Mountain lodges and homes featuring large timber and river rock dominate Sun Valley’s structural landscape.

Tucked within the trees are condominiums that offer unrivaled luxury in their amenities packages. The golf course, shooting range, Trail Creek, and the SV Opera House make Sun Valley a vacationer’s paradise.

24 West Lane Ranch $4.985m

302 Weyyakin Dr $1.999.9m

1578 Snowcreek $469k

Insider’s tip: Park at the Hemingway Memorial to access the trail up Proctor Mountain and the first chairlift ever made.

elkhorn

Over the saddle from Sun Valley is Elkhorn, where “resort amenities” just might have been invented. Elkhorn prides itself on ease of living, from the bike paths that connect everything, to the easy access to Dollar Mountain and the Elkhorn Golf Course, to the thousands of acres of accessible, “right-out-the-back-door” open space that give Elkhorn its unique flavor. Elkhorn also gets the most sun of anywhere in the Resort Core.

Some of the area’s largest parcels and properties exist in Elkhorn. Whether you are soaking up the sunny vistas fom the balcony of a mountain top ranch, or from one of the many convenient condos or townhomes, the views from Elkhorn are unsurpassed--mountains in all directions comprise Elkhorn’s stunning horizons.

213 Independence Creek Rd $3.5m

120 High Country Lane B1 $1.2m

2683 Ridge Lane $399k

Insider’s tip: A smooth and rolling bike path meanders through all of Elkhorn and into Sun Valley and Ketchum.

mid-valley

You won’t find it on any maps, and locals disagree about where “Mid-Valley” starts and stops. Roads such as East Fork, Greenhorn, Deer Creek, and Zinc Spur branch east and west off Highway 75, leading to riverfront acreage and benches with huge mountain views. Prestigious developments like Starweather, Golden Eagle,Valley Club, and Gimlet sit just off the highway, offering the best in modern country living.

Mid-Valley features some of the area’s most elegant and palatial homes, making good use of both the Big Wood River and the East Fork of the Big Wood. Homes along East Fork have majestic views of the Pioneer Mountains, and many of the spur roads head deep into wilderness areas.

11886 State Hwy 75 $7.3m

214 Meadowbrook Ave $4.495m

212 Indian Creek $995k

Insider’s tip: Take East Fork to Cove Creek and look for the sign for “The Narrows” trail. 1/2 mile in, and you’ll see why it is so named.

hailey

Hailey, the Wood River Valley’s engine, hosts all of the Blaine County government facilities, the airport, public middle and high schools, and the bulk of the area’s population. Mountains line both sides of town, and water fans can access the Big Wood River from almost anywhere to fish and frolic. With great restaurants and shopping, as well as a growing nightlife scene, Hailey has emerged as a bona-fide destination in its own right.

Dotted with neighborhoods rich in character, Hailey boasts modern family homes, “Old Town Hailey” bungalows, and riverside estates that rival any resort town’s. New developments, such as Sweetwater and Old Cutters will ensure that Hailey remains the vibrant, bustling economic hub of Sun Valley.

Colorado Gulch Road $2.128m

210 Broadford Road $1.474m

720 Deerskin Dr $424k

Insider’s tip: Walk the trails in the Draper Reserve and across the Bow Bridge. Then go eat pupusas and sopitas at Lago Azul’s.

bellevue & beyond

Eighteen miles south of Ketchum is Bellevue, a town with no stoplights and wide open spaces. Prudent locals and travelers know that there is plenty to do in Bellevue, from great restaurants to secluded paths along the river to the endless backcountry roads going up Slaughterhouse, Muldoon, and Townsend Gulch. Ten miles south you come to Silver Creek, renowned as one of the best fly-fishing areas in the world Bellevue homes offer space and views galore. Bellevue Farms is one of the most sought-after residential areas in the county, while large ranches and horse farms dominate the area south of town. As real and perceived distances between towns shrink, Bellevue will continue to grow and play a major role in Sun Valley’s economy.

11038 State Hwy 75 $4.25m

6 Fox Hollow $1.65m

325 Bayhorse $695k

Insider’s tip: Breakfast at Brandie’s, consignment shopping at The Trader, fly-fishing insights (and tamales!) at the Picabo Angler.

Sun Valley

Worth Every Step

sunvalleysir.com 208.726.5300