Where to stay/ ski at Sun Valley?

[shredbetty]

Hi Divas,

Two of us are planning to head to Sun Valley in mid - February for the first time, will likely ski Baldy area rather than Dollar Mountain. I have done some research and am not clear on which part of the area would be best to stay at. We'd prefer a small condo rather than a hotel room so can make our own breakfast. ALso not averse to renting a car while there, if we need to. Would it be best to stay in Ketchum? Or the places near the Sun Valley Lodge (or elsewhere)?

I have also seen much talk about their long groomed runs. We prefer skiing bump runs, or varied terrain, rather than cruising fast laps. Will we find suitable terrain there, or should we pivot and go elsewhere?

 

[Christy]

My husband also prefers bumps and off piste, and he loves SV. You find bumps on the edges of most groomed runs, between runs, then of course there are the bowls. One nice thing is that there are different areas that face different ways, so if it hasn't snowed in while and the bowls aren't the best, you can go to Seattle Ridge and find bumps that will likely be great. The bowls do tend to hold up though. Consider doing the free tour to learn more or just talk to people on the lift. There are lots of retired regulars there that know a lot.

If you are going to get a condo I'd get one in Ketchum so you are close to grocery stores and dining and all the bus routes. IN town, not in Warm Springs. Check out Pennay's if you are looking for something mid-range--they will pull you in a snowmobile trailer to the River Run base, and they are a legit long time family owned business not an Airbnb, so you can avoid the pitfalls and layers of fees that come with Airbnb. You don't need a car in Ketchum, though if you stay independently (not at a hotel that offers airport pickup) you might see what it costs vs the cost of airport rides. The bus system in Ketchum and SV is free and good and everyone uses it. If you are interested in seeing anything outside of town, or going up to Galena Lodge to Nordic ski, a car would be good. The scenery north of town up to Galena Pass is gorgeous.

If you prefer a condo to a hotel okay but I will say, Sun Valley Lodge is the perfect--I really mean perfect--ski hotel. They do everything right and the rooms are sooo comfortable. The hot pool is the actual best hotel pool ever. It's mile from town but there's a beautiful walking path they keep plowed; there's buses every 7 minutes or so, and if the bell guys aren't busy they'll drive you in (for a tip). We love the walk. There are a lot of perks like free airport rides and free ski storage at River Run. We also don't want to take the time for breakfast out, and we generally buy some instant oatmeal and fruit and make it in-room. Or I eat a bowl of oatmeal at River Run while I boot up. I've also hopped off the bus in town, grabbed a breakfast sandwich, then hopped back on to River Run (doable because my skis were stored there).

 

[contesstant]

Lord have mercy, Sun Valley has some of the longest bump runs I have ever seen! That being said, it is not known as an off-piste haven per se unless there has been a recent storm BUT that is also dependent on how adventurous you are. It is a steep mountain with consistent fall lines and always leaves me wondering "when does this run end?" (at least on the Warm Springs side.) And I ski Snowbasin which has some looooonnng runs. It's still quiet during the week, too, despite the IKON pass and I'm sure that's because it's so isolated from other resorts. Well worth a trip! Ketchum is a neat little town, fun places to eat and shop. We always stay at the Best Western Tyrol because it's really close to the River Run base and has free breakfast. The Sun Valley Lodge is gorgeous but I've never stayed there. The village area near the lodge is neat with some great shopping.

 

[marzNC]

Two of us are planning to head to Sun Valley in mid - February for the first time, will likely ski Baldy area rather than Dollar Mountain. I have done some research and am not clear on which part of the area would be best to stay at. We'd prefer a small condo rather than a hotel room so can make our own breakfast. ALso not averse to renting a car while there, if we need to. Would it be best to stay in Ketchum? Or the places near the Sun Valley Lodge (or elsewhere)?

Where to stay that is optimal much depends on your budget. If you are willing to rent a car, then staying Hailey is the least expensive. There are VRBO/AirBnB options in Ketchum but the best values are long gone.

If staying in Ketchum, check to see where the closest bus stop is located. Taking the free bus to Bald Mountain can work well. My first trip my crew had rooms in the Best Western Tyrolean Lodge (motel) at the last bus stop before the River Run base. Was walking distance to the center of town where there are several really good restaurants. Parking around there was a bit of a pain.

I booked a slopeside (walk in/out to Bald Mountain) condo using VRBO for March 2024 back in early summer. This time the crew is three seniors willing to pay a bit more for comfortable and convenient shared lodging. We are staying less than a week before heading to Tamarack.

Well worth stopping in the Sun Valley Lodge as a tourist.

 

[marzNC]

I have also seen much talk about their long groomed runs. We prefer skiing bump runs, or varied terrain, rather than cruising fast laps. Will we find suitable terrain there, or should we pivot and go elsewhere?

There are certain bump runs at Bald Mountain. The irony is that after a storm it might take a while for the bumps to re-form since the mountain is relatively empty and many of the regulars prefer long, relatively steep groomers.

I'm going back partially to experience the new advanced terrain that opened up a few years ago. But even if that didn't exist, I know my mid-70s advanced/expert ski buddy and I will have no trouble finding challenging terrain to explore when I feel like adventure skiing.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

If you prefer a condo to a hotel okay but I will say, Sun Valley Lodge is the perfect--I really mean perfect--ski hotel. They do everything right and the rooms are sooo comfortable. The hot pool is the actual best hotel pool ever. It's mile from town but there's a beautiful walking path they keep plowed; there's buses every 7 minutes or so, and if the bell guys aren't busy they'll drive you in (for a tip). We love the walk.

Ditto this. SV Lodge is probably the best ski hotel I've ever stayed at. Plus, it is full of wonderful ski history. Second best would be Huntley Lodge in Big Sky.

 

[Christy]

@shredbetty if you haven't booked yet, heads up that quite a few runs on the Warm Springs side of the mountain will be closed for World Cup preparation. I know I mentioned that I didn't recommend staying out there anyway, and you sound like a good skier and would probably not be put off by the fact that skiers will have to ski blacks to get to the Warm Springs base, though the idea of everyone going down what are sure to be hardpacked blacks whether they want to or not is probably a scene I'd avoid.