Sun Valley's Expanding Gladed Terrain: 90 Acres of New Expert Skiing

As America's first destination ski resort enters its 90th winter season, Sun Valley continues pushing boundaries with 90 acres of newly gladed terrain on Bald Mountain—cementing its position as North America's premier destination for advanced tree skiing.

Four New Gladed Runs

Advanced skiers can now explore fresh lines between Canyon, Exhibition, and Olympic runs:

Tim's – Skier's left of Exhibition, technical tree skiing with natural features

Pioneer Bowl – Skier's left of Sleeping Bear, steep pitches and tight spacing

Bear Den – Skier's left of Olympic Lane, varied terrain with natural fall lines

Sheep Camp – Skier's left of Olympic Lane, confidence-building glade for intermediate progressing skiers

With over 350 acres of gladed terrain developed in the last five years alone, Sun Valley has established itself as North America's premier destination for advanced gladed skiing. Explore this season's developments >

Bald Mountain: 3,400 Vertical Feet of Diverse Terrain

With a 9,150' summit and 2,553 skiable acres, Bald Mountain delivers exceptional variety across 109 runs:

• 27% Easiest
• 34% Moderate
• 36% Difficult
• 3% Most Difficult (including Inhibition at 70% grade/35 degrees)

The mountain offers extended descents through challenging bowls, perfectly groomed corduroy, and extensive gladed terrain, with it's longest run stretching 3 miles—all without crowds or long lift lines.

Triple #1 in SKI Magazine's 2026 Rankings

Sun Valley earned first-place honors in three categories and top-five placement in ten total categories in SKI Magazine's 2026 Resort Guide:

#1 Lifts – 17 world-class lifts with minimal wait times. Recent additions include the Challenger (six-pack) and Flying Squirrel (quad) chairs (2023-24) and the new Seattle Ridge six-pack (2024-25). Future lift plans at futureofsunvalley.com.

#1 Dining – From slope-side day lodges to the iconic Roundhouse Restaurant and nearby Ketchum, exceptional culinary experiences define the resort.

#1 Parking – Free, plentiful parking at all mountain bases, the Sun Valley Village, and the town of Ketchum.

Also ranked: #2 Grooming, Best Beds, Most Authentic | #3 Most Welcoming | #4 Most Family Friendly, Overall Satisfaction | #5 Best Après Scene

SKI Magazine wrote: "From the elegant porte cochère at the iconic Sun Valley Lodge to your first trench in the corduroy on Limelight, it feels like this place knows what you want before you've figured it out yourself."

Full 2026 Rankings

Exceptional Grooming & Snowmaking 

Sun Valley's commitment to maintaining optimal conditions shows in the numbers:

• 810 acres of groomable terrain
• 645 acres of snowmaking coverage with 583 snow guns
• 78% of groomable terrain backed by snowmaking
• 120 days of sunshine out of a typical 150-day season (80%).  

"Sun Valley pays attention to all of the small details. Snowmaking and grooming are absolute perfection!" noted one SKI Magazine reader.

Expanding Accessibility

Friedman Memorial Airport sits just 25 minutes away, with direct flights from eight major cities. Free public transportation connects the resort village and mountain base areas to the charming, walkable town of Ketchum.

Sun Valley welcomes both Ikon Passholders and Mountain Collective Passholders. Read the Ikon Passholders Guide to Sun Valley >

For families, Dollar Mountain (628' vertical, 22 runs) provides dedicated beginner and intermediate terrain along with terrain parks of all sizes, while the Sun Valley Ski & Ride School's world-class instructors ensure progression for all ages and abilities.

Why Sun Valley Stands Apart

In Sun Valley, the combination of expansive gladed terrain, 3,400 vertical feet of diverse skiing, world-class lift infrastructure, exceptional grooming, sunny weather, luxury amenities, and genuine Western hospitality all come together to create an unmatched experience. As one SKI Magazine reader stated, "Having skied almost every major resort in North America, I can say that Sun Valley is totally in a class by itself."

Whether you're weaving your way through the new glades or carving groomed corduroy with your family this winter, Sun Valley is sure to deliver authentic mountain character without compromise.

Plan your visit at sunvalley.com.