Lift access returns June 26 for hiking and mountaintop dining at Roundhouse; lift-served mountain biking opens July 1

Sun Valley, ID. (June 4, 2026) — Bald Mountain kicks off the season with lift service on June 26, with access to mid-mountain for hiking and Roundhouse dining. Lift-served mountain biking from Roundhouse to River Run begins July 1.

Summer lift tickets for Bald Mountain are now on sale. The Roundhouse Gondola will operate Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM–4PM. Roundhouse will be open Wednesday through Sunday 11AM–3PM. Bike rentals are available through Pete Lane’s at both the Sun Valley Village and River Run base areas, with mountain, gravel, and road bike options for all ability levels. Seasonal lodging offers are also available at sunvalley.com. 

Guests can access updated summer trail maps and planning resources ahead of their visit at www.sunvalley.com/explore/your-guide-to-sun-valley.

This summer also marks the return of the River Run Summer Series, with weekly events at River Run Plaza every Wednesday from July 22 through August 26. The season’s centerpiece is the Baldy Bluebird Music Festival on July 3–4, featuring Brothers Osborne and Chase Rice at River Run Plaza, with doors at 5:30PM both nights. Tickets are on sale now. The full summer calendar spans festivals, arts programming, and outdoor events across Sun Valley and Ketchum through Labor Day.

Sun Valley is replacing both Lookout Express and Christmas chairlifts on Bald Mountain ahead of the 2026–27 winter season. Lookout Express is being upgraded from a quad to a six-person high-speed lift, while the Christmas Lift will receive a new high-speed quad. Both will run at speeds up to 1,000 feet per minute, improving uphill capacity and reliability across the mountain. Additional details on the lift projects can be found at FutureOfSunValley.com.

Guests should be aware of the following operational updates this summer due to ongoing lift construction:

• Lift access to the top of Bald Mountain via the Christmas Lift will not be available to hikers, bikers, or sightseers this season.
• Lookout Lodge will be closed. Portable restrooms will be available on the top of Baldy, but full facilities can be accessed at Roundhouse.
• Trail Updates: 
  • Saddle Up and Lupine trails will be closed for the summer.
  • Bald Mountain Trail, French Connection, Traverse Trail, and Roundhouse Connector will be subject to intermittent closures due to lift projects
  • Guests are encouraged to check sunvalley.com/mountain-updates for current trail statuses before heading out. For the latest operational updates, trail conditions, and real-time notifications throughout the summer season, please download the Sun Valley app and sign up for push notifications at sunvalley.com/app.
• Class-I E-bikes are now permitted on Bald Mountain. Riders must follow all uphill and downhill trail designations. Class II & III E-bikes are prohibited. 
• The City of Ketchum is constructing a new trail connecting River Run to Warm Springs. The trail will not be open or accessible until the project is complete. This project will impact the lower Bald Mountain Trail at times.

Sun Valley continues its work through the Bald Mountain Stewardship Project, a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, National Forest Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, and local partners. The project focuses on forest health, wildfire risk reduction, and preserving the long-term recreation experience on Bald Mountain. This summer's work will span 150 acres across Seattle Ridge, Scorpion, River Run, and Cold Springs Canyon — some of which extends beyond the ski boundary.

The full list of summer events is available on the Sun Valley Events Calendar.

Media Assets and Info | Sun Valley Resort | www.sunvalley.com/media

Please fill out this form and credit Sun Valley Resort for any image used.

Media Contact: sunvalley@outsidepr.com