Here you will be provided with information to help you enjoy your Sun Valley Resort vacation safely while maximizing fun on the mountain. Remember to always ski and ride within your ability and be aware of the skiers/riders around you.
Sun Valley's uphill and downhill travel policy, approved by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), allows access for uphill and downhill travelers outside of operational hours. Uphill travel within ski area boundaries poses significant safety concerns for uphill and downhill recreationists, ski area operators and staff. Sun Valley's policy reflects our commitment to seek a balance between mitigating safety concerns of uphill travel as a recreational use within the downhill ski area/Special Use Permit area and the resort has been granted a Special Use Permit from the USFS.
Sun Valley continues to work closely with the Ketchum Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and local organizations to build awareness and provide public education regarding uphill travel and recreational uses. Our goal is to find a reasonable balance between user groups who share a common interest in recreating within the Sun Valley Special Permit area in a safe, non-confrontational and sustainable manner.
Uphill travel by the way of foot, snowshoes, trax, or skis is not allowed between the operating hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Users must be descending by 9:00 a.m. Exclusions may apply for unusual circumstances. These exclusions may include but not limited to special events, maintenance, etc.
Safety considerations, maintenance or operational requirements, grooming operations, snowmaking operations, special events, avalanche hazard mitigation work, wildlife or resource considerations, or construction, may cause public risk management issues to exist. To protect the public from potential hazards that may exist from time to time, prior to the opening of the ski season, the ski area is authorized, with USFS pre-approval, to close areas subject to those potential hazards and to post signs at uphill access points closing those areas.
Outside of operating hours, there may be circumstances in which the ski area may eliminate uphill traffic or limit or restrict uphill traffic by designating specific times or days or routes that will be available for such use. These circumstances might include safety, maintenance or operational needs, grooming operations, snowmaking operations, special events, avalanche hazard mitigation work, wildlife or resource considerations, or others. The ski area is authorized, with Forest Service pre-approval, to perform any or all of these actions as deemed reasonable and necessary by the ski area.
All participants within the permit boundary are considered skiers and are subject to Idaho Statute title 6 chapter 11, 6-1106 Duties of Skiers.
There may be other circumstances throughout the season requiring closure, such as special events, maintenance, or avalanche mitigation. Every effort is made to allow access to Bald Mountain when it is safe to do so. The River Run and Warm Springs base areas and uphill access points will have signage when closures are needed, reminding and notifying the public of any temporary uphill traffic restrictions. Users are allowed to hike up before 9:00 am and after 4:00 pm when uphill restrictions are not in effect. People hiking up early in the morning must be descending the mountain by 9:00 am