Mountain living in Sun Valley
Sun Valley is a resort city in the Wood River Valley in Blaine County, Idaho. Known for the popular Sun Valley Resort and the alpine ski area of Bald and Dollar mountains, the city has become a sought-after vacation retreat and seasonal home destination. The famous resort anchors the city and is one of the major employers in Sun Valley, alongside St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, which is just outside city limits. “Sun Valley is a four-season resort town and is a very active community,” says Joanne Wetherell, a Realtor at Re/Max of Sun Valley with over 15 years of experience. “It’s for people who love nature and the outdoors.”
Eclectic real estate options in Sun Valley
Homes in Sun Valley are often perched along mountainous hills and forests. “It’s a market that has a lot of demand but has less inventory,” Wetherell says. “Sun Valley is more of an older, established area compared to Ketchum, and single-family homes usually start at over $3.5 million.” Single-family dwellings can list from $1.3 million to just under $5 million, and larger custom-built elaborate cabins and cottages can go from $5 million to over $15 million. Townhouses can sell from $1.2 million for a two-bedroom to over $4 million for a newly built four- or five-bedroom home. One-bedroom condos from the 1960s or '70s may start around $390,000, and two-bedroom units may list just under $1 million. Newer condos in golf course communities or the mountains can reach nearly $3 million.
Outdoor activities around Sun Valley and Ketchum
There are miles of trails, two ice-skating rinks, and three golf courses around Sun Valley. Hemingway Memorial has peaceful walking trails and a sculpture commemorating the famed writer. “Everyone goes to Dollar Mountain and Bald Mountain to ski,” Wetherell says. People can hike at the Sun Valley Trail or the 20-mile Wood River Trail. Mountain biking is permitted at Greenhorn Gulch and Warm Springs Road. Places such as the Big Wood River offer fly fishing, and Sun Valley Lake allows canoeing and paddle boating.
Cultural events in the city and ski competitions at Sun Valley Resort
The town offers many festivals and celebrations throughout the year, including the Sun Valley Music Festival, Sun Valley Film Festival and Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival. Other events include brew tastings, wine auctions, car shows and heritage celebrations such as the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which marks the annual tradition of migrating sheep from the mountains down to the valley. In addition, Sun Valley Resort hosts many ski competitions and events, including the World Cup Finals in 2025.
Blaine County School District serves the resort community
Blaine County School District serves the community of Sun Valley. Prospective primary schools include Bellevue Elementary School and Hailey Elementary School, with a B and a B-minus grade from Niche, respectively. Ranked by Niche as the No. 2 best public elementary school in Blaine County, Ernest Hemingway STEAM School has an A-minus and serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade. Wood River Middle School and Wood River High School both rate a B-plus. Wood River High provides many career pathway programs for students, including curricula for medical assistance, engineering, information technology and business management.
Shopping and dining options in Ketchum and Sun Valley
Sun Valley Mall is home to a variety of businesses and restaurants, including the bakery and breakfast spot, Konditorei, and Village Station, which serves classic American fare. The abutting town of Ketchum has more eateries, grocery stores like Village Market and boutiques along Main Street. From June to October, Wood River’s farmers market is available for residents to buy local produce and goods.
Getting to Sun Valley by air or car
The town is accessible via Idaho State Highway 75. Twin Falls is about 85 miles south of Sun Valley, and Boise Airport and the city are about 155 miles west. In the winter season, people on the West Coast may fly directly into Sun Valley Friedman Memorial Airport, and there are nonstop flights from Salt Lake City and Denver year-round. Occasionally, severe winter snowstorms may cause flight delays and cancellations. Within Sun Valley, people can take Mountain Rides buses to navigate Ketchum, Sun Valley and Hailey. St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center is right outside the city limits.
