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CENTRAL IDAHO ONE OF THE SUN’S FAVORITEFAVORITE HANGOUTS | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 82 Sawtooth Mountains Hope you don’t mind heights, because you’re about to enter Idaho’s most mountainous region—a jaw-droppingly gorgeous landscape of peaks and passes just waiting to be explored. The jagged Sawtooth Mountains stand guard over the Stanley Basin, an area where end- less hiking, biking, and snowmobile trails wind past cold, clear streams and glacier-carved lakes. Mount Borah, the state’s highest peak at 12,662 feet, looks out over the sweeping plains near Mackay, beckoning hikers and climbers to ascend its slopes. From the small western town of Stanley, travel Highway 75 over Galena Pass to the romantic Sun Valley–Ketchum resort area for world-class skiing and hiking, mountain biking, and art-gallery browsing. Ernest Hemingway settled here in his later years and was particularly fond of the Silver Creek area, now a preserve known for fantastic fly-fishing and its rich habitat for birds, elk, and even moun- tain lions. The Salmon River, ranked by National Geographic as one of the world’s top whitewater adventures, begins in this region. This region is not new to adven- ture—this was the home of Sacajawea, the brave Lemhi-Shoshone woman who served as interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition as they made their way west to the Pacific Ocean. Follow Visit Idaho on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social media channels. VISITIDAHO.ORG | 83 #VisitIdaho CENTRAL IDAHO ‹ DULL MOMENTS DON’T HAVE A CHANCE STANLEY BASIN The premier central Idaho adventure is a guided rafting trip on the Middle Fork Careful now—people have been known of the Salmon River through the Frank to pick up and move to Idaho after a Church–River of No Return Wilderness, visit to Stanley. Its romantic, rugged the largest wilderness area in the Western beauty is one for the picture Lower 48. This trip is five to seven books—maybe because it always wondrous days in the Idaho outdoors, seems to be perfectly cast in a light with crystal-clear waters, natural hot that makes its meadows greener, springs, catch-and-release fishing, and its peaks craggier, and its crooked Dutch-oven riverside dining. Not only fences more rustic. Stanley Basin is is the Middle Fork a national Wild and surrounded by the Boulder-White Scenic River, National Geographic ranks Cloud and Sawtooth Mountains, where it as the third-best whitewater river trip the mighty Salmon River (the “River in the world because of its challenging of No Return”) begins as runoff from Class III and IV rapids, unspoiled Sawtooth snows. Backpackers, hikers, landscape, and abundance of wildlife. mountain bikers, and boaters will find endless adventure within the 756,000- The small town of Stanley sits in the acre Sawtooth National Recreation heart of this area—and actually right at Salmon River Area, including 700-plus miles of trails, the junction of three very picturesque hundreds of alpine lakes, and 40 peaks routes: Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway over 10,000 feet. Same goes for the on Highway 21, Salmon River Scenic Sawtooth Wilderness, just west. Stop Byway on Highways 93 and 75, and the by the visitor center north of Ketchum Sawtooth Scenic Byway on Highway 75. on Highway 75 or the Redfish Visitor You’ll find plentiful cabins and motels Center at Redfish Lake for maps and in and around Stanley for your year- trail recommendations. The kids will round excursions. Enjoy a rustic-luxe love Redfish Lake’s sandy beach and guest ranch vacation at the Idaho easy trails, and you’ll love the view. Rocky Mountain Ranch, where you can set out on any number of outdoor | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 84 Follow Visit Idaho on all your favorite social media channels. #VisitIdaho Gourmet Dining adventures and then return for a swim Head to The Kneadery for its signature in a hot springs pool or stargazing from breakfasts and locally baked breads in a rocking chair on the front porch. a cozy, rustic setting; or sample coffee, wine, and nibbles at the sleek new SUN VALLEY & KETCHUM Velocio; or savor Idaho trout, wood- Sun Valley is the West’s storied ski fired pizza, and homemade desserts resort, with a long history of movie at Enoteca. Perry’s serves up casual, stars and other royalty escaping to family-friendly fare; for steak and local its secluded slopes. Today, people game, try Pioneer Saloon on Main come from all over to experience the Street or the Cornerstone Bar & Grill. Sun Valley old-world charm of this cozy alpine The Sun Valley-Ketchum area is part village on the edge of the wilderness. of the larger Wood River Valley, where You’ll find deluxe accommodations you can spend many happy days throughout the resort, from condos discovering trails and quiet fishing and cottages to the historic Sun Valley spots amid quaking aspen groves, Lodge. This is definitely the year to dense mountain forests, and wildflower visit; in June 2015, the Lodge will have meadows. Book a day or sunset trip completed expansive renovations, along the Big Wood River and Silver unveiling beautifully refurbished guest Creek with the top-notch fly fishermen rooms and a new 20,000-square-foot and women at Silver Creek Outfitters; full-service spa and salon with saunas, they’re passionate about teaching the a yoga studio, and stunning views of sport to beginners, too. Take it all in Mount Baldy. Sun Valley is bustling from above and add elevation to your year-round—so come hit the greens vacation on a paragliding adventure at its beautiful golf courses, take a with Fly Sun Valley. guided trail ride at Sun Valley Stables, and watch world-class figure skaters In March, independent cinema comes practice and perform at the Lodge’s to screens around town during the ice rink; the popular Sun Valley on Ice Sun Valley Film Festival. Readers and show runs Saturday nights all summer writers gather in July for the Sun Valley long. Also, almost every evening in Writer’s Conference and in September summer, catch national headliners, for the Ernest Hemingway Festival. local bands, or the Sun Valley Summer You’ll find motivation and massages Symphony at the Sun Valley Pavilion. at the annual Sun Valley Wellness Take a scenic ride on the Roundhouse Festival over Memorial Day weekend. Express Gondola up to the top of Mount Discover and cook regional cuisine Ketchum Baldy, where you can hike, bike, or with nationally recognized chefs at enjoy a meal and an awesome view at the Sun Valley Harvest Festival each the Roundhouse restaurant. September. This valley gives a big nod to its Western roots with events like the Less than a mile away is the mountain Hailey Rodeo over the Fourth of July, town of Ketchum, where Ernest the Wagon Days & Big Hitch Parade on Hemingway spent his last years, from Labor Day weekend, and the Trailing of the late 1950s until his death in 1961. the Sheep Festival each October. Take time to browse Ketchum’s many shops and galleries, grab a drink at the famous Whiskey Jacques’, and choose from an eclectic array of eateries for a taste of regional cuisine. REGIONAL INFO Redfish Lake ‹ LARGEST CITY HAILEY Population – 7,920 ‹ REGIONAL CLIMATE Summer Average High – 85° Winter Average High – 30° Annual Precipitation – 10" ‹ ELEVATION Highest – 12,662' (Mt. Borah) Lowest – 2,875' (Salmon River) Sawtooth Mountains REGIONAL MAP CENTRAL IDAHO ‹ ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS C 93 North Fork Salmon River Scenic Byway A Salmon Lemhi River 28 Tendoy B Lewis & Clark 93 Backcountry Byway Leadore Middle Fork of Salmon River Challis Land of the Yankee C Fork State Park Sacajawea Ponderosa Pine Historic Byway Scenic Byway Bonanza SCENIC DRIVES F Custer Peaks to Craters 75 Scenic Byway 21 Little Lost 28 D River ‹ Salmon River Scenic Byway Stanley A 208-727-5013 Big Lost River 22 ‹ Lewis & Clark Backcountry Byway Mackay 33 B 93 208-756-2100 Sawtooth 93 33 ‹ Sacajawea Historic Byway Scenic Byway C E 800-727-2540 ‹ Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway Sun Valley Arco D 20 208-527-8977 Ketchum B 26 ‹ Sawtooth Scenic Byway 26 E Hailey 208-774-3411 Craters of A Bellevue Silver 93 the Moon ‹ Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway Picabo Creek F 208-727-5013 Fairfield Big Wood River Carey 20 Magic Res. For video, itineraries, and 46 93 75 a state byway guide, go to visitidaho.org/scenic-byways. SKI AREAS A ‹ Soldier Mountain Ski Resort soldiermountain.com B ‹ Sun Valley Resort sunvalley.com C ‹ Lost Trail Powder Mountain losttrail.com skiidaho.us | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 86 If you’re not staying at the Sun Valley Ridge causes many to turn back close resort, Ketchum and the nearby town to the top. The mountainous terrain of Hailey offer an assortment of hotels surrounding Mackay is ideal for hiking, ‹ and bed-and-breakfast inns. Try the biking, and backcountry drives; a fun ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS beautiful Knob Hill Inn for upscale drive is the self-guided Mackay Mine comfort and breakfast by the fire. Hill Tour, which gives you a glimpse into the area’s mining heritage. If you’re into Silver Lake C FAIRFIELD off-road action, join fellow OHVers for 93 There’s more than meets the eye near scenic and technical riding at the pop- the tiny rural town of Fairfield. Tons ular Rally in the Pines ATV event each of year-round recreation awaits in the July.