CENTRAL IDAHO ONE OF THE SUN’S FAVORITEFAVORITE HANGOUTS | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 18 Redfish Lake Hope you don’t mind heights, because you’re about to enter Idaho’s most moun- tainous region—a jaw-dropping gorgeous landscape of peaks and passes just waiting to be explored. The jagged Sawtooth Mountains stand guard over the Stanley Basin, an area where endless 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 mountain lions. The Salmon River, ranked by National Geographic as one of the world’s top white- water adventures, begins in this region. This region is not new to adventure—this was the home of Sacajawea, the brave Lemhi-Shoshone woman who served as interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expe- dition as they made their way west to the Pacific Ocean. For more central Idaho adventures, go to visitidaho.org/central Follow Visit Idaho on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media channels. visitidaho.org | 19 #VisitIdaho CENTRAL IDAHO ‹ DULL MOMENTS DON’T STAND A CHANCE Elephant’s Perch Highway 21 to Stanley STANLEY BASIN Center for maps and trail recommenda- tions. The kids will love Redfish Lake’s Careful now—people have been known sandy beach and easy trails, and you’ll to pick up and move to Idaho after a love the view. visit to Stanley. Its romantic, rugged Western beauty is one for the picture The premier central Idaho adventure is books—maybe because it always a guided rafting trip on the Middle Fork seems to be perfectly cast in a light that of the Salmon River through the Frank makes its meadows greener, its peaks Church–River of No Return Wilderness, craggier, and its crooked fences more the largest wilderness area in the rustic. Stanley Basin is surrounded by Lower 48. This trip is five to seven the Boulder–White Cloud Mountains— wondrous days in the Idaho outdoors, portions of which were designated as with crystal-clear waters, natural hot wilderness in 2015—and the Sawtooth springs, catch-and-release fishing, and Mountains, where the mighty Salmon Dutch-oven riverside dining. Not only River begins as runoff from winter is the Middle Fork a national Wild and snows. Backpackers, hikers, mountain Scenic River, National Geographic ranks bikers, horseback riders, and boaters it as the third-best whitewater river trip will find endless adventure within in the world because of its challenging the 756,000-acre Sawtooth National Class III and IV rapids, unspoiled Recreation Area, including 700-plus landscape, and abundance of wildlife. miles of trails, hundreds of alpine Stanley sits in the heart of this area, at lakes, and 40 peaks over 10,000 feet. Salmon River the junction of three very picturesque Just east in the Jim McClure–Jerry Peak routes: Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway Wilderness, sagebrush gives way to on Highway 21, Salmon River Scenic alpine tundra, a landscape that’s home Byway on Highways 93 and 75, and the to some of Idaho’s best wildlife habitat. Sawtooth Scenic Byway on Highway 75. Stop by the Stanley Sawtooth Chamber You’ll find plentiful cabins and motels of Commerce for maps and adventure in and around Stanley for year-round information or the Redfish Lake Visitor excursions. Enjoy a rustic-luxe vacation | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 20 Follow Visit Idaho on all your favorite social media channels. #VisitIdaho at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, where all summer long. Also, almost every you can set out on any number of out- evening in summer, catch national door adventures and return to stargaze headliners, local bands, or the Sun from a rocking chair on the front porch. Valley Summer Symphony at the Sun Kick off any adventure with the coveted Valley Pavilion. homemade cinnamon rolls from the Less than a mile away is the mountain Stanley Baking Company and Cafe. town of Ketchum, where Ernest SUN VALLEY/ Hemingway spent his final years. Browse Ketchum’s many shops and art KETCHUM/HAILEY Sun Valley galleries, grab a drink at the famous A stay in the Wood River Valley is pure, Whiskey Jacques’, and choose from iconic Idaho: outdoor beauty, the arts, an eclectic array of eateries for a taste and pastoral tradition. Spend days dis- of regional cuisine. Head to Cristina’s covering trails and quiet fishing spots for a casual Tuscan-inspired breakfast, amid quaking aspen groves and wild- brunch, or lunch, complete with flower meadows. Book a fly-fishing trip fresh-baked breads; enjoy distinctive along the Wood River and Silver Creek Northwest cuisine in the garden at Preserve, or take it all in from above the Grill at Knob Hill; or find a more on a paragliding adventure. Discover industrial, Mediterranean vibe at Town the area’s vibrant arts community by Square Tavern. Rasberrys is a cozy local visiting its many art galleries, joining favorite, offering eclectic, organic eats. a monthly Gallery Walk, or catching a Tuesday evenings in summer, take in Company of Fools performance at the the free concert series, Ketch’em Alive, historic Liberty Theatre. in Forest Service Park. Sun Valley is the West’s storied ski In March, independent cinema comes resort, with a long history of movie to screens around town during the Sun stars and other royalty escaping to Valley Film Festival. Meet area visual its secluded slopes. Today, people artists in their creative spaces during come from all over to experience the August’s Wood River Valley Studio Tour. old-world charm of this cozy alpine Yoga, massage, and inspiration are the village on the edge of the wilderness. focus of the annual Sun Valley Wellness You’ll find deluxe accommodations Festival over Memorial Day weekend, throughout the resort, from condos and bikers enjoy rides, races, and and cottages to the historic Sun clinics at the annual Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival each summer. The valley Bench Lakes Valley Lodge. Luxurious guest rooms, a full-service spa, a yoga studio, and gives a nod to its Western roots with boutique shops make the Lodge a events like the Hailey Rodeo over the premier luxury destination. Sun Valley Fourth of July, the Wagon Days & Big is bustling year-round—come hit the Hitch Parade on Labor Day weekend, greens at its beautiful golf courses, and the Trailing of the Sheep Festival take a guided trail ride at Sun Valley each October. Stables, and watch world-class figure skaters practice and perform at the Lodge’s ice rink; the popular Sun Valley on Ice show runs Saturday nights REGIONAL INFO Sun Valley Lodge ‹ LARGEST CITY HAILEY Population: 8,218 ‹ REGIONAL CLIMATE Summer Average High: 80° Winter Average High: 33° Annual Precipitation: 17" ‹ ELEVATION Highest: 12,662' (Mt. Borah) Lowest: 2,875' (Salmon River) Redfish Lake REGIONAL MAP CENTRAL IDAHO ‹ ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS C Rest Area 93 North Fork Salmon River Scenic Byway A Salmon Lemhi River 28 Tendoy B Lewis & Clark 93 Back Country Byway ‹ EXPLORE IDAHO PARKS! Leadore ‹ Craters of the Moon National Monument Middle Fork of and Preserve Salmon River Challis ‹ Land of the Yankee Fork State Park Land of the Yankee C Fork State Park Sacajawea Ponderosa Pine Historic Byway Scenic Byway Bonanza SCENIC DRIVES F Custer Peaks to Craters 75 21 Scenic Byway Little Lost River 28 D ‹ Salmon River Scenic Byway Stanley A 208-727-5013 Big Lost River 22 ‹ Lewis & Clark Back Country Byway Mackay 33 B 93 208-756-2100 Sawtooth Scenic Byway 33 ‹ Sacajawea Historic 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 Craters of the 208-774-3411 Moon National A Bellevue Silver Monument and ‹ Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway Creek Preserve F Fairfield Magic Res. Picabo 208-727-5013 Carey Rest Area For additional information, 20 Big Wood 46 River 26 75 go to visitidaho.org/things-to-do/ state-parks-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 22 Salmon River If you’re not staying at the Sun Valley MACKAY Resort, Ketchum and the nearby town of Hailey offer an assortment of hotels Mackay is a rugged sight, its western downtown silhouetted by the crags ‹ OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS and bed-and-breakfast inns. Enjoy craft ENJOY ales from Hailey’s two breweries at the of the towering Lost River Range. It’s Sawtooth Brewery and the Sun Valley the closest town to Mount Borah—at Brewing Company. 12,662 feet, the state’s tallest peak, C earning it its “Top of Idaho” nickname. Most seasoned hikers can climb Borah Rest FAIRFIELD Area in a day, but the famed Chicken-Out Craters of the Moon 93 There’s more than meets the eye near Ridge causes many to turn back close the tiny rural town of Fairfield. The to the top.