SUN VALLEY, ID
Physical Exertion: Int-Adv / Technical Ability: Intermediate
What to expect in Sun Valley: Long climbs, long descents, epic views and big days on the bike!
Sun Valley, Idaho sits at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains, one of most scenic mountain ranges in the United States. The landscape and views alone are worth a visit to Sun Valley, but we tend to focus on the abundance of singletrack in the area. With over 400 miles of trails, all interconnected and close to town, it’s yet another perfect Chasing Epic destination.
Between Sun Valley and north to Galena Pass, you’ll find big mountain riding with huge views, long climbs, and long descents that will have you grinning from ear to ear. The topography lends itself to some amazing high-country riding, with long drainages, huge mountain ridges, and plenty of forests and flowers to keep things tip-top. To the west of town is the true backcountry experience, where we’ll show you epic descents with not a soul in sight. Then head south of town towards Hailey, and you’ll find the low-elevation rides like Greenhorn-Imperial, which are right up there with the best and offer some of the most fun 15-20 mile loops we’ve ridden anywhere.
By partnering with the local crew at Sun Valley Mountain Guides, we’re able to put together amazing itineraries that most folks can only dream of! But make sure you bring your climbing legs and high-altitude lungs because we’ve got some big days planned!
Airport Options: Sun Valley (10 minutes) – Boise (2.5 hrs) – SLC (4 hrs)
INTERACTIVE SUN VALLEY TRAIL MAP
Expected Itinerary
Day One: Arrival day! On the first day of our trip, plan to meet at our designated lodging around 5-6pm that evening. We’ll do a quick introduction, followed by bike setups, a welcome dinner and drinks. The first night is meant to be social and relaxing, as we’re getting ready for four big days on the bike! (Please note: with both a summer and fall trip in 2025, the itineraries will likely be a bit different to take advantage of the different riding conditions).
Day Two: Edge of the World back to town. Today’s ride is going to be BIG, so make sure you put in the miles leading up to your trip. We’ll hop in our shuttle vans to head about 20 minutes north of town, where we’ll tackle Oregon Gulch before heading back into town hitting Chocolate Gulch, Fox Creek, Harper’s and more including a couple incredible descents and flow trails. It’s amazing to see the different trails we’ll experience today, all so “close” to town.
Day Three: Castle Creek to Greenhorn Gulch. Today’s ride will be both mind-blowing and limit-pushing, so be sure to eat a BIG breakfast this morning to fuel up for today’s adventure. After about a mile of fairly steady climbing, we’ll quickly veer off onto Castle Creek, where we’re rewarded with an amazing 7-mile descent down the gulch (and along the creek) towards Warm Springs. Go ahead, take a minute to wipe the smile off your face. From there, we’ll have a pretty steady (and sometimes punchy) climb up into the Warm Springs backcountry before a couple of incredible descents all the way south of town to end in Greenhorn Gulch. This one’s gonna be good.
Day Four: Osberg Ridge. Osberg’s all the way back to town is an absolute classic, but make sure you’ve got the legs and lungs to tackle it. Expect long climbs, huge views, incredible singletrack, and some rugged backcountry riding. We’ll end at world-famous Lefty’s for a post-ride beer and a snack, before heading back to the house for a hearty dinner.
Day Five: Greenhorn Gulch Loops. Today’s our last day in Sun Valley, but we’re going to treat you to one of our favorite “short loops” anywhere… just south of town in Greenhorn Gulch. Greenhorn-Imperial is an incredible 11 mile, 2000′ loop that is the perfect topper for an incredible trip. If you’re feeling good on today’s ride and want a little more, we’re happy to add some climbing and descending to make it a longer ride too!
