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Fall Mountain Biking in Sun Valley, Idaho
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Stopping to enjoy the view from the top of the Fox Creekride
Summer may be gone, but Labor Day marks the beginning of some of the best riding in southern and central Idaho. Sun Valley is perhaps the best-known mountain biking area in Idaho, and fall has got to be it’s best season.
The days are a little cooler and shorter, but the aspen trees are just starting to turn, giving a golden glow to the trails that wind through their groves. While the trails around Sun Valley are never really crowded, the tourists have gone home and the vibe in town and on the singletrack is a little more relaxed than it was just a few weeks ago.
For those that have never been to Sun Valley, the first thing to learn is there area is really two towns: Ketchum, and Sun Valley. Ketchum is the “downtown area”, while Sun Valley is the resort itself (including the two ski hills) and most of the homes that lie east of Ketchum. Not too big of a deal, but some people get confused when they get directions to a place in Ketchum.
Entire books such as Greg McRobert’s Mountain Biking Sun Valley (originally published as Good Dirt) have been written about the trails in and around Sun Valley, but many great trails are grouped together in a few key areas near town.
The turnoff to Corral Creek, with Bald Mountain in the background
Riders who live at lower elevations or that just want a relatively easy ride might want to try Corral Creek. While Corral Creek can be ridden as an out and back on singletrack, but a great way for families or casual riders to enjoy the ride is to ride out on the road and then return on the trail. Using the intersection of Sun Valley Road and Saddle Road as a starting point, head northeast (away from town) on Sun Valley Rd. or the bikink/hiking path that parallels it for 4 miles. Turn right on Corral Creek Rd,, which is a little less than ½ mile after you cross over Trail Creek. Pedal a mile and a half up Corral Creek until you come to a “Y” in the road at an old sheep corral. Bear right and look for the signed trailhead at the base of the trees. The singletrack climbs a little bit and then becomes a roller coaster through evergreen forests, aspen groves, and open grassland. Follow the trail back about 4 miles to Trail Creek Cabin on the right. Cross over the bridge and head back up to Sun Valley Rd. Turn left and head back 2 miles to the resort for some food and drink.
Here's your sign...
The Adams Gulch and Fox Creek areas just north of town both have a series of trails that can be linked together for all abilities. The Adam’s Gulch trail is a 7 mile ride is a moderate to difficult ride with about 1350 feet of climbing, but a spectacular view from the top and a fun run through the aspen groves. Riders looking for something more will want to ride the full Adams Gulch Trail, which is a 14 mile loop. Lane’s and Sunnyside offer a 3.5 mile option to those with less time on their hands. Add about 5 miles to the rides if you ride from Ketchum.
Fox Creek is about 4 miles from town. The 6.5 mile Fox Creek loop gains about 700 feet in elevation. Most of that is in one climb, though, so be prepared for some work. The view from the top is spectacular, and fans of the mountain biking movie ROAM will recognize the sign at the beginning of the fantastic downhill. This is a popular hiking trail, though, so beware of hikers coming up the trail. Riders looking for longer rides can tie in the Chocolate Gulch trail.
The Greenhorn Gulch area 6 miles south of town has a series of longer loops for experienced riders. All of the loops start with sustained climbs leading to beautiful views from the ridge and spectacular downhills through wildflowers with great views. Some of the more popular rides are Greenhorn Gulch to Imperial Gulch, Greenhorn Gulch to Mahoney Creek, and Mahoney Creek to Lodgepole Gulch. Each of those rides is about 10 miles long and can be hooked with each other for longer rides.
Stop by any of the bike shops in Ketchum and pick up a local trail book or a copy of Adventure Maps’ Sun Valley Trail map to get detailed information and up-to-date trail information. Some of the better shops is town include:
Backwoods Mountain Sports
Durrance Cycleworks
Elephant’s Perch
Sturto’s
Sun Summit Ski and Cycle
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