(Area Code: 208)

The Sun Valley/Ketchum area has about 210 km. of trails overall. The closest facilities are at the Sun Valley Nordic Center (622-2250 or 622-2251), within walking distance of the Sun Valley Lodge, where 41 km. of cross-country ski trails are groomed and marked for difficulty; 4 km. are dog friendly. Lessons are available. The Atlas Snowshoe Center rents snowshoes for the 6 km. of free designated snowshoe trails.

SUN VALLEY CROSS-COUNTRY PAGES

The Blaine County Recreation District grooms the North Valley Trails, which have more than 100 km. of groomed trails in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area supported by set trail fees or donations. Dogs are welcome to accompany you on 30 km. of designated groomed trails. The largest center is Galena Lodge (726-4010; grooming report, 726-6662) with 56 km. of trails, a full restaurant and a ski shop. It also has a 15- km. snowshoe trail and snowshoe rentals. A popular event is dinner followed by moonlit skiing, or star gazing dinners with local astronomers. Call Galena Lodge to inquire about waxing clinics and free weekly clinics for beginners to racers. At 11 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday you can snowshoe with a ranger and learn about natural history and wildlife. Snowshoes are complimentary and these tours are free if you already have a trail pass. Galena is 24 miles north of Ketchum on Hwy. 75. There is a bus that runs from Sun Valley North to Galena at 10 a.m. and then returns at 2 p.m., so there is no need to bring a car to access the North Valley Trails.

Wood River Trails features 30 km. of trails stretching north of Ketchum to Hailey and Bellevue. Lake Creek has 15.5 km. of trails, and three other areas have less than 10 km. each. The Boulder Mountain Trail stretches 30 km. from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters 8 miles north of Ketchum to Easley Hot Springs and Galena, and is groomed all winter, snow conditions permitting.

Avalanche and snow condition reports are available 24 hours a day from the Ketchum Ranger District (622-8027). North Valley Trails (726-6662) maintains a grooming hotline.

For backcountry tours through the largest wilderness area outside Alaska, contact either Sun Valley Trekking (788-1966) or Sawtooth Mountain Guides (774-3324). Both feature hut-to-hut skiing and the opportunity to stay in yurts as well.