Accessible via Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, the Sun Valley/Ketchum region is located in Idaho’s Northern Rocky Mountains. Few residents live in Sun Valley year round, however the area attracts thousands of visitors per year, particularly those interested in skiing, hiking, and trail riding and these free things to do will help make a visit there an affordable family vacation.
Though famous for its winter attractions (the region gets 150-200 inches of snow annually), the average winter temperature is a brisk 23 degrees. Typical summer temps are in the upper 70s, and the valley averages 250 days of sunshine per year.
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1. Ketch’em Alive Gather on Tuesday nights in Forest Service Park to hear local bands and headliners. Picnics are welcome. 7 p.m. – June-August.
2. Wagon Days Festival includes a parade, antique fairs, an Old West Shoot-out, and live music. Labor Day weekend in Ketchum.
3. Webb Concert Series – Live music in downtown Ketchum every Saturday from 4-7 p.m. January-March.
4. July 4th Celebration Live music, a kids carnival, and lots of treats. Downtown Ketchum.
5. Heritage & Ski Museum Includes exhibits on sheep ranching in Ketchum, early skiing history, and Ernest Hemingway’s Idaho experience. Open Monday-Saturday. Forest Service Park.
6. Trails All hiking, biking, and walking trails in the Sun Valley/Ketchum area are free of charge. Five minutes from town is a trail head that leads to hundreds of miles of single-track trails.
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I’ve been to Wagon Days for the past 3 years. It’s a real slice of Americana: there’s a gun fight, a parade, a pancake breakfast. Lots of fun. Lots of locals…