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VALLEY OF AWARENESS

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A SPIRITUAL VALLEY

A SPIRITUAL VALLEY

#7 GO WILD

Action: Go Wild

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Intention: Inspiring scenery is abundant in and around the Wood River Valley. When wildlife crosses your path, take a moment to take it in.

Information: Phantom Hill is just north of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, approximately 8 miles north of Ketchum on Hwy. 75. You can see deer, elk, moose, the occasional wolf, and pronghorn in this area. Early morning or late evening is best for wildlife viewing. If driving after dark, drive under the recommended speed limit as wildlife may be on the road.

You can typically see elk just north of Hailey on Hwy. 75; hence, the reduced nighttime speed limit. For additional bird and wildlife viewing—and world-renowned trout fishing—visit The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve.

Take Hwy. 75 south through Bellevue and take a left on Gannett Road. Follow Gannett Road until it comes to a T. Take a right (west) on Hwy. 20 for approximately 1/2 mile and look for the sign for Silver Creek Preserve. Take a left (south) onto Kilpatrick Bridge Road and follow it until you get to the Preserve Visitor Center.

Silver Creek is a fly-fishing paradise and strict regulations apply. Be sure to check with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for any further wildlife questions or regulations.

#8 HAPPY TRAILS

Action: Happy Trails

Intention: Looking for a steep thrill? Seek solitude along winding switchbacks on an enjoyable loop with historical ski area relics and views of Ketchum.

Information: The Proctor Loop Trail can be done in either direction, but the recommended direction starts with the left fork indicated by the signpost.

The trail starts out wide and flat but quickly becomes single-track with a fine gravel and dirt surface, making for very smooth, easy travel. The highpoint of the trail skirts the flank of its namesake, Proctor Mountain (7,798 feet), sweeping through scrubby sage and becoming very slightly rockier.

The descent eases approaching Ruud Mountain with its single-seat chairlift, built in 1938. The Ruud chairlift, which operated until the early 1960s, was the third chairlift installed in this area. The first operating chairlift in the world was built in 1936 on Proctor Mountain, and its remnants can still be found in the grass.

Bikes are not allowed on this trail.

To get there from Sun Valley Inn, turn left on Dollar Road and follow it to the four-way stop sign. Continue straight onto Fairway Road and park at the end of the road.

#9 TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

Action: Take the High Road

Intention: For the avid hiker, a steadily climbing loop hike in the Pioneer Mountains offers sweeping views of peaks in the Pioneer, Smoky and Boulder mountains. This dog-friendly, 8.5-mile loop takes about three to five hours. Hiking the loop counterclockwise puts most of the “up” in the shade. Crossing the creek at the trailhead, the path climbs steadily up 23 switchbacks through a cool forest. The trail continues up, becoming more high alpine and opening into a meadow. Finally, a last push toward the saddle rewards with spectacular views of Hyndman and Cobb peaks and ridges in every direction, as well as the historic Pioneer Cabin just below.

Pack a snack to enjoy at Pioneer Cabin, originally built by Sun Valley Company in the 1930s to encourage alpine skiing. The roof of the cabin offers an Idaho-style motto, “The Higher You Get, The Higher You Get.”

Information: Stop in at the Ketchum Ranger District office at 206 Sun Valley Road in downtown Ketchum for a free map and to get the latest trail conditions. To get to the trailhead, head east on Sun Valley Road from Starbucks for 2.3 miles, continue onto NF-51/Trail Creek Road for 2.7 miles, turn right onto NF137 and continue for 3.8 miles, then make a slight right onto Forest Road 137. Your destination will be on the left.

#10 WALK WITH GOATS

Action: Walk With Goats

Intention: Advanced hikers love the Norton Lakes hike. This 6.8-mile hike has a total elevation gain of 2,250 feet and takes 3 to 4 hours.

Information: To get to the trailhead from downtown Ketchum, drive north on Hwy. 75 for 15 miles. Turn left, or west, between mile markers 143 and 144, onto Baker Creek Road, also known as Forest Road 162. Follow FR 162 for 5.9 miles to FR 170. Turn right and follow this dirt road another 1.3 miles to the road’s end. All roads are suitable for passenger cars.

Hike to the upper Norton Lake. From there, cross the outlet stream. With each step, the views down to the Norton lakes become more and more remarkable. Look for mountain goats, which can often be seen teetering on the rocky edges near the top! For a great lunch spot, go left, or southwest, along the saddle for 500 feet to a rock outcropping. From the saddle, there is a path that leads north and climbs 450 feet to the top of Norton Peak.

For more information contact the Ketchum Ranger District at (208) 622-5371.

VALLEY OF AWARENESS

Ajna, the third-eye chakra, represents human awareness. Experiences to make us woke-er can be found here.

#11 AIRPORT ARTPORT

Action: Airport Artport

Intention: Whether you are flying out of town or not, let your mind’s eye take a trip.

Information: Each spring, the Bellevue Artist Alliance offers local artists a chance to display their work at Friedman Memorial Airport over the summer. This year, BAA artists Lee Higman, Marie Stewart and Mark Sheehan all have work in the Spring Airport Art Exhibit.

#12 PAINT THE TOWN

Action: Paint the Town

Intention: Each year, the Sun Valley Gallery Association (SVGA) hosts multiple gallery walks (exhibition openings for all SVGA galleries), which are eagerly anticipated and free to the public. Locals and visitors alike take in thought-provoking exhibitions of newly installed art, enjoy wine, mingle with friends, and often meet the artists.

Information: Gallery Walks take place from 5–7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The 2022 schedule is as follows: • Friday, July 8 • Friday, August 5 • Friday, September 2

#13 ALL STATUES MATTER

Action: All Statues Matter

Intention: All art is 3-dimensional to a degree. Sculpture is by definition 3D. Put yourself in the middle of a perspective shift going on annually right now in Ketchum’s downtown.

Information: In its fourteenth year, Art on Fourth has become an exciting part of Ketchum’s summer attractions, presenting artwork by diverse artists ranging from locals to those of national standing. Past exhibitors include Rod Kagan, Boaz Vaadia, Gwynn Murrill, Steve Jensen, Will Robinson and Rudi Broschofsky, among others.

Original 3-dimensional artwork by this year’s selected artists will be displayed in outdoor public spaces along Ketchum’s Fourth Street Heritage Corridor from June through October.

#14 NATURAL HISTORY STOP-IN

Action: Natural History Stop-in

Intention: The Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters Visitor Center is the southern gateway to the majestic landscapes of the Sawtooth Mountains. The Visitor Center features a wide range of information services, compelling educational programs, video presentations, audio tour tapes and natural history exhibits. There is also an RV dump station, gift

shop, ADA access, restrooms and tape tours available. The tape tours are free on loan to area visitors and describe the U.S. Forest Service management of the SNRA, geology, history and natural history.

There are also abundant trails easily reachable from the Visitor Center, such as the North Fork Trail, and picnic and camping sites along the North Fork of the Big Wood River. Be sure to pick up a map of the area.

Information: The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by making a 10-minute drive north on Hwy. 75 from the Ketchum/Sun Valley area. Call (208) 727-5013 for details.

#15 TREASURE THE DAY

Action: Treasure the Day

Intention: The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve is a world-class, spring-fed stream filled with trophy trout. Silver Creek is also a great area to explore in an innertube, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or canoe. Schools of fish dart under watercraft, and big trout lurk in the shadows. You’ll surely see waterfowl, herons, marsh wrens and many other birds. If you’re lucky, you may even see a muskrat or a moose.

We recommend putting in at Silver Creek West and floating down to the Point of Rocks campground. It’s possible to float farther; however, it can get weedy, less comfortable and take more time. Always respect anglers: stay quiet, don’t splash the water and float behind anglers when you pass.

Information: To get there, drive south on Hwy. 75, turn left at the flashing light at Timmerman Junction onto U.S. Hwy. 20 and drive 7 miles east to Kilpatrick Bridge Road, where there’s a sign that says Silver Creek Preserve. Turn right and follow the road to the Visitor Center.

#16 BIG FISH, LITTLE FISH

Action: Big Fish, Little Fish

Intention: Break out the fishing pole and dust off the camper. Open year-round, Little Wood Reservoir offers boat ramps, a campground with restrooms, picnic tables, swimming and fishing. The glassy morning conditions also entice waterskiers out during the summer months.

Anglers, keep your eyes peeled for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout at this location. Pack a lunch, sit back, relax and let the fish come to you.

Information: Little Wood Reservoir is located about 10 miles north of Carey on Little Wood Reservoir Road off of U.S. 93/26.

#17 SAY HI TO THE FISHES

Action: Say Hi to the Fishes

Intention: Built in 1907, Hayspur Fish Hatchery was the first Idaho hatchery. Today, fish culture facilities include an incubation building with 23 vertical eight-tray Heath-type incubator stacks for trout eggs, a hatchery building with 20 early rearing vats, 15 covered 24-foot circular ponds, four small raceways and six large production raceways.

Visitors can enjoy a tour of the grounds, an on-site public campground, a trophy stream fishery and family fishing waters at Gavers Lagoon, which is regularly stocked with rainbow trout and has a six-fish limit with no gear restrictions. Additionally, the location is a great place for physically challenged individuals and children to fish.

Information: To get there from Bellevue, follow Hwy. 75 for one-half mile and turn left onto Gannett Road. Follow Gannett Road for 11.8 miles and turn right (west) onto U.S. Hwy. 20 for one mile. Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Place and the destination will be on your right after a half mile.

#18 A PATH TO FUN

Action: A Path to Fun

Intention: One era’s train track is another era’s leisurely bike path. Enjoy one of the community’s many shining stars—the Wood River Trail, also referred to by locals as the “bike path.” Created by a group of visionary citizens and the Blaine County Recreation District, with support of the community, the yearround paved pathway is more than 20 miles long and connects the communities of Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley while winding through the local scenery and nature.

Almost all of the local bike shops offer day rentals for those without a bike. While on the trail, keep dogs on leashes and be sure to bring doggie pick-up bags.

Information: Visit the BCRD website for a map of the route at bcrd.org/wood-river-trail-summer.php.

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#19 PONDERING ‘PAPA’

Action: Pondering ‘Papa’

Intention: Grab a notebook and pen and head to this thinking spot to contemplate the ambiguity and subtleties of life Hemingway made so clear.

Information: The Ketchum/Sun Valley area was Ernest Hemingway’s summer home from the 1940s on. When the renowned author committed suicide in 1961, he was buried in Ketchum. A granite memorial in Sun Valley, erected by his family in 1966, pays tribute to the American novelist.

The memorial, including a bronze bust and accompanying plaque, was dedicated on July 21, 1966, which would have been the famous author’s 67th birthday. The plaque’s inscription reads: “Best of all he loved the fall, the leaves yellow on the cottonwoods, leaves floating on trout streams, and above the hills, the high blue windless skies … Now he will be a part of them forever.”

#20 SIT UP TALL

Action: Sit Up Tall

Intention: A day in downtown Ketchum is not complete without a photo in the “Big Chair.” Located in front of The Cellar Pub in downtown Ketchum, this is a local icon. Don’t be bashful—get up there for a classic photo. Locals will be more than happy to snap a photo for you.

Information: The chair and the pub are located at 400 Sun Valley Road in Ketchum.

#21 411 FUN

Action: 411 Fun

Intention: No, Starbucks doesn’t operate visitor centers, but it sure looks like it at first blush, or prior to one’s morning coffee. Located at 491 Sun Valley Road, the Sun Valley/Ketchum Visitor Center serves as a hub for locals and visitors alike, under the same roof as the Ketchum Starbucks. The building was renovated in 2011 and won an American Architecture Award in 2012 for its design. Inside, find information about public transportation, maps and flyers, a public conference room, rest-rooms, coffee and a bulletin board for local happenings.

Information: The Sun Valley/Ketchum Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (800) 634-3347 or (208) 726-3423 to learn more.

#22 A GREAT PLACE TO START

Action: A Great Place to Start

Intention: Located at 781 South Main Street, The Chamber Visitor Information & Welcome Center is your first stop for information about Hailey and the wonderful Wood River Valley. The building opened in 2013 and is LEED-certified, showcasing sustainable design and construction. Inside, find a variety of rotating exhibits in the gallery space, an information desk, hundreds of brochures and maps and the offices of The Chamber – Hailey and the Wood River Valley.

Information: The Center is open Monday through Friday

SUMMER IS HERE

IT HAPPENS IN HAILEY & THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

July 2-4 ...................Hailey’s 4th of July Parade & Celebration July 2-4 ...................Days of the Old West Rodeo July 2-4 ...................Hailey’s July 4th Antique Show July 8-10 .................2022 Ketchum Arts Festival July 16-18 ...............Sun Valley Writers’ Conference July 21 .....................Sun Valley Tour de Force July 23 .....................27th Annual Garden Tour Aug 12-14 ................Sun Valley Arts and Crafts Festival Aug 20-21 ................Wood River Studio Tour Aug 2-26 ..................Sun Valley Summer Symphony Aug 30-Sep 1 ..........Wagon Days Oct 5-9 ....................Trailing of the Sheep Oct 12-16 ................Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival 2022

LIVE FREE MUSIC ALL SUMMER LONG

Tuesdays: Ketchum Alive Wednesdays: Wicked Wednesdays The Spud - Hailey Thursdays: Hailey Alive

For complete schedules & information: ValleyChamber.org 208-788-3484

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has friendly and knowledgeable staff ready to assist you with any questions. Reach the staff by calling (208) 788-3484 or by emailing info@haileyidaho.com.

#23 FLOATING FUN

Action: Floating Fun

Intention: This is a great activity for a hot summer day. Pick up innertubes at Les Schwab Tire Center at 520 North River Street in Hailey, and raft them down the Big Wood River. Make sure to plan how you’ll shuttle your group back to where you put in before you start out. Pack some snacks and refreshments in two double-bagged plastic bags for the journey.

Publisher’s Note: Floating the Big Wood River can be a lot of fun, but it’s a very dangerous activity, no matter how much experience you have with whitewater. Do not go alone. If you have not done this before, go with someone who has. Also, make sure to include at least one experienced whitewater rafter or kayaker in your group. Float smart!

Information: There are several places that offer great put-ins and take-outs. One that works well is to put in at the confluence of the Big Wood River and Warm Springs Creek near the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, at 100 Saddle Road, in Ketchum.

#24 RECREATE ON THE LAKE

Action: Recreate on the Lake

Intention: South of Bellevue, Magic Reservoir is a popular site for fishing, boating, waterskiing, and sailing, and offers semi-developed camping. Nearby commercial facilities offer a range of accommodations and developed campgrounds with RV services.

Information: To get to Magic, drive south of Bellevue on Hwy. 75 for about 17 miles, turn right on West Magic Reservoir Road.

#25 CLOUDY VIEWS

Action: Cloudy Views

Intention: The White Clouds Loop is a relatively mild trail that loops around Sun Valley’s White Clouds golf course across from Sun Valley Lodge. Hikers, bikers and runners looking for a quick, easy circuit—this trail is for you.

You can do the loop in either direction. Some of the best scenery along the route is available on the western side of the loop. Here, riders traveling clockwise get a good look at Griffin Butte standing above the Adams Gulch drainage. Traveling in the other direction orients riders toward Bald Mountain and the rooftops of Ketchum.

Several side trails branch off of the main loop. The trails that drop off of Sellgren’s Trail are narrower and more challenging than the trails making up the main loop. Bikers or hikers tackling the outer loop have the opportunity to tie into the Sunrise Loop at either Carol’s Trailhead, or about half a mile up from the trailhead on the Valley View Trail. While not as busy as some trails in the Valley, this loop’s proximity to town and its accessibility help make it a local favorite.

Information: A convenient starting point for this loop is Carol’s Trailhead, located directly across Trail Creek Road from Sun Valley Lodge.

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#26 TURN THE KNOB

Action: Turn the Knob

Intention: Knob Hill rises a meager 80 feet in the center of town and is visible from most locations in downtown Ketchum. Named for its shape—a broad-based slope with rock poking up in the center—Knob Hill is a designated city park tucked into a residential neighborhood.

Information: A small path at the north end of East Avenue leads between the homes to the summit, and is a steady, though mild, climb. From the top, enjoy breathtaking views of the Valley and surrounding mountain ranges.

#27 BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Action: Birds of a Feather

Intention: Could thousands of birds all be wrong? Bird lovers should head to Carey Lake Wildlife Management Area—an important stopover for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds as well as breeding and rearing habitat for resident birds. Carey Lake is a shallow, 400-acre lake and marsh that often hosts waterfowl, with dense populations of mallard, northern pintail, green-winged and cinnamon teal and nesting Canada geese.

Waterfowl such as sandhill cranes, American bittern, Virginia rail and sora often frequent the area. Shorebirds like the American avocet, black-necked stilt, semipalmated plover, long-billed curlew and willet are observed regularly at this location, and several songbirds are present throughout the summer.

Information: Take the junction of U.S. 20/Hwy. 75, head east on U.S. 20 for 18.5 miles to Carey. Take a left and head north on U.S. 93/26 for 3 miles, then look for the sign. A gravel road will lead to the parking lot.

#28 A TRAIL FOR ALL

Action: A Trail for All

Intention: An iconic Sun Valley area hike, Adams Gulch is many locals’ favorite place to exercise and enjoy nature. Offering hikes of varying difficulties and a range of terrain, there’s sure to be a hike here suited to your needs.

Beginners and time crunchers, check out the Citizen’s Trail for an easy 1-mile hike, or Lane’s Trail for a 2.5-mile adventure. For a longer hike, try the Adams Gulch Loop. At 5.5 miles round trip and offering quaint footbridges, streams and stunning views, this is a popular trail.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to burn calories, give Adams Gulch Trail a go. This 14-mile hike is one of the most difficult at Adams Gulch and is sure to test your endurance.

Information: To get to Adams Gulch from downtown Ketchum, drive or bike north on Hwy. 75, turning left at Adams Gulch Road in the vicinity of the Bigwood Golf Course. Follow the road and turn right after the bridge and turn left when you reach a T in the road.

#29 PEDAL THE CANYON

Action: Pedal the Canyon Intention: The Valley has a world-class mountain bike trail

join us!

OCTOBER 5-9, 2022

Sun Valley • Ketchum • Hailey, Idaho

Photo: Michael Edminster

trailingofthesheep.org

nestled between Hailey and Ketchum. During June, wildflowers will line your ride among quaking aspen, Douglas fir and sagebrush.

Information: To get there, drive 5 miles south of Ketchum on Hwy. 75 and turn left (east) onto East Fork Road. Drive 7 miles to Cove Creek Road and park your car here. Hop on your bike and ride along the dirt road for 4 miles, climbing gradually. You will cross a creek, called Big Witch Creek. About 200 yards past this creek there will be a road veering to the right. Do not take this road! Instead, continue on the main road.

Follow the path to the summit, pass the beaver ponds and merge with a two-track jeep trail. At this intersection, turn right and then merge with Quigley/Baugh Creek Road. To get back to Quigley, turn right. After a short climb to Quigley Summit, enjoy the downhill ride to Hailey. From Hailey, take the bike path north to East Fork Road and head back to your car.

#30 MINING FOR MEMORIES

Action: Mining for Memories

Intention: Interested in Bellevue’s mining history? The Bellevue Historical Museum boasts a plethora of interesting artifacts and memorabilia from days of yore. Pieces of equipment once used during the mining boom at the end of the 1800s can be found on the property. Look for the winze skip, donated by Milton Fife, which once brought ore up an incline and dumped it into a mine car to be transported to the surface. Beside the winze skip is an early-20th-century fireman’s hose wagon. Inside the museum, look for historic portraits, a baby carriage, clothing and other thought-provoking artifacts from the past.

Information: Located on the corner of Cedar and Main streets, the Bellevue Historical Museum is open noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. For more details, call City Hall at (208) 788-2128.

#31 TURN BACK THE CLOCK

Action: Turn Back the Clock

Intention: Snap a photo at Bellevue’s historic old town hall and jail. The fire hall, the front and larger portion of the building, was erected in 1890 for a cost of $240 and housed Bellevue’s original fire equipment—a hand-pulled hose and hose cart. The bell on the tower rang to announce a fire, a common occurrence due to candles, woodburning stoves, tired miners and saloon brawlers. The smaller back portion of the building was added as a city hall. The jail behind the hall was built in 1881 of heavy squared timbers and still stands on the same lot.

Information: Bellevue’s original town hall is located on Hwy. 75 at 226 North Main Street.

#32 MAKE PEACE WITH THE PAST

Action: Make Peace with the Past

Intention: Make peace with the past at the Minidoka National Historic Site—a large blemish on our nation’s legacy.

Information: The Pearl Harbor attack intensified existing hostility towards Japanese Americans. As wartime hysteria mounted, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. Over 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry (Nikkei) had to leave their homes, jobs, and lives behind, and were forced into one of ten prison camps spread across the nation. Explore the new visitor center and exhibits, take a tour, and enjoy self-guided walking trails.

The Minidoka Visitor Center is located at 1428 Hunt Road, in Jerome.

#33 FIND IDAHO’S FINEST

Action: Find Idaho’s Finest

Intention: Enjoy great food, live music, a kids’ activity tent with free childcare, and—the piece de resistance—more than 100 arts and crafts by Idaho artists at the Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival. Nestled in Festival Meadows on Sun Valley Road between Ketchum and Sun Valley, the only thing more impressive than the art is the natural beauty.

Information: The Festival dates for 2022 are Aug. 12–14.

#34 THE BIG HITCH

Action: The Big Hitch

Intention: Inside the Ore Wagon Museum, the historic Horace Lewis “Fast Freight” Ore Wagons sit silent and lifeless. In their heyday, the Lewis Ore Wagons, also known as “The Big Hitch,” maneuvered up and down the dangerous Trail Creek Road, the width of which was no greater than a wagon itself. The Lewis Ore Wagons chronicle the rich mining history of the Wood River Valley—the industry that put Ketchum on the map. The wagons could haul more than 18,000 pounds on a daily basis and, in addition to ore, carried loads of information and provisions to surrounding communities.

The Lewis Ore Wagons are the only ones of their kind in existence. Seven wagons make up the Ore Wagon Museum collection.

Information: The Ore Wagon Museum is located at Fifth Street and East Avenue across from Ketchum City Hall. The interpretive display can be seen under the covered porch on the south side of the building. Visitors wanting to enter the building should check at City Hall across the street.

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