Bald Mountain @ Sun Valley - Image courtesy Wikimedia

Sun Valley is an affluent resort community in central Idaho adjacent to the city of Ketchum in Blaine County. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and more. The population was 1,427 at the 2000 census. Very few of its residents stay there year-round, with many having primary homes in Boise, Twin Falls, or out-of-state (with many from California and Washington). The elevation of Sun Valley (at the Lodge) is 5920 feet (1804 m) above sea level. The area is served by Friedman Memorial Airport. The term, "Sun Valley," among skiers, refers to the alpine ski area, which consists of Bald Mountain, the main ski mountain, and Dollar Mountain, which is geared toward novice and lower intermediate skiers. Bald Mountain, or "Baldy," has a summit of 9150 feet (2789 m) and a vertical drop of 3400 feet (1036 m).

With its abundance of constant-pitch terrain, at varying degrees of difficulty, coupled with its substantial vertical drop and absence of wind, Baldy has often been referred to as the best single ski mountain in the world. The treeless "Dollar" at 6638 feet (2023 m) has a vertical drop of only 628 feet (191 m). The term "Sun Valley" is also used more generally to speak of the region surrounding the city, including the neighboring city of Ketchum and the valley area winding south to Hailey.

The region has been home to the rich, famous, and powerful, including Mats Wilander, Walter Annenberg, Adam West, Ernest Hemingway, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.