Hotel at a Glance: Tamarack Lodge

Sun Valley Resort, with its 28 miles of hiking and biking trails and 100 ski runs across two mountains, is located just down the road from Tamarack Lodge. Set in downtown Ketchum, Idaho, the lodge is steps from shopping and dining and within an hour’s drive of multiple mountain ranges.

• Take in the view at the outdoor hot tub, open year-round, which looks out to the mountains.
• In-room amenities include TVs with HBO, refrigerators, microwaves, and free WiFi.
• Have an adventure: Borrow a bike or snowshoes from the lodge to navigate nearby Sawtooth National Forest
• Distance to Sun Valley Resort: 1.5 miles; a free shuttle takes you there in minutes

Ketchum, Idaho: Skiers’ Paradise on the Cusp of Sawtooth National Forest

For roughly 250 days out of every year, the sun is shining in Ketchum, a charming mountain town on the cusp of the Sawtooth National Forest in Sun Valley. This area is known for its long summers and mild, sunny winters that transform the surrounding mountains into a skier’s paradise. Sun Valley Resort—located just 2 miles from the center of town—has been a popular skiing destination since the late 1930s, when it attracted celebrities such as Clark Gable and Ingrid Bergman. Today, the resort maintains nearly 100 runs across two mountains, plus bowls and adventure trails for more advanced skiers.

To the north of Ketchum lies the Sawtooth National Forest, which stretches more than 2 million acres across central Idaho. One of the best ways to see it is on the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, a two-lane road that wends through the forest’s mountains and groves. Keep an eye out for pronghorn, elk, bears, and other wildlife that roam the expansive wilderness—they’re especially easy to spot in winter.

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