Hailey
Around Hailey
Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Idaho · 32k people
Hailey
Locals say Wood River Valley
Mountain air, small-town heart.
Sun Valley RedMountain BluePine Green
Welcome to the Wood River Valley! Whether you're here for the powder or the river, you'll find your rhythm fast. Grab a coffee in Hailey and head up to Ketchum—the mountains are calling.
Clubs for Hailey
No clubs for Hailey yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Hailey. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Hailey. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Sun Valley Resort Iconic destination resort with world-class runs and village.
- Bald Mountain Local's favorite ski mountain, affectionately called Baldy.
- Sawtooth National Recreation Area Vast wilderness with alpine lakes and peaks.
- Galena Lodge Historic cross-country ski and summer trailhead lodge.
- Wood River Trail Paved 20-mile path connecting Hailey, Bellevue, and Ketchum.
- Hemingway Memorial Quiet riverside monument honoring Ernest Hemingway.
- Outdoors Skiing or snowboarding on Bald Mountain
- Outdoors Soaking in natural hot springs
- With kids Ice skating at Sun Valley
- With kids Biking the Wood River Trail
- Evenings Apres-ski bars in Ketchum
- Evenings Live music at the Sun Valley Pavilion
- Locals love Ski resorts
- Locals love Hot springs
Through the year
- Wagon Days September Ketchum's Labor Day weekend celebration with a big parade and pioneer spirit.
- Sun Valley Film Festival March Showcases independent films and brings filmmakers to the mountains.
- Sun Valley Music Festival Summer Free summer orchestral concerts under the pavilion.
- Hailey Days of the Old West July Fourth of July celebration with a parade, rodeo, and street fair.
- Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival October Multi-day jazz and blues performances across the valley.
High desert mountain climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Best: Late summer and early fall offer warm days, cool nights, and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “The Valley”
- The Wood River Valley, encompassing Hailey to Sun Valley.
- “Baldy”
- Bald Mountain, the main ski mountain.
- “The Wood”
- The Big Wood River.
- “Upvalley”
- Towards Ketchum and Sun Valley.
Getaways
- Boise City life, dining, and the Boise River.
- Twin Falls Shoshone Falls and the Snake River Canyon.
- Stanley and Redfish Lake Alpine beauty and lake activities.
- Craters of the Moon National Monument Lunar landscapes and lava tubes.
Local flavour
Rooting for Boise State Broncos, Utah Jazz
Eat and drink
- Huckleberry Pie Wild huckleberries are a regional treasure, used in pies, jams, and syrups.
- Trout Idaho rainbow trout, often grilled or smoked, is a local staple.
- Elk Burger Game meat is common, with elk burgers a favourite in local diners and lodges.
Where people go
- Ski resorts Sun Valley and Bald Mountain are legendary for skiing and snowboarding.
- Hot springs Natural hot springs dot the area, perfect for soaking after a day outdoors.
- Mountain lodges Rustic lodges and cabins offer a classic alpine retreat feel.
- Ranchland
Heritage and traditions
The Wood River Valley is proud of its rugged mountain heritage, from silver mining to the birth of destination skiing, and its deep connection to Ernest Hemingway, who found peace here in his final years.
This time of year in Hailey
- Fly fishing on the Big Wood Spring and fall Spring and fall offer prime trout fishing.
Say it like a local: “the Sawtooths” — The rugged mountains of the Sawtooth Range
Festivals
- Sun Valley Harvest Festival September A September celebration of local food, wine, and culinary arts.
- Hailey Christmas Stroll December A December evening of caroling, hot cocoa, and shop openings.
Landmarks with a story
- Sun Valley Lodge Opened in 1936 as the centerpiece of America's first destination ski resort.
- Blaine County Historical Museum Housed in a 1912 building, it preserves the valley's mining and Basque history.
- Ketchum Cemetery Final resting place of Ernest Hemingway; a simple memorial marks the grave.
Food traditions
- Basque lamb stew Sheepherders brought this hearty dish; it's often served at community gatherings.
- Huckleberry picking In late summer, families head to the hills to pick wild huckleberries for pies and jam.
- Smoked trout Fly-fishing catch is often smoked, a local delicacy.
- Sheepherder's bread A Basque rustic bread baked in Dutch ovens over open fires.
- Pioneer potluck Community potlucks feature elk chili, trout, and huckleberry desserts.
Music and arts
- Classical music at Sun Valley Music Festival The summer symphony performs in a tent with the Sawtooths as backdrop.
- Western art galleries Ketchum's galleries showcase landscape and wildlife art inspired by the Rockies.
- Sun Valley Center for the Arts A hub for visual arts, theater, and film screenings.
- Folk and bluegrass at local bars Live music is a staple, especially during summer and ski season.
A little history
- 1880s Silver-lead mining boom
- 1936 Sun Valley Resort opened, first destination ski resort in the US
- 1959 Hemingway moved to Ketchum and wrote here
- 1972 Sawtooth National Recreation Area established
- Early 1900s Basque sheepherders settled in the valley
Rivalries
- Upvalley vs Downvalley Friendly town rivalry between Ketchum/Sun Valley and Hailey/Bellevue.
- Sun Valley vs Jackson Hole Ski town rivalry over who has the better terrain.
- Boise State vs Utah College football rivalry among local fans.
- Game day Pond skim at Sun Valley
- Game day Ski races at Bald Mountain
- Outdoors Huckleberry picking
- Outdoors Elk hunting
- With kids Sawtooth Fish Hatchery
- With kids Hailey Public Library
Locals speak with a relaxed Western accent, often dropping the 'g' in '-ing' words. You'll hear outdoor terms like 'snowpack' and 'powder' in winter, and 'huckleberry' in late summer. Basque words occasionally surface, a nod to the sheepherding history.
Only here
- Sun Valley was the first destination ski resort in the United States, opened in 1936.
- Ernest Hemingway is buried in Ketchum, and his memorial is a quiet spot by the Wood River.
- The Wood River Trail is a 20-mile paved bike path from Hailey to Galena, used year-round.
- The Sawtooth NRA contains some of the most jagged peaks in the Rockies, with over 40 peaks above 10,000 feet.
New here? A few tips
- Take time to acclimate to the 5,900-foot elevation; drink extra water and go easy the first few days.
- Winter is long and snowy; invest in good tires and warm layers. Bald Mountain's powder is worth it.
- Summer is glorious but busy; book lodging and dining in advance, especially for Wagon Days.
- Learn to say 'Hailey' (HAY-lee), 'Ketchum' (KETCH-um), and 'Galena' (guh-LEE-nuh).
- The Wood River Trail is a paved path that connects the valley; use it to avoid traffic on Main Street.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaGoodingIdahoWhere the river carves the canyon and the fields run green.Twin FallsIdahoCanyon country with a big heart.BurleyIdahoWhere the potatoes are as big as the sky and the people are as warm as the harvest sun.Mountain HomeIdahoWhere the desert sky meets the Snake RiverBoiseIdahoA friendly city where the river meets the foothills.BlackfootIdahoThe heart of Idaho's potato country.PocatelloIdahoA friendly gateway to Idaho's outdoors.Idaho FallsIdahoWhere the Snake River winds through the high desert
Hailey, ID. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.