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Sun Valley


Ikon Pass

Sun Valley Ski Resort


Ikon Pass
Sun Valley Lodging Map M
Sun Valley Snow Totals
THE
LOW
DOWN
Sun Valley Key Knowledge: Sun Valley is one of the old guard ski resorts, ranking alongside Alta, Sugar Bowl and Timberline as resorts that can say, 'we were here first.' Its slopes sit above a splendid valley, and the Idaho vistas are unique. The food here rivals Deer Valley, and it's a quieter resort than some of its mainline destination peers. The lodging here can compete with anywhere, and the fall lines, although they lack extreme steepness, are consistent top to bottom.
Sun Valley skiing by month:
Sun Valley
By Month

Core Strengths

Sun Valley
Overall
71.7
Snow Quality
55.6
Snow Volume
38.6
Overall
Overall PAF Score

Overall
Rank

48

Rank in
Region

30

Rank in
State

1

This resort is often compared with:

Deer Valley
Jackson Hole
Beaver Creek
Sun Valley Snow Quality Across Full Winter
Click ON/OFF:
Sun Valley Snowfall Last 10 Days (inches)

Powder
Forecast

Powder Forecast
ZRANKINGS EXCLUSIVE
Tuesday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Wednesday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Thursday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Friday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Saturday
Day
0"
Night
0"
True Snow: 196" per year
Snow Quality Rank

93

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Dump Potential Rank

162

Sun Valley Ski Resort is ranked No. 162 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Historical Powder Odds
Daily Lottery

% of days with more than 6" of snow

8.3%

Extended Stay

% of months with more than 90" of snow

1.6%

Drought Threat

% of months with less than 30" of snow

41.3%

*Special thanks to Tony Crocker and Bestsnow.net.

Dump Potential Rank

162

Sun Valley Ski Resort is ranked No. 162 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Snow
Quality
Rank

93

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Total Snow Score

This score accounts for total snow quantity, its moisture content, the resort's latitude, elevation, and its slope aspects, which affect total snow preservation.

Comparables

Sun Valley Ski Resort

Trail Breakdown

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Vertical Drop

3400 ft

9150 ft
Base Elevation: 5750 ft

Slope Aspects

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A few words on the Snow at Sun Valley Ski Resort

Sun Valley's snow record is low for destination resorts. 8.4% of winter days see 6 inches or more of snow, 35% of months see 30 inches and 1% of months see 90 inches or more. Snow density is similar to Utah and the Tetons. Deep powder skiing is rare but can be excellent in the long fall lines of the bowls.

Accumulation and Preservation

Sun Valley averages 73% open at Christmas, and is less than half open by Christmas in 25% of seasons. The early season record is better than one might expect as much terrain has been picked clean of large obstacles and thus skis well on a 3 foot base. The bowls are natural snow dependent and are often not well covered before mid-January. Sun Valley has an excellent snowmaking system, which is used not only to lay down an early season base but to top off runs mid-season with low density "gunpowder." Snow preservation is excellent on the north facing Seattle Ridge and Warm Springs sectors. Melt/freeze conditions are likely from mid-February onwards in the east facing bowls and River Run areas, and the few south-tilted areas can lose snow in spring. Sun Valley like many resorts has its most reliable snow conditions from mid-January to mid-March.