Off-Roading Areas Near Sun Valley Idaho

Sun Valley, Idaho is every bit as stunning as it sounds. The Sun Valley area in covered by the striking Rocky and lush forests, and it is unsurprisingly home to a large resort– a great place to stay if you plan on going off-roading in Sun Valley (which you should, and we’ll tell you why in a moment). It also has one of the only year-round outdoor skating rinks in the country, be sure to check that out after your day of off-road exploration. Here are our favorite trails near Sun Valley, Idaho.

Boulder Creek
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
The closest trail to Sun Valley is Boulder Creek. And lucky for Sun Valley, Boulder Creek is awesome. The trail runs through an abandoned mining town, which we love to hear. It’s surrounded by all sorts of fascinating relics of the past. The trail is difficult. It starts out as a dirt road and transitions to shale later one. There are a few river crossings and many shimmering waterfalls on the way as well as a secluded lake. The trail winds past the former Boulder City’s Golden Glow Mill, around 700 people lived by the mill in the late 1800s. 

Pole Creek-Germania
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Like Boulder Creek and Railroad Ridge (the next trail we’ll mention), Pole Creek-Germania was once a mining area. Boulder Creek was a mining town and Pole Creek-Germania used to be a mining track. As you can tell, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is bursting with mining history and atrophied stories of the small-town Idahoan miners of the past. Pole Creek is of moderate difficulty. The trail is graded at the start and gets rougher and more narrow as you progress along it. There are several water crossings and there are many campsites along the way that offer stunning views.

Railroad Ridge
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
This trail also has a deep mining history, as we’ve mentioned, it’s not a unique detail among the trails in this article, but it is no less exciting! The road begins at the Livingston Mine living quarters, the place miners called home for the extended periods they worked the mine. The route immediately starts climbing, ascending in a steep, single track incline. A bit of a risk, but worth it for the views at the top that overlook the Sawtooths and the Frank Church Wilderness to the north and west respectively, and the Lost River Range to the east. High clearance is a must for Railroad Ridge. 

Keep your camera on hand, your Sun Valley adventure will dazzle you with views you’ll want to keep with you.

Idaho Patches and Stickers

View all Idaho Badges