Idaho — It seems like the 2020s at Sun Valley Resort will be defined by new lift projects.
So far, the Idaho ski resort has seen four new chairlifts open in the 2020s. The Broadway Express, which provides a ride back for those who explore the Sunrise terrain expansion, opened during the 2019-20 season. During the 2022-23 season, Sun Valley opened the new Challenger and Flying Squirrel chairlifts, providing a new experience in the Warm Springs base area. This past winter, the Seattle Ridge (six-pack) opened up. Another four lift replacements could be on the way in the years ahead.
This week, Sun Valley announced a series of proposed improvements. Most of the announced projects will require approval from the US Forest Service, which is currently reviewing the proposal.
Sun Valley also announced that the Christmas chairlift, which debuted in 1996, will be replaced by a detachable high-speed quad chairlift. This project was already approved by the US Forest Service, so the goal is to open this new chairlift for the 2026-27 season.
The other potential 2026-27 project is Lookout Express, which is currently a detachable high-speed quad chairlift. Sun Valley is proposing to replace this lift with a detachable high-speed six-pack chairlift. It would increase the uphill carrying capacity from 1,800 to 2,400 people per hour.
Sun Valley is also looking for approvals for the replacement of the Frenchman and River Run lifts. Frenchman, a 1996 detachable high-speed quad, would be replaced by another high-speed quad. This new lift would have a higher capacity, increasing from 1,800 to 2,200 people per hour. River Run, which is a detachable high-speed quad chairlift, would be replaced by a detachable high-speed six-pack chairlift. This lift would have the same carrying capacity as its predecessor. If approved by the US Forest Service, it would lead to four lift replacements in the years ahead.
“The replacement of Christmas and Lookout Express chairlifts will ensure fast, reliable access to some of Sun Valley’s best terrain for many years to come,” said Pete Sonntag, the COO at Sun Valley Resort. “Other elements of our project proposal are intended to modernize critical infrastructure, as well as provide greater access to more of the mountain. Our goal, as always, is to maintain Sun Valley’s reputation as one of the world’s great mountain destinations while staying true to our roots of being a warm and welcoming family-owned business.”
Other proposed projects include regrading the Cut Off ski trail, clearing trees around the Race Arena trail, replacing snowmaking equipment, installing and removing water lines, and replacing electrical lines. A new lift maintenance building would be added adjacent to the top of the Christmas and Lookout lifts, enabling centralized lift operations. For mountain bikers, Sun Valley is proposing the introduction of e-bikes and the addition of approximately 2 miles of new mountain biking trails in the River Run area.
Public comments for these proposed comments can be submitted to comments-intermtn-sawtooth-ketchum@usda.gov with the subject line: “2025 Sun Valley Enhancement Project.” Comments need to be submitted by August 1, 2025.
Image/Video Credits: Sun Valley Resort, Lifts Out West
