With winter operations in the rearview mirror, Sun Valley Ski Resort in Idaho is hard at work on a summer construction project replacing the Christmas and Lookout Express chairlifts.
Construction well is underway as the folks at Sun Valley have finished the excavation for lift towers and stations for the new Doppelmayr lifts on Baldy. If you are a local you may notice some helicopters buzzing around the area later this week as lift towers will be airlifted in and out.
“The replacement of Christmas and Lookout Express lifts is another major milestone in modernizing the lift network at Sun Valley. Both lifts play a critical role in getting skiers and riders to the top of Bald Mountain. We are proud to partner with Doppelmayr once again and build on the success of our most recent lift projects – Seattle Ridge, Flying Squirrel, Challenger and Broadway. Sun Valley has the most efficient lift system in the country, and these upgrades will ensure that continues for many years to come.” -Pete Sonntag, COO at Sun Valley Resort.
The infrastructure updating project comes after Sun Valley received approval from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in March to move forward with the series of lift replacements and upgrades on Bald Mountain.
The approved projects began construction in April 2026 and represent a major investment in the future of the iconic Idaho ski resort. The replacement chairlifts will increase reliability and uphill capacity.
The existing Lookout Express detachable quad will be replaced with a new high-speed six-person lift, shortening ride time to approximately 8.5 minutes at speeds up to 1,000 feet per minute. The new chairlift is a similar model to the Seattle Ridge Lift upgrade completed in 2024.
- Model: Doppelmayr UNIG 6CLD (Detachable SixPack)
- Vertical Rise: 2,673 ft
- Number of Towers: 21
The old Christmas Lift detachable quad will be replaced with a new high-speed detachable quad with an approximate 4.5-minute ride time at speeds up to 1,000 feet per minute. The new Christmas Lift is the same model as the Flying Squirrel Lift upgrade completed in 2023.
- Model: Doppelmayr UNIG 4CLD (Detachable Quad)
- Vertical Rise: 1,354 ft
- Number of Towers: 14
There will be intermittent impacts to biking and hiking on the River Run side of Bald Mountain throughout the summer but Sun Valley plans keep the mountain open and in operation.
