Trail Facts

Description

The trails around Sun Valley dance back and forth between dry sagebrush landscapes and the moist verdant pines of the Big Wood Valley and surrounding mountains. Clay and shale soils compact to create endless miles of buff roller coasters that wind through snow capped peaks or wildflowers, depending on the season. With unsurpassed trail connectivity, rides of any length are right at your fingertips. With its abundant trails and endless valley views, riders escape to this area to do just that: escape. As local Sean McLaughlin puts it, Sun Valley is where you can get away from it all, and still have it all. Thats what makes Sun Valley a true mountain biking destination.



Fox-Chocolate Loop

Just a few miles north of Ketchum is a bike path assessable cloverleaf trail system that includes Adams Gulch, Fox Creek, Chocolate Gulch, Oregon Gulch, among other trails. With a decent map on hand, you can put together quick and dirty after work rides or all day epics, but the combination most suggested by locals is the 10 mile Fox-Chocolate Loop.



Traveling the loop counter clockwise, the raging waters of the Big Wood River accompany riders as they begin the climb up the canyon and through the pine forests. The trails in this area have a habit of rewarding climbing effort by the tenfold, and the Fox-Chocolate Loop is no exception. There are two healthy climbs on this trail that will work the legs and still leave plenty of energy to enjoy the ripping descent back to the start. Though this buff trail provides plenty of opportunity to go fast, the views of downtown Ketchum and Baldy beg you to slow down and take in the surrounding beauty. The descent on Fox Creek is also popular with hikers, so its a good idea blend it with the locals by staying alert and always having a courteous greeting on the tip of your tongue.



Best Time to Go: The riding season usually runs from Memorial Day to mid-October. In early summer, riders can catch the brilliant combination of wildflowers at lower elevations and snowcaps on the local peaks.

Location

Driving Directions