There is nothing quite like taking a hike with your four-legged friends. The fresh air and exercise are good for you and good for them. Fortunately, the Sun Valley area is very dog-friendly, with hundreds of great options for hitting the trails close to town. Here are just a few of my favorites.
Easy River Walks
Trail Creek | Sun Valley
Length: 1.5 miles roundtrip
This is a lovely, flat path along the meandering Trail Creek, with open views of the Pioneer Mountains to the east. The trail starts one mile west of Sun Valley along Trail Creek Road, just past the campground. Several parking area pullouts are available. This path offers a great walk in all seasons.
Draper Preserve | Hailey
Length: One-mile roundtrip
The Draper Preserve is a beautiful, flat wooded footpath along the Bigwood River. The trail starts at Heagle Park (south) or Lions Park (north) in Hailey. Sticks abound for river fetching, making this trail especially dog-friendly. Cross the uniquely designed pedestrian Bow Bridge and enjoy the wetland viewing area for a bonus along the way. This route is wonderful in all four seasons.
Adams Gulch | Ketchum
Length: 2.5 miles roundtrip, with other options for much longer hikes
There are numerous short and long trail options in this nearby area. Two pretty and popular short trails are the Shadyside Trail and the Sunnyside Trail, which run alongside a small creek. Both are easily accessed in all seasons. There is a large trailhead area with plenty of parking and restrooms.
Moderate Hikes
Greenhorn Gulch/Cow Creek | Mid-Valley
Length: 2-mile loop
Greenhorn Gulch/Cow Creek offers a fantastic loop hike with scenic views and easy access to the creek for much of the trail. Early summer is especially stunning when wildflowers burst into bloom, covering the open meadows and lining the riverbanks. For those seeking a longer adventure, extended loop options are also available. The trailhead features ample parking and restrooms.
Chocolate Gulch | Ketchum
Length: 4-mile loop
With this dog-friendly hike, you experience a variety of terrain and great views in a fairly compact loop. The trail starts along open hillsides and then winds up to the summit through a thick alpine forest. The top of the loop provides stunning views of the Pioneer and Smoky mountains before descending through an immense open canyon meadow alongside babbling brooks and the Big Wood River.
Fox Creek Loop | Ketchum
Length: 5 miles roundtrip
Popular with dogs and humans alike, the Fox Creek Loop features a bit of elevation gain, sagebrush hillsides, aspen groves and spectacular mountain vistas. Gorgeous in all seasons, part of the trail is maintained for Nordic skiing and walking in the winter. Enjoy access to Fox Creek, Lake Creek and Big Wood River for a good portion of the hike. A large trailhead parking area and restrooms are available at Lake Creek.
Colorado Gulch | Hailey
Length: 4 miles roundtrip
Colorado Gulch is a steady but gradual uphill walk on a dirt road through a beautiful remote canyon on the west edge of Hailey. It includes a bridge crossing over the Big Wood River at the beginning and end, and a small creek trickles adjacent to the road about half the way. Near the top of the road is a stand of ancient aspen trees with arborglyph carvings on their trunks, made by Basque sheepherders traveling through the area decades ago. A short trail to the left leads you to the top of a ridge high above the city of Hailey and the valley, or you can continue up the road as it switchbacks to the top of another ridge that overlooks Croy Canyon.
More Strenuous Hikes
Proctor Mountain | Sun Valley
Length: 4.5-mile loop
This popular trail offers incredible views of Sun Valley, with a 1,600-foot elevation gain that winds across wide-open sagebrush slopes and through pine and aspen forests. If you start at the Hemingway Memorial off Trail Creek Road, you also have the benefit of crossing Trail Creek at the beginning and end of the hike, which your dog will appreciate. This hike is especially dramatic with early summer wildflowers and fall colors, but the views will take your breath away any time of the year.
Taylor Canyon | Ketchum
Length: 4-mile loop
One of my all-time favorite dog-friendly hikes is Taylor Canyon. Not only is it a great workout, but it also has spectacular views of the Boulder and Pioneer mountain ranges. It is also often less crowded than some trails closer to town. In the early summer, the mountainsides are awash in fields of vibrant lupine and other colorful wildflowers. There is a small stream at the beginning of the trail but none after, so it is very important to bring plenty of water for both you and your dog. There is a limited parking area.
Bald Mountain | Pierce
Length: 9.6 miles roundtrip
Bald Mountain is a classic Sun Valley hike featuring a 3,390-foot elevation gain up the mountain to the summit or any portion thereof. Views all along the trail are fantastic as you see the charming city of Ketchum continue to shrink in the distance, and your vantage point at the top rewards you with a 360° view of the picturesque Wood River Valley surrounded by the Pioneer, Boulder and Smoky mountain ranges. Even going just a portion of the way up makes for an excellent hike.
Rules of the Trail:
- Pack enough water for you and your dog.
- Pick up after your dog—most trailheads have doggie waste bags and receptacles.
- Bring a leash and use it if needed to keep your dog under control. Many of these trails are actively used by mountain bikers and hikers.
Trip Tips:
- Sun Valley is 6,000 feet above sea level—remember to acclimatize accordingly.
- Always dress appropriately for the weather with layers. The weather can change quickly on the trail. A hat and sunscreen are also very important.
- Pick up a trail map or guidebook at local bookstores or sports shops, and find more detailed information online at summertrailink.bcrd.org.
Featured image credited to Carol Waller.
Carol Waller is a long-time Hailey resident, tourism professional and amateur photographer who tries to make time to hike every day, in every season, with her big, black Newfie-retriever, Stella, and her camera in tow.
Updated on November 04, 2024
Published on April 7, 2016
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