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.” That’s what makes Sun Valley a true mountain biking destination.

Galena Lodge Trails

Meshing Galena’s rustic history with amazing trails and a palpable sense of bike culture, Galena Lodge offers a bevy of two-wheeled adventures. Best of all, after spending a day on the trails, riders are welcomed back with the smell of home cooked food and cold beer. Each year, the Lodge hosts the Galena Grinder race, which incorporates several pieces of beautiful high alpine Galena singletrack and is notably never, ever flat. Each lap rings in at 22 miles with 3500 feet of climbing, challenging riders and demonstrating that the name is no misnomer.

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.

For 2009 the Galena Grinder will be held on July 25th.

For more info check out the Galena Lodge blog at www.galenalodge.com