Sun Valley Resort in Idaho recently announced upgrades to two main lifts this off-season. After gaining approval from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, the resort will begin construction in April to make sure the lifts are open for the 2026-27 ski season. The resort chose Doppelmayr to build both lifts, which will bring skiers and riders up to the Lookout Restaurant. Doppelmayr has a long-standing relationship with Sun Valley, having built every detachable lift there since 1992.
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The new Lookout Express lift will carry skiers to the top in approximately 8.5 minutes, with an astonishing 2,673-foot vertical rise. While not the largest vertical at the resort, Challenger’s 3,138-foot rise holds that distinction, it remains an impressive figure for any chairlift. The new lift will replace the old Lookout chair, which was built in 1993. Crucially, the upgrade steps up from a quad to a high-speed six-pack: the new Lookout Express will have 21 towers and will be a Doppelmayr UNIG 6CLD. It will include the advanced direct-drive system, a gearless configuration in which the motor is directly connected to the bullwheel. This arrangement eliminates the gearbox, removing the need for oil and reducing maintenance costs.
The Christmas lift, currently a detachable quad dating back to 1988, will also be replaced with a new high-speed detachable quad. An initial proposal had Christmas as a chondola, with chairs and gondola cabins on the same line. That idea was abandoned in favor of a standard high-speed chairlift. A new maintenance facility will be located near the top terminal of both lifts. Like Lookout Express, the Christmas lift will also feature a direct-drive system. The expected ride time for the new detachable quad will be 4.5 minutes and should greatly enhance navigation and crowd circulation in the area. The upgraded lift will have a 1,354-foot vertical rise and will consist of 14 towers.
Due to construction, there will be some impacts on hiking and biking on the River Run side of Bald Mountain this summer. The resort still plans to operate for the summer season. In addition, a 1.3-mile extension of the multi-use trail will connect River Run to the Warm Springs area, allowing users to hike or bike along the Big Wood River from the River Run base to the Warm Springs Preserve. The resort is planning to begin construction this summer. More details on the impacted summer operations and the connector trail will be released closer to the summer season.
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New lifts at Sun Valley aren’t that uncommon, as the resort has been at the forefront of lift upgrades over the past few seasons. Recent lift upgrades include Seattle Ridge, Challenger, Flying Squirrel, and Broadway. The Lookout and Christmas lift upgrades represent continued investment from Sun Valley. These two upgraded lifts will increase uphill capacity, easing access to the Lookout Restaurant and the peak of Bald Mountain.
