Cutting through the Wood River Campground, the Harriman Trail rises into the shade of towering Ponderosa pines to skirt the backside of a few campsites for a quick cool-down before gliding down to yet another in a seemingly endless stream of Insta-ops crossing the idyllic Murphy Bridge.
As the soothing sound of the Wood River rushing through the rocks creates the perfect chillin’ aura, I pause to contemplate the plethora of cycling options that put Ketchum and Sun Valley, Idaho on a stratospheric level as I rattle off another round of photos.
I can only shake my head in disbelief.
Blown away by the magnificent mountain biking on Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain as we skipped the lift and pounded our way to the top on a previous visit, my local guide admitted that cycling on the famous ski runs can get pretty crowded at times.
“When I wanna get away,” he said, “I hit the Harriman.”
Of course I had no idea what the Harriman was. But hitting the Harriman couldn’t be easier, nor more inviting.
A network of bike lanes and trails that help make up the 400-plus miles of cycling nirvana in the area allow for a simple ride eight miles north from Ketchum to the official start of the Harriman Trail.
From there the trail plays tag with the Wood River for the next 19 miles, rising 1,200 feet with the overall ease of a railroad grade while a few hunker-down-and-hammer climbs are sprinkled in for the heck of it.
Once on the Harriman proper, its easy-going vibe overwhelms me. I click down a few gears, slow my pace and breathing, and simply soak and savor.
Surrounded by sprawling meadows of sage and wildflowers, the intoxicating mix of sage and pine scents provide a natural high that begs for a Zen mindset and pace.
The meadows stretch like an inviting carpet to bring your focus to the base of the Boulder Mountains that rise majestically to crystal blue skies almost always dotted with brilliant bright white puffy clouds.
The Boulders appear to come to life along the trail, exposing a variety of faces and angles like a supermodel in a photo shoot. Simply put, I couldn’t snap enough photos to capture the journey.
Hawk’s Nest is a must stop. A short hike to the top of the ridge unveils an unforgettable panoramic view.
The trail is named for the founder of Sun Valley, W. Averell Harriman. It’s made up of a network of old gravel roads from Ketchum to Galena Lodge.
The idea of linking it into one trail began when the Mary W. Harriman Foundation pledged a gift in 1991 that prompted the start of construction on the trail in 1996 by a partnership of private and public donors.
The trail’s base is light gravel, and can be ridden with a road bike or mountain bike. Galena Lodge offers another launching point for 40 miles of singletrack multi-use trails. Renowned for years as a cross-country ski mecca, its popularity as a mountain bike destination continues to rise.
Speaking of cross-county skiing, the Harriman is closed to all other means of transport in the winter as it becomes nirvana for skiers.
Since it snakes along the Wood River, I packed up my fishing gear on subsequent rides. While I didn’t land dinner, getting off the bike and exploring the banks of the river provided yet another glimpse of the Harriman’s beauty.
Time to ride
