Next Exit // Episode 1 Sun Valley, Idaho

Sun Valley, Idaho might be best known for the first chairlift, but the small town on the edge of the Sawtooth National Forest has slowly become a biking mecca. In 1988, the area hosted the NORBA National Finals, but the fame was short lived. A steady evolution of mountain bike enthusiasts and committed community members has since led to 400-plus miles of singletrack right out of town, lift accessed trails on Bald Mountain and the Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival, a weekend of epic racing and unparalleled good times.

Next Exit is a series dedicated to exploring communities around North America that have embraced the mountain bike lifestyle. Small towns are dreaming big when it comes to the issues that surround our sport, from tourism to advocacy to land management. Their efforts are redefining what a mountain town can be, keeping our culture—and trails—alive and well.