Yet again, we opted for the scenic route on this drive. With Google maps in hand (albeit without reception) and a wildly unimpressed GPS unit as our reluctant navigator, we left Island Park along dusty gravel roads surrounded by pines, streams and mountain glimpses.
From Island Park, we headed towards Chilly, then across a very twisty mountain pass to Sun Valley, Idaho.
Chilly
This so-called town showed up on Google maps like it was a real thing. It’s not. It’s two houses, and then one more a little further down the road. That’s it. Seriously. We’d planned to stop in Chilly for lunch, but after blinking and almost missing the “town” it became clear that this would not be happening. So, with a slightly disgruntled Nicole and without a lunch break, we continued onto a small, winding road that our GPS unit seemed to dislike intensely.
Trail Creek Road
Despite the GPS continuously insisting that we make a U-turn, we resolutely ignored it and continued along Trail Creek Road. There were times when we honestly thought we might have just driven onto someone’s private property – not a great idea in an area full of gun-toting Americans, we thought – but a few passing cars left us convinced we were, in fact, on a road and we pushed on.
At one point, we passed an even-prettier-than-usual stream and stopped for a quick walk along it.
We were back on the road quickly and in what felt like no time at all, we rounded a bend into a truly breathtaking valley – with a sheer, 40 to 100 metre drop right next to the road. (Kurt was not such a fan of the drop, but drove on like a trouper… because there was nowhere to stop.) The pictures we took don’t do this valley justice. It was stunning, lush, topped with low clouds and even had the occasional waterfall just to rub in how incredible it was.
All too soon we were winding down to the base of the mountains, into Sun Valley and Ketchum. These two towns are right next to each other, and are essentially ski towns. And they’re almost too adorable. The people are insanely friendly, the shops and streets are little and pretty, and the mountain glimpses down every street are magical. We fell a little in love with Ketchum and the whole mountains-in-Idaho area and would wholeheartedly recommend anyone travelling to the US stop by. It’s a little piece of perfection as far as we’re concerned.
The Marvellous Adventures of K&N 