Sun Valley Becomes America’s First Dark Sky Certified Ski Resort

Sun Valley, Idaho, is now America’s first Dark Sky certified ski resort. On Monday, July 13, Sun Valley became the first resort in the United States to earn certification through DarkSky International’s DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resorts Program. This recognition comes thanks to the resort’s commitment to responsible outdoor lighting practices, environmental stewardship, and habitat protection.

• Related: Where American Skiing Was Born: The 90-Year Legacy at Sun Valley, ID, That Still Sets the Standard

DarkSky International is a global nonprofit that certifies locations based on light pollution management and night-sky preservation. The organization measures human-made light pollution levels, and the mitigation of such, in order to determine which areas qualify for certification. Sun Valley is now the first ski resort in America to meet its strict criteria.

The recognition comes as a triumph for the resort, emphasizing its commitment to the natural environment that surrounds it. As CEO Pete Sonntag stated, “At Sun Valley, the outdoors has always been at the center of the guest experience…Preserving the natural beauty of this place, including the night sky, is an important part of protecting what makes the experience here so special for future generations.”

For those wishing to take in the high alpine skies of remote central Idaho, Sun Valley is hosting a special event this summer. On August 12, from 9-11 p.m., timed to the peak of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower, visitors can purchase tickets to ride the Roundhouse Gondola up to the top of Bald Mountain. The $125 ticket includes gondola access, food and drinks, and guided astronomy programming led by experts — giving visitors a chance to take in central Idaho’s dark skies at their fullest, and to experience Sun Valley’s newly certified status firsthand.

• Related: Breckenridge, CO, Receives Dark Sky Certification