North of Ketchum, Galena Lodge is a historic, community-saved day lodge that serves as the gateway to a vast network of alpine singletrack and groomed Nordic trails.
Galena Lodge stands as a historic outpost in the Boulder Mountains, located 23 miles north of Ketchum along the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. Situated at 7,300 feet above sea level, the rustic log structure occupies the former townsite of Galena, a silver mining camp that bustled with 800 residents in the early 1880s before turning into a ghost town. The current lodge was constructed during the 1960s using timbers and remnants salvaged from the original 19th-century settlement. In 1994, when the property faced abandonment and potential demolition, a community-led Help Save Galena campaign raised over $500,000 to purchase the site. A pivotal donation of $325,000 from Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation secured the purchase, after which the property was deeded to the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD). Today, the lodge operates under a special-use permit with the Sawtooth National Forest, serving as a beloved day-use hub for outdoor recreation.
The lodge is managed by operators Kyle and Chelan Oldemeyer, who took over concession operations in 2023, continuing a tradition of hands-on stewardship. During the summer months, the lodge acts as the trailhead for a 47-mile network of non-motorized singletrack trails, designed for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The surrounding terrain, which includes the Senate Meadows, was shaped by old mining and logging roads that have been repurposed into recreational paths. Inside the lodge, the restaurant serves daily lunch, featuring hearty mountain fare, espresso drinks, and their signature fresh-baked giant cookies. While the main log building does not offer overnight guest rooms, the lodge manages four semi-backcountry yurts, including the Senate View Yurt and the Honeymoon Yurt, which are tucked into the surrounding pine forests and available for overnight rentals.
Winter transforms the landscape into a premier Nordic skiing destination, with the lodge serving as the northern anchor of the 100-kilometer North Valley Trails system. The BCRD grooms over 50 kilometers of Nordic ski trails and packs 25 kilometers of dedicated snowshoe trails directly surrounding the property. Dog owners can utilize 36 kilometers of these groomed trails with their pets. After a day on the snow, visitors gather around the lodge's stone fireplace to warm up. Throughout the winter season, the lodge hosts monthly Full Moon Dinners, where guests enjoy a multi-course fireside gourmet feast before embarking on a night ski or snowshoe under the stars. The combination of community ownership, deep mining history, and meticulously maintained trails makes the lodge a vital sanctuary for those exploring the headwaters of the Big Wood River.
Book a reservation for one of the winter Full Moon Dinners well in advance, and bring your headlamp for the post-feast night ski through the Senate Meadows.