Best Hikes for Fall Foliage

Credit: Unsplash The air is getting colder and trees are beginning to change colors into gorgeous oranges, reds, and yellows. Boise is known as the City of Trees and it sure lives up to the name in the fall time. There is no better way to experience the beauty of the fall season in Boise than to get out into the outdoors and try some of these hikes that show off the fall foliage!    Mores Mountain Interpretive Trail: Credit: Unsplash This trail is located 21 miles north of Boise, past Bogus Basin, and within the Shafer Butte Recreation Area. It is a 4.25-mile loop with a vertical gain of 1,000 feet, making it a moderate to difficult hike. This trail overlooks the Boise National Forest from every direction and even has views of the Sawtooths. Fall foliage on this hike includes shrubbery and deciduous trees turning stunning red and gold!   Eagle Island State Park Loop: Credit: Unsplash This trail is a 4.7-mile loop inside Eagle Island State Park that is mostly flat and considered an easy to moderate hike. It follows along the Boise River, offering top-notch birding with species including belted kingfisher, black-crowned night heron, and a variety of warblers. This trail is surrounded by trees that showcase bright red leaves come fall and is the perfect place for a fall foliage hike!   Dry Creek Trail: Credit: Unsplash This hike is a 14.1-mile out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 2,342 feet. It connects Lower Bogus Basin Road and Boise Ridge Road and is considered a moderate to difficult trail. This trail is popular for birding and wildlife watching and goes along a drainage in the Foothills. The shrubbery surrounding the creek turns lovely fall colors as the air gets colder. Do as many miles of this trail as you want and enjoy the fall scenery and wildlife!   Boise Greenbelt: Credit: Unsplash The Boise Greenbelt follows the Boise River and is surrounded by trees full of leaves changing colors. This is a paved path that features almost no elevation gain, making it a very easy walk or bike ride. You can follow this path for as long as you want along the river either east or west of downtown, with a total of 25 paved miles. This classic Boise path is the perfect spot to see some fall foliage without having to go far!

View more

Fall Roundup: 5 Places for Fall Fun

Credit: Gustavo Fring It’s beginning to cool down in Boise and we are getting closer and closer to fall. Autumn in Boise means leaves changing color everywhere you look, and countless fun activities for you to enjoy with family and friends. Here are 5 places to soak up some fall fun in Boise!    Apple Picking in Emmett: Apple picking is the perfect activity to get you in the fall mood and support some local orchards! Williams Fruit Ranch in Emmett offers U-pick fruit with multiple varieties of apples as well as plums and prunes. Bring the whole family or come with friends for a fun activity with the added benefit of going home with a haul of apples!   The Farmstead: The Lowe Family Farmstead is located in Kuna, Idaho, and has a wide variety of activities for the whole family. It is home to a big corn maze with a fun new design each year as well as a mini corn maze for young kids. There is also a pumpkin patch where you can search for the perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern. The Farmstead also offers fun activities including: hayrides, a U-pick flower field, gemstone mining, corn boxes, a potato sack slide, farm animals, and countless other things to keep you and your family entertained and in the fall spirit!   Boise River Greenbelt: Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year to walk or ride on the Boise Greenbelt. The path runs along the Boise River and is surrounded by stunning scenery of orange and red leaves falling from the trees. The cooler weather also makes a walk along the Greenbelt much more enjoyable. Get out on the Greenbelt and experience the natural beauty of fall in Boise!   View a map here!   Boise Farmers Market: The Boise Farmers Market is open every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1500 Shoreline Drive and is the perfect place to find locally grown fall produce. The Capitol City Public Market focuses more on pre-made food, art, and produce and remains open through December. Stop by from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Grove Plaza for some cinnamon sugar mini donuts or some locally made apple cider to get cozied up in the crisp air.   Boise State Football games: Boise State Football games are a fall tradition in Boise. Set on the famous blue turf field, Boise State games are sure to entertain even those who aren’t diehard fans. Bronco games have a great atmosphere and are a fun way to spend a Friday or Saturday evening this fall!   Check out the schedule of games here!

View more

Labor Day Weekend Events in Boise

  Photo Credit: Unsplash Labor Day is coming up on the first Monday of September, which falls on the 4th this year. This holiday celebrates the achievements of American workers and stems from the workers rights movement in the late 19th century. Celebrate Labor Day in style with these events in the Boise area! Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic: Photo Credit: Unsplash The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic is a treasured annual event hosted in Ann Morrison Park. From Wednesday to Sunday, colorful hot air balloons take to the skies and offer visitors a unique experience to see them up close and up in the air. This multi-day event is FREE to the public, and various days are scheduled for special events, like Kids day on Wednesday, August 30th. Yoga on the Mountain: Photo Credit: Unsplash Bogus Basin is holding another Yoga on the Mountain, a FREE yoga class right at the bottom of the ski lifts. This event occurs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. September 2-4, right next to Bogus Basin Lodge. No need to sign up, just show up and bring a yoga mat (or a blanket/towel if you don’t have a mat) and get ready to get your zen on! This event is followed by live music on the patio at 2 p.m., so bring up some lunch and enjoy your day in the mountains. Warhawk Museum Discount Day: Photo Credit: Unsplash The Warhawk Museum is located in Nampa and contains aircraft from different wars, including World War 1 and 2, the Iraq War, and the Korean War among others. What makes this museum special is the collections of uniforms, photos, medals, gear, and written narratives about the wars donated by family members of local veterans. The Warhawk Museum is going to be open on Labor Day and offering general admission for only $5. This activity is perfect for kids with plenty of vintage planes to ooo and ahh over, and for adults to learn more about our local and national history. Hermit Music Festival: Photo Credit: Unsplash The Hermit Music Festival takes place from August 31st to September 4th at the Indian Creek Winery in Kuna. Going into its 9th year, this festival includes national and local musicians as well as art, vendors, and food in the park-like setting of the Indian Creek Winery. Tickets range from $65 for day passes to $100 for the entire weekend. The list of performing artists can be found on their website. For music lovers, this festival is the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy some music in a stunning setting. Boise Bash Scavenger Hunt: Photo Credit: Unsplash The Boise Bash Scavenger Hunt is a non-traditional hunt that begins in a local scenic spot. You will have a remote, interactive digital host and follow clues around a wide variety of Boise locations. This hunt will get you out of your comfort zone as you creatively solve problems and complete challenges! This game is both family and dog-friendly and can be done at any point over the weekend. Tickets are $24.  

View more