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

Hiking with Kids in Boise

Credit: Cottonbro Studio Your guide to Boise’s best hiking trails for kiddos and best practices to make hiking a fun and enjoyable experience for the whole family.    What to Bring: Preparation is key to having a successful hike with kids, especially younger children. Here are a few essentials to keep everyone happy and moving! Snacks - hiking can work up an appetite and little ones tend to have a lot of energy. Having plentiful and nourishing snacks is helpful to keep their hunger at bay and motivate them to keep moving along. Easy to store options include: granola bars, bananas, fruit strips, trail mix, and fruit/veggie pouches. Appropriate Clothing/Gear - the majority of hiking trails in the Boise foothills are exposed, meaning there is little shade cover. During the summer months, it's important to understand the impact of the sun (even on cloudy days). Plan to hike early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid high temperatures, and dress everyone in appropriate clothing. This includes sunhats, long-sleeve shirts, closed-toe shoes, and backpacks to carry snacks, water, sunscreen. Light rain shells or packable ponchos are good to have in case there is scattered rainstorms. Sunscreen Water - most trailheads don’t provide water so plan to bring plenty of it with you. A couple Nalgenes is enough to stay hydrated without carrying a lot of weight. The Hillside to Hollow Reserve trailhead does have a water fountain as well as Camel’s Back Park. First-Aid Kit - scrapes and other injuries can happen on the trail. Having a portable first-aid kit equipped with antiseptic wipes/spray, bandaids, and bandage wrap is a good idea to take care of minor injuries on the spot. For emergencies, most foothill trails will be within cell service to call 9-1-1. Hiking Carrier and/or Pack - if you are hiking with infants and toddlers, a hiking carrier is a gamechanger to give you proper support and a comfortable ride to your child. Some packs have additional pockets to store snacks and water bottles. A small backpack is perfect for carrying items, and older kids can wear their own to carry their own water bottles and snacks. Change of Diapers/Clothes - accidents happen so it’s best to have a change of clothes and a couple spare diapers/wipes. Bring a small blanket for a makeshift changing table on the go. Toys - this can be counterintuitive to the experience of being out in nature, but kids may not always appreciate nature’s beauty. Having a couple of their favorite small and non-electronic toys will keep them entertained and outdoors longer.    What not to bring: Expectations. If it’s your first time hiking with children, you’ll find that the pace is much slower than what you’d expect. If you have walking children, let them wander and stop to observe things. It may take a lot of patience, but this is where the magic of hiking with kiddos happens!   Best Trails for Little Kids: Deciding which trails to take depends on your family's ability and expertise. We’ve compiled a few options for younger kids. These trails are great for beginner hikers, with low elevation gains, ample tree cover, and plenty of things to see. Due to the flat terrain of these, they are relatively stroller friendly, but still graveled or dirt covered. Cottonwood Creek in the Military Reserve Pedestrian-Only Greenbelt between Barber Park and Bown Crossing in SE Boise Bethine Church Nature Trail in SE Boise Hulls Gulch Nature Trail Hulls Pond and Gold Finch behind Camel’s Back Park Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Trail in NE Boise Other Trails   Hiking Best Practices: Credit: Ekaterina BolovtsovaBoise provides great quality of life with access to these and dozens of other trails for all to use. Here are a few key reminders to do your part in keeping them protected and clean, as well as proper trail etiquette. Plan Ahead -  download a map of the trail you’re taking so you know where it leads and can gauge the terrain ahead of time. Most trails in the Ridge-to-Rivers system are easy to navigate, but range  in length, shade cover, water availability, and usage between hikers and mountain bikers. Also important, check the forecast as unexpected weather can happen anytime and affect whether a trail is usable.  Leave No Trace - there are 7 standard principles for recreating outdoors that should be applied locally in the foothills. Pack out all trash with you. If anyone needs to use the bathroom, practice digging a hole or utilize a waste bag and pack it out with you. Avoid contaminating water sources with waste. Check Trail Conditions Before You Go - the longevity and condition of the trails rely on users to responsibly recreate. This means not using wet trails and staying on trail to avoid erosion and creating ruts/imprints in the paths. Ridge-to-Rivers has daily updates on their Facebook page and website. Right of Way - the trails are heavily used by both hikers and mountain bikers alike. It’s important to follow the separation and use schedules for certain trails as they help ease congestion. Here are basic guidelines for right of way on the trails: Bikers yield to hikers and horseback riders Hikers yield to horseback riders Uphill traffic has right of way to downhill traffic Do Not Block the Trail - if you need to stop, find a good place to step off. Be mindful of where you’re stepping so you aren’t harming vegetation and stay on the trail as much as possible. Dogs on Leash, Unless Otherwise Posted - to be respectful of other trail users and wildlife, most trails are designated as dog on-leash. For designated off-leash trails, you should have voice command over your dog for quick recall. Animals, like coyotes and mountain lions, have been spotted in our area. It’s a good idea to keep your pets and kids closeby for their safety.   We hope this guide was helpful! Share your comments below with additional tips. Happy hiking!   

View more

Public Pools in Boise

  Idaho’s dry summers call for crisp cool pools. Grab your swimsuit and sunscreen and head on down to these Boise public pools! Admission costs $3 for youth (17 and under) and $5 for adults. There are other admission options as well, such as a family day pass and a season pass that help cut down costs.    Natatorium Pool and Hydrotube: The Natatorium is located at 1725 E Warm Springs Ave and features the Hydrotube, a fully enclosed slide full of twists and turns that kids and adults love. The Hydrotube is extra, costing $5 for 10 rides and $7 for all day use. Along with a pool and slide, the Natatorium also has diving boards and a wading pool for young kids. This pool is well-loved by kids for its slide and is perfect for a hot summer day!  Photo Credit: City of Boise   Ivywild Pool: Ivywild is located at S 2250 Leadville Ave and features two dropoff slides and a pretzel slide, and a wading pool for young children. These slides are a kid-favorite and ensure a fun day at the pool. Photo Credit: City of Boise   Borah Pool: With plenty of deck space for lounging, two diving boards, a basketball hoop and a small slide for young children in the shallow end, Borah Pool is a fun spot for the whole family. It is located at 801 S. Aurora Dr. Photo Credit: City of Boise   Fairmont Pool: Fairmont pool has plenty of deck space for lounging, a nice grassy area, a large shallow end and a basketball hoop. It also has a brand new inflatable slide called the Wibit! Located at 7929 W Northview St. Photo Credit: City of Boise   Boise City Aquatics Center: The Aquatics Center is an indoor swimming pool owned by the City of Boise but run by the YMCA, making its hours and pricing different. This pool is a great option if the weather is not perfect for an outdoor pool day. Located at 5959 N. Discovery Pl. Photo Credit: City of Boise

View more