Boise, Idaho is a hidden paradise for outdoor fitness fanatics. With one of the largest interconnected trail systems in the United States, the city offers a wide range of trails for all skill levels. From the foothills to the Boise River Wildlife Management Area, there are plenty of trails to explore. Whether you're looking for a challenging hike or an easy stroll, Boise has something for everyone.
Camel's Back Park is one of the most popular parks in Boise. It features a children's playground, tennis courts, picnic area, outdoor gym, and access to the trails in the Boise foothills and Hulls Gulch Reservation. Here you'll find dozens of kilometers of mountain biking, hiking and running trails perfect for all skill levels. The Table Rock Trail is a 3.7-mile hike through the foothills of Boise. It offers panoramic views of Boise and, if you walk at the right time of day, you can witness a beautiful sunset.
Located in the Boise River Wildlife Management Area, this trail is a 4.7-mile round trip trail that leads to the abandoned Adelmann Mine. If you want to enjoy beautiful views and get a little exercise, the 2-mile-long Camels Back Trail Loop will suit your needs. This trail is steep in some parts, and to get a view of Boise, you can climb some steep stone stairs to see the city from above. This interpretive pedestrian-only trail is a great option if you want to learn a little more about the history of the Boise foothills.
The Hulls Gulch nature trail joins the Camels Back Trail if you want to extend your trip a bit. The Ridge to Rivers Partnership protects and maintains more than 190 miles of Boise's best trails with a multi-agency agreement led by the city. Ridge to Rivers works with landowners and allows easy access and navigation through its network of trails. The Ridge to Rivers website has an interactive map and general etiquette guidelines for trails. Starting from the parking lot of the Old Penitentiary, the Table Rock Trail climbs nearly two miles to the top of Table Rock. Here, visitors can get a close look at the Table Rock Cross, which has been standing for more than 60 years.
The trail gains nearly 1,000 feet in height along the way, but the views of the surrounding city are worth it. The Stack Rock Trail has a much more forested environment thanks to its elevation within the Boise National Forest. These pine-lined surroundings are often a relief from the city's scorching summer temperatures. The forest also adds beautiful scenery to appreciate on this approximately 10-mile circular lollipop trail. Stack Rock Trail is a popular hike for all members of the family.
The trailhead can be accessed via a 13-mile drive along Bogus Basin Road. The start of a newly built trail has plenty of parking space, although it gets crowded in the early afternoon on busy days. At the beginning of the trail there is a vaulted bathroom and a small picnic area. The Around the Mountain trail itself is approximately 6.5 miles long. To walk or bike around this mountain, users must connect to other trails such as Deer Point and Pioneer Trail to cover a circuit of approximately 10 miles. Mores Mountain is next to Shafer Butte and is a 20-minute drive from downtown on Bogus Basin Road.
The approximately two-mile Mores mountain circuit starts at the Shafer Butte picnic area and climbs to its peak. The trail presents some challenges with approximately 500 feet of unevenness but is accessible to most hikers. The hike to the top of Lucky Peak is a challenging nearly 10-mile round trip hike with approximately 2,500 feet of elevation change. This demanding trail offers a fun side walk along the way or a separate destination to walk to -the Adelmann mine. This abandoned gold mine is three miles from the trail and dates back more than a century.
Despite its age, most of its structure is still intact. The Polecat Loop Trail is less than 1,000 feet high and offers views of both Lucky Peak Lake and Boise Ridge. The traditional Polecat Loop follows around the perimeter of this trail system with several cutting trails available for those who want shorter loops. The Oregon Trail Preserve is near southeast Boise, less than 10 miles from Idaho State Capitol Building. This 77-acre natural space offers an excellent walk for families along historic railroad tracks -for thousands of migrants who crossed Oregon Trail in mid-19th century this reserve offered prominent view of Boise River.
