Outdoors & Recreation
Last updated: 2026-05-28
The Treasure Valley is bracketed by serious outdoor country. The Boise Foothills rise straight out of downtown into the Ridge to Rivers system — more than 190 miles of singletrack trail managed jointly by the city, Ada County, BLM, and the Forest Service. Hulls Gulch, Camel's Back, Table Rock, and Military Reserve are the most popular trailheads. The Boise River Greenbelt traces the river for about 25 paved miles from Lucky Peak to Eagle Island, threading through Julia Davis Park, Ann Morrison, Esther Simplot, and Garden City. South of the valley, the Owyhee Mountains drop into Oregon, offering remote backcountry; north, the Boise National Forest climbs into the Sawtooths.
Float season on the Boise River usually runs from about Memorial Day through Labor Day, depending on flows out of Lucky Peak. The classic float is Barber Park to Ann Morrison — about a two-hour trip on a typical summer flow of 1,200–1,800 cfs. Flows above ~3,500 cfs are considered unsafe for tubing; the city closes the float when conditions warrant. Boise Parks and Recreation operates rentals and a shuttle at Barber Park.
For skiing, Bogus Basin sits 16 miles up Bogus Basin Road from downtown Boise — closer than any major-metro ski hill in the country. Tamarack Resort is about 90 minutes north near Donnelly. Brundage Mountain and Little Ski Hill are at McCall. For hot springs, Idaho City and the Banks-Lowman corridor have several developed and undeveloped soaks. Hunting and fishing are managed by Idaho Fish and Game, and licensing is online.
The links below cover trail systems, river resources, ski areas, Idaho Fish and Game, state parks, and the federal land managers — BLM, Forest Service, and the National Park Service for nearby units.
What you'll find on this page
- Ridge to Rivers trail system — maps, conditions, trailheads.
- Boise River Greenbelt and the float-season Barber Park program.
- Idaho Fish and Game — licenses, regulations, stocking reports.
- Idaho State Parks — Lucky Peak, Eagle Island, Three Island, Bruneau Dunes.
- BLM, Forest Service, and other federal land manager pages.
- Bogus Basin, Tamarack, Brundage — ski conditions and passes.
- Hot springs guides, hunting, and backcountry resources.
River Levels
Source: USGS Water Services
Ridge to Rivers Trails
Boise's official trail network home — more than 190 miles in the Foothills. Includes interactive map, trail etiquette, condition reports, and trailhead info.
Ridge to Rivers Condition Reports
Current trail-by-trail condition updates from Ridge to Rivers — mud, snow, closures, and maintenance work.
Boise River Greenbelt
29-mile tree-lined paved pathway along the Boise River connecting parks from Eagle to Lucky Peak — access points, rules, and seasonal info.
Float the Boise River — Ada County Parks
Official float-season guide from Ada County Parks & Waterways: put-in at Barber Park, take-out at Ann Morrison Park, shuttle bus, and tube/raft rentals.
Idaho State Parks
Park information, camping reservations, and day-use fees for Idaho's state parks system.
Eagle Island State Park
Day-use park between Eagle and Star with a swimming beach, water slide, picnic areas, and trails along the Boise River.
Lucky Peak State Park
Three-unit park at Lucky Peak Reservoir with swimming, boating, fishing, and picnic areas just east of Boise.
Three Island Crossing State Park
Historic Oregon Trail crossing in Glenns Ferry with camping, the Oregon Trail History and Education Center, and Snake River access.
Bruneau Dunes State Park
Home of North America's tallest single-structured sand dune (470 ft) — sandboarding, an observatory, camping, and stargazing in southern Owyhee/Elmore County.
Idaho State Parks Reservations
Reserve campsites, yurts, cabins, and day-use sites at any Idaho state park.
Snake River Birds of Prey NCA
BLM-managed Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area — the greatest concentration of nesting raptors in North America, along 81 miles of the Snake River canyon south of Boise.
Deer Flat NWR & Lake Lowell
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge near Nampa — Lake Lowell for boating and fishing, plus prime year-round birding and walking trails.
Boise National Forest
USFS Boise National Forest — 2.6 million acres of mountains, lakes, and rivers north and east of the Valley including the Sawtooth NRA gateway.
BLM Boise District
Bureau of Land Management Boise District — public lands info, dispersed camping, OHV areas, and hunting/fishing access across southwest Idaho.
BLM Owyhee Field Office
BLM office covering the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, Wild and Scenic rivers, and remote backcountry across Owyhee County.
Recreation.gov — Camping Reservations
Reserve campsites at federal campgrounds near Treasure Valley, including Lucky Peak, Cascade Reservoir, and the Sawtooths.
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area
Year-round recreation 16 miles from Boise — skiing and snowboarding in winter, hiking, mountain biking, and the Glade Runner alpine coaster in summer.
Tamarack Resort
Full-service ski and summer resort about 90 minutes north of Boise near Cascade, Idaho.
Brundage Mountain Resort
Family-friendly ski area near McCall, about 2 hours north of Boise — famous for deep powder and laid-back vibes.
Idaho Hot Springs Guide
Official Idaho tourism guide to natural hot springs — many within an easy drive of Boise via Idaho 21 toward Idaho City and Lowman.
Idaho Angler Fishing Report
Local fly shop fishing reports for the Boise, South Fork Boise, and other nearby rivers — flows, hatches, and recommended flies.
IDFG — Fishing & Hunting
Idaho Fish and Game: licenses, regulations, seasons, species information, and access points statewide.
Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (ID-21)
131-mile scenic drive from Boise through Idaho City and Lowman to Stanley — passing hot springs, the Sawtooths, and prime camping country.