Boise, Your Connection to the Great Outdoors

In the race to buy a new home and settle in a new area, it is hard to find a location that offers affordability, a good economy, and access to natural recreation. However, the unsung glory of the west, Boise, has all those and more to offer you. Here are a few of the great recreational areas near Boise that will have you adding the real estate Boise Idaho has to offer to your list of prospective new homes.

The Boise Greenbelt

Weaving it’s way through Boise, Garden City and Eagle, the Boise Greenbelt is one of the most popular trails in Idaho. This 20 mile walking and biking trail follows closely the course of the Boise River and cuts through some of Boise’s memorable city parks. Because it stays close to the river for most of it’s length, the Greenbelt tends to be more humid than the rest of the valley, and a greater number of trees, shrubs, bushes and wildlife thrive here. Because the trail begins at Lucky Peak Reservoir (located at the foot of the Boise National Forest), it draws some surprising animal life into the valley. It has been noted several times the sightings of deer along the Greenbelt to take a drink of the refreshing river water.

When traveling down the Greenbelt, there are many parks nearby that are great for barbeques, picnics, or other leisure or sporting activities. There are even sandbars along the Boise River that are excellent places to wade or play in the alpine waters.

The Boise Foothills

One of the most beloved natural recreational areas near Boise would be the Foothills. This dusty semi-arid terrain is home to lizards, groundhogs, birds of prey -- and a few humans. The Foothills are a vast network of trails, parks and landmarks that are open for the public to enjoy. The Foothills can cater to nearly everyone’s outdoor interests, whether it is biking, hiking, horseback riding, or watching.

On your adventures through the Foothills, you’ll likely visit two of the most popular Boise Foothills landmarks, Camels Back Park and Table Rock. Camels Back Park is an 11 acre park that includes large grassy fields, playgrounds and tennis courts. Table Rock, on the other hand, is almost completely undeveloped. This massive sandstone outcropping can be accessed by road, or by a three mile hike from the Old Idaho Penitentiary. From it’s plateaued peak, you can see the majority of the Treasure Valley and even into Oregon. It’s especially great for sunrise or sunset hikes.  

Lucky Peak State Park

About ten miles to the Southeast of the city is the Lucky Peak State Park. Lucky Peak is one of the major bodies of water in the Treasure Valley, consisting of two main sections -- the reservoir itself, and Sandy Point Beach, which lies below the rolled-earth dam that separates the two.

The reservoir is a body of water large enough for waterskiing and wakeboarding. People can set their boats into the water at the two individual ramps, or park their craft at the Spring Shores Marina. This beautiful reservoir, surrounded by steep canyon walls, is a must-see for anyone who visits Idaho.

Sandy Point Beach is a charming, thirty-four acre park below the dam. Its fresh alpine waters are drained straight from the reservoir, and guests can enjoy relaxing along the S-shaped beach or play in the spansive grassy area.

Bogus Basin

Up in the high peaks of the Boise National Forest is one of Idaho’s many ski resorts, the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. This resort is 2600 acres of skiable powder during the winter, and during the summer is open for hiking excursions. Best of all, this area is only a forty minute drive from downtown Boise, making it one of the state’s most popular winter destinations.

Bogus Basin Ski Resort is a nonprofit foundation sponsored in part by the City of Boise, charitable donations and ticket sales. It was started back in 1942 by the community of Boise and has served the public ever since giving opportunities to everyone to enjoy the winter mountains.

Bruneau Sand Dunes and Planetarium

Looking for a unique excursion in Idaho’s wilderness? Visit the Bruneau Dunes State Park. There are three large dunes that make up Bruneau, the largest of which is 470 feet tall -- this is the tallest sand dune in North America. The park is open for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and sand boarding. There is even an observatory to see the stars at night.

These are only some of the ways to enjoy Idaho’s natural landscape; there are so many more, especially nearby Boise. Are you considering the Idaho capitol in your house hunting endeavors? If not, you may be missing out on the adventure of a lifetime!

For Further Reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise_greenbelt

http://parks.cityofboise.org/parks-locations/parks/greenbelt/

http://www.ridgetorivers.org/

http://parks.cityofboise.org/parks-locations/parks/camels-back-park/

http://www.bogusbasin.org/about/index.aspx