This is a quiet, hidden place for a nature walk off Maple Grove and McMillan Rd. Lots of ducks,…read morewater views, Mountain View's and well established paths to walk on. They also have some benches and clean accessible bathrooms. No dogs allowed unless they are service dogs.

Boise has more than 90 developed parks. Last week I visited Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve. It's a 53…read moreacre park that serves as a sanctuary for birds, bats, and animals. If I had known about the bats, I would've visited sooner. This park has stocked ponds and fishing. I was there for almost 2 hours. All of these photos are taken in sequence with the intention of giving you a sense of what it's like to walk through the park and loop around to the sidewalk that runs down Maple, then re-enter the park and exit. I've included a couple of short videos for your Moment of Zen. Enjoy!

Hull's Gulch is one of the many trails behind Camelback park and is one of the main reasons why…read moreliving in Boise is so amazing. Proximity from downtown to this well-kept trail makes it fun for everyone and a great hike for visitors and locals. This trail starts a bit after the main parking lots and takes a dirt road- an SUV or truck type of car is probably best for this. I would say this is for the intermediate/expert hiker. It's around 7 miles and has some steep hills. So, hiking boots or athletic shoes are a must. It takes around 2.5-3 hours and there are tons of very picturesque places to stop along the creek (or crick, as many Idahoans say). During the summer months here in Boise, it stays light out until 9-10 pm. So I love starting this hike after work hours, without the worry of it getting too dark before getting back. You can see a lot of wildlife- birds, snakes, bugs, etc. There are usually a decent amount of people who walk their dog off-leash here. Hull's Gulch Interpretive Trail vs. the other foothill trails, there tend to be more bikers and fewer hikers. If you're into mountain biking, this would be a great trail for you!

Hull's Gulch Interpretive Trail is a roughly 7 mile (there and back) trail that meanders through…read morethe Boise foothills. It is uphill, though not steeply so (the elevation increase throughout the duration of the trail is roughly 1000 feet). We came midmorning on a Saturday and it took our party of 3 roughly 3 hours to complete (with some stopping for picture taking). The trail follows alongside a creek and so there are some picturesque spots. At the top of the trail there is a small waterfall (the amount of water depends on the time of year and snowmelt). There are informative and poetic signs (I'm not being sarcastic--truly--they have signs with poetry!) sprinkled throughout the trail and a few lovely (wide and sturdy) foot bridges along the path as well. The road to drive to the trail head isn't paved and though could be traversed by car, there were a couple of ruts that made me glad we drove our CRV and not our Accord, so something to think about if you have a low vehicle. Also, it is quite long, so I wouldn't recommend it for little ones and the path isn't wide enough in some areas for a jogger type stroller (and too rough for a conventional one). But, for older kids with stamina, it's great! Plus, given it's a there and back hike--you could always turn around at any point if it proves to much for some! The proximity to downtown is great and at the top where the waterfall is, there is also a gorgeous vantage, through a valley between the foothills, of the downtown skyline. Fresh air, gurgling creek, and nature poetry-- Get to it!

This is for the Eagle Fish Hatchery. they are CLOSED ! no matter what the website says. I do wish…read morethe employees would take the time to update their website. Even with employees milling about, they did all they could to avoid us. Really sad way to be treated. At least put up a sign if you are not willing to interact.

We came today for the first time to go take our kids Tubing down their snow blown slopes…read more We didn't have to pay for parking because we have the parks annual pass. It was $35 a person for 1.5 hours and they closed at 8pm. My kids had a total blast tubing! There's 4 different lanes to go down so you don't run into other people and they have 2 escalators you can easily walk up so that you spend more energy having fun. Theres also a sitting area for family that's not tubing or for you to take a break. They had a fire pit going and a little snack shack. Great time! Worth the money for us!

The stairs may look a bit intimidating at first, but the hike was actually short and pretty easy…read more There was a little boy, maybe 3 or 4 years old, climbing beside me with his dad and despite all the whining, he made it to the top too! The sunset view at the top was absolutely stunning, we came on a clear day and could see the entire city blanketed in trees. Such a breathtaking sight and definitely a must-see when visiting Boise. The parking lot was easy to find with plenty of space, making the whole experience even better.

This is one of the MOST EPIC parks I've ever been to. It was filled to brim with life, adventure…read moreand just wholesome fun. I came here on a Saturday afternoon and there were kids soccer games, folks playing tennis, families working out, and all ages hiking the hills. Behind the park is even tons of winding trails for both hiking and biking. While the climb up to the top of the main hill wasn't all that long, it was definitely steep. With the sun beaming down, it felt rather invigorating and provided a nice feeling of accomplishment making it to the top. This park definitely is a special part of town and it's clear that local residents definitely cherish and appreciate it!

I've got to say that all the five-star reviews for Idaho River Sports are well deserved. My wife…read moreand I bought a paddle board and kayak last year. Everyone who helped was very friendly and knowledgeable giving us the information needed to make the right decision. Prices were very reasonable too. What sets them apart is their after sales support. Months after our original purchases, we came back today needing some help on how to secure the kayak to the roof of our car. Jake was especially helpful showing me how to properly tie it down. Kudos to the entire Idaho River Sports team!

This place always has the nicest, most patient staff, great classes & safety is always first! I…read morehighly recommend them for buying or renting or even education. The staff genuinely care about education & support & accessibility! I know from firsthand experience they will work with anyone of any abilities (including physical or mental limitations!) 100% recommend! And big clean bathroom & beverages are available for purchase on site too.

This is a fun place to cool off on a hot day. Plenty of parking that lines the pond area so you…read moredon't have to carry things very far to get to the water. There's a nice sandy beach where you can set up your things. If you need it there are shaded and unshaded picnic tables on the pavement and bike racks to lock up your bikes nearby. Lots of ducks and geese so watch for poop bombs but not that bad. Overall a clean park. We noticed scuba divers, fishermen, magnet fishers, kayakers, and lots of paddle boards. The water is pretty clear and clean and is on the cooler side. There are rentals available if you want to pick up a paddle board or bring your own. On the hot summer weekends, get there before 11am because there is little to no parking after noon.

Great area for summer recreation. Lots of walking and bike paths, a few sandy beaches, picnic…read moretables overlooking the water. Very clean in the areas we explored on our paddleboard. Plenty of the ducks came close to visit, probably looking for food, but not aggressive at all. Really nice park and water area in the middle of Boise.

Spanning 25 miles and connecting several towns, the Boise River Greenbelt is an absolute marvel of…read morea public park. I just love how everyone is doing their own thing, whether that's walking, strolling, biking, fishing, kayaking or even surfing! Yes that's right, there's a section where you can actually surf the stream.. how cool is that?! There a signs at the entrances that remind people not to be a "speed demon" and also signs warning about blind curves, which I very much appreciated. We rented those Lime electric scooters and were able to scoot nearly the entire path, which felt so epic and fun. Of course, we were mindful of pedestrians, bikes and foot traffic. One of my favorites parts of the path was when went past the Boise Zoo and saw not just one, but too giraffes poking their heads up at the trees. They were ginormous and even seems to acknowledge us with curious eyes and ears. What a special treat to have such an open, accessible and convenient public space right in the heart of a city!

Oh how I long for a great bike ride or run down the Greenbelt. The Greenbelt is an absolute gem and…read moreI am a firm believer in getting as much time on the Greenbelt as possible. It quite literally runs along the river and is absolutely stunning all the way through. From parks like Ann Morrison to Boise State's campus to where you drop in the river for floating at Barber Park. There is plenty to do along the Greenbelt. It is always fun to plan days going from hot spot to hot spot on a bike or on foot. It's also great to spend some time kicking it by the river at one of the Greenbelt's many hang out areas, especially during the summer.

Come see the new & even more improved park! More parking scattered around downtown, more shops, of…read morebigger variety... & new bathrooms!

This is in downtown Eagle. There are fountains in the summer, a gazebo, some benches for seating…read moreand a small grassy area. It's a great spot to take a little break during the day, if you're out in downtown Eagle. They have a Saturday market from 9:30AM - 2PM. This year the market is open April 23 - October 15th. We've been to the market a few times over the last several years and have enjoyed it. There is nowhere near the selection as the downtown Boise market but for Eagle, it's a nice Saturday morning outing!

Free parking, access to three large ponds, walking and biking paths, and paddle board/kayak…read morerentals. Two very large ponds connected together with a third separate (Quinn pond) across a small street.

BEAUTIFUL PARK!!!!! There's water, yummy little spots to find a snack or eat a meal, rental…read morescooters all around, ducks and geese and a fun little play area for the kiddos!! The Boise river runs right through the middle of the park as well as a little lake off to the side where you can fish or float on your SUP board! Beautiful landscaping and even a short boardwalk through some wet lands where you can bird watch! One of my favorite places to go when we visit Boise!

Greatest week of my life. Humbled by the beauty, power and grace of the river. Forever grateful…read moreto the guides for the gift of their leadership that included not just the requisite skill and knowledge, but also a tremendous joy and love that permeated our entire group from the start. I am a changed person and will cherish these memories for the rest of my days.

If you are interested in the most amazing river trip ever, you might want to book a trip with…read morecanyons right freaking now! The guides were the perfect hosts, keeping everyone safe on the river and wanting for nothing in the camp. Props to Wren and Chris as the mother ducks keeping us safe. Tess rules the kitchen with lasagne, New York strips, and salmon dinners. Colin was an excellent oarsman and bartender (wicked recipe on the tequila shot!) Tyler kept everyone organized and brought the Patty's! How in the hell Timmy kept up with this group at almost 80 is beyond comprehension. We enjoyed perfect weather mid June for a 6 day trip, our crew had 3 kids who absolutely thrived on all of the water activities. They can't wait to get back on the river with this group of guides. Way to go canyons crew, we love you all for life! Thank you for letting us be part of your family!