Central Foothills
Boise, Idaho
Hike and Mountain Bike
From foothills to mountain tops, Idaho's wilderness offers some of the best hiking in the country. With over 19,000 miles of trails, hikers can find everything from paved recreational trails to remote wilderness paths with steep, rocky inclines. Idaho even has several trails that are nationally recognized including The Idaho Centennial Trail, which extends approximately 1,200 miles from Nevada through Idaho up to the Canadian border. In 1990, it was officially designated by the Idaho Parks and Recreation Board and became the first trail to be adopted into the State Recreational Trail System.
More Information
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https://visitidaho.org/newsroom/Never modify trail features. Ride trails when they're dry enough that you won't leave ruts. Speak up when you see others on the trail and always yield to hikers, horses, and others coming uphill. Always ride on the established trail.
Read MoreBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Boise, Idaho
- Head southwest on S Americana Blvd toward W Cooper St (0.1 mi)
- Turn left onto W River St (371 ft)
- Turn left at the 1st cross street onto S 15th St (1.4 mi)
- Turn right onto Heron St (0.3 mi)
Located 8 miles north of Eagle, Idaho in the Boise Foothills with direct access to miles of trails and open space.
Other Mountain Bike Trails and Hiking Trails Nearby
Kestrel, Crestline, Red Cliffs and Chickadee Ridge
Boise, Idaho
0.1 miles NEA popular Boise Foothills loop linking Kestrel, Crestline, Red Cliffs, and Chickadee Ridge — be prepared to share the trail with hikers and plenty of dogs.
Mountain Bike
Red Fox Loop
Boise, Idaho
0.1 miles WA shorter, beginner-friendly Boise Foothills loop with all the variety of Hulls Gulch — climbs and descents without the extreme grades, rideable at a casual pace in about 30 minutes.
Mountain Bike
kestrel, military connector, shanes, watchman, sidewinder, red cliffs
Boise, Idaho
0.1 miles WHard-packed trails with narrow, steep sections on Watchman and some good challenging climbs across this multi-trail network in the Boise foothills.
Mountain Bike
Red Cliffs
Boise, Idaho
0.2 miles NWSmooth singletrack riding in the hills near Boise — a clean, flowing trail for a satisfying ride.
Mountain Bike
Kestrel, Sidewinder, Hulls Gultch
Boise, Idaho
0.3 miles SWBoise's go-to two-hour mountain bike epic — climb gradually on Kestrel, grind up the twisting Sidewinder ridge, then bomb down Hulls Gulch on aggressive singletrack the locals call the freeway.
Mountain Bike
Hillside to the Hollow
Boise, Idaho
0.8 miles NWOpen space in the central Boise foothills with multi-use trails offering an accessible, enjoyable ride on familiar terrain.
Mountain Bike
Crest Line To Lower Hull's Gulch
Boise, Idaho
0.9 miles NEA nice mountain bike loop starting on Crestline and looping back via Lower Hull's Gulch in the Boise foothills.
Mountain Bike
Corral Loop
Boise, Idaho
1.0 miles NEA double-track foothills loop climbing to Bonneville Point, a historic Oregon Trail landmark, with rewarding ridge-line views and a fast downhill return.
Mountain Bike
Military Reserve Trails
Boise, Idaho
1.2 miles SEA 460-acre wildlife and recreation reserve near Boise with trails through a historic military range repurposed for the community — managed to preserve natural values alongside public recreation.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Shane's Loop
Boise, Idaho
1.3 miles SEA winding mountain bike loop near Boise that climbs past a shooting range to the ridge, tackles Three Bears, and descends hard before looping back with multiple trail options to the parking area.
Mountain Bike
Three Bears #26, Trail #5, Fat Tire #42, Trail #4
Boise, Idaho
1.4 miles SEA connector route through the Boise Foothills linking Military Reserve to 8th Street and Hulls Gulch via a mix of old roadbed, bench-cut singletrack, and a shared OHV downhill.
Mountain Bike
kestrel, military connector, shanes, watchman
Boise, Idaho
1.4 miles SHard pack with narrow and steep sections on Watchman make this Boise-area trail network a solid challenge for riders who want some climbing with their ride.
Mountain Bike
Lower Hulls Gulch
Boise, Idaho
1.4 miles SEA fast, shuttle-friendly downhill mountain bike run near Boise — half a mile of quick downhill on 8th Street, then flowing Lower Hulls Gulch singletrack past hikers to the bottom parking lot.
Mountain Bike
Corrals
Boise, Idaho
2.1 miles NEA wide trail connecting to Bob's, Scotts, 8th Street, and Hard Guy access — less traveled than Hulls Gulch, with some ripping descents and nice scenery in the Boise foothills.
Mountain Bike
8th Street Motorcycle Trail
Boise, Idaho
2.8 miles NESteep, rocky, and sandy mountain biking near Boise where motorcycles have carved up the first half — the second half delivers the classic technical singletrack challenge you came for.
Mountain Bike
Polecat Gulch
Garden City, Idaho
3.3 miles NWinding singletrack through Polecat Gulch on the Polecat Loop and connector trails, with nice area views and a few sandy stretches.
Mountain Bike 1.4 mi
Table Rock
Boise, Idaho
3.6 miles SEDirectly above downtown Boise, Table Rock rewards hikers with panoramic city, valley, and foothills views — especially stunning at sunrise or sunset, when the iconic white cross lights up on the peak.
Hike
Full Sail
Boise, Idaho
4.3 miles NWA contour-hugging mountain bike trail near Boise that follows the hillside toward town and connects up with Buena Vista.
Mountain Bike
Orchard / 5 Mile / Watchman
Boise, Idaho
4.7 miles EOrchard Gulch, 5 Mile Gulch, and Watchman form a connected upper foothills network above Boise with good gulch riding, bench-cut exposure, and great views of the city.
Mountain Bike
Seaman's Gulch
Garden City, Idaho
5.7 miles NWA ridgeline mountain bike trail near Garden City with a short steep climb or a longer gradual option from the water tank, connecting to Valley View and Wild Phlox Trails for multiple loop possibilities.
Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Irish Boat Ramps
Boise, Idaho
10.9 miles EA year-round scramble starting at a Boise-area reservoir and climbing steeply up an old Jeep road along a ridgeline — the first 1.5 miles are very steep, with bumps and pine trees along the way.
Camp
Roystone Hot Springs
Emmett, Idaho
23.3 miles NA private heated pool, huge hot tub, party room, and recreation area at Roystone Hot Springs in Sweet, Idaho — about 50 minutes from Boise for a relaxing day of soaking.
Camp, Hot Springs
Badger Creek Campground
Boise City-Nampa, ID, Idaho
24.5 miles EA small 5-site riverside campground at 3,200-foot elevation on the Middle Fork of the Boise River, with fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, and whitefish and access to the William Pogue National Recreational Trail nearby.
Camp
Loftus Hot Spring
Mountain Home, Idaho
30.4 miles ELoftus Hot Spring is a free Boise National Forest soak on the Middle Fork Boise River, with a hot waterfall between ~110F and ~104F pools.
Camp, Hot Springs
Pine Flat Hot Springs
Garden Valley, Idaho
39.1 miles NEAn aqua-blue hot spring pool at the base of a small waterfall on the South Fork Payette River — just a quarter mile from Pine Flat Campground in the Boise National Forest.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Hot Springs, Kayak, Whitewater
Kirkham Hot Springs Campground
Lowman, Idaho
44.5 miles NEMultiple hot waterfalls flowing into shallow rock pools right along a highway 21 pullout near the Boise National Forest — popular in both summer and winter seasons.
Camp, Hot Springs
Park Creek Campground
Lowman, Idaho
45.3 miles NEA small, tranquil campground in an old-growth forest along Park Creek in the Baker Lake basin, close to Baker Lake and the larger Swift Creek Campground.
Camp
