By Mariah Cannon

Boise is known for it’s close proximity to hiking and biking trails and I’ve been exploring the best hikes close to Boise that have some of the best views of Boise and surrounding valleys, along with the foothills. Below, I’m going to share some of my favorites and ones that you should definitely check out while in the area!

Things to Know Before Hiking in the Foothills

1. The majority of these trails are also mountain biking trails, be sure to follow trail etiquette and move out of the way for bikers.
2. Since these trails are for both hikers and bikers and are mostly taken care of with the Rider to Rivers partnership – it’s important to not be on the trails when they’re muddy. We want to keep the trails nice and not ruin them so we can keep enjoying them for years to come!
3. All of these trails are dog friendly unless stated otherwise. And Idaho sure does love their dogs, so be prepared to run into a few.
4. You’ll have a hard time finding solitude on these trails, if you’re looking for some more off the beaten path hikes, I’ve curated an AllTrails list with some great less busy options.
5. Leave no Trace – it’s super important to leave nature better than we found it, so make sure to pack out everything you packed in and don’t carve on any trees, stumps, fences, or structures you come across.

Here’s my list on Alltrails of the Best Trails in the Boise Foothills!

You can also use my link to get 30% off your first year of Plus or Peak membership! Sign up for Alltrails Plus or Peak! I do receive a small commission at not extra cost to you if you choose to sign up through me! It helps keep my dream going and the blogs coming! 🙂

Harrison Hollow to Who Now Loop

Distance: 2.5 miles round-trip

Elevation: 406 feet

Hike Type: Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

This trail is so much fun, especially in the Summer months around sunset time – the views are great and there’s usually tons of sunflowers.

Red Cliffs Nature Trail Loop

Distance: 3.1 miles round-trip

Elevation: 482 feet

Hike Type: Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Red Cliffs Nature Trail is a stunning moderate trail that gives beautiful views of both the treasure Valley and the foothills and it is great, especially at sunset time, the golden glow comes to life over the whole valley!

Cottonwood Creek Trail

Distance: 1.5 miles

Elevation: 91 feet

Hike Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

This is a super popular trail for mountain biking, trail running, and nature walking. When hiking here, make sure to watch out for downhill bikers and runners. To have a little more solitude, make sure to visit during a weekday early in the morning or towards sunset time. There is a section for off leash controlled doggos on this trail.

Elephant Rock Loop

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Elevation: 141 feet

Hike Type: Lollipop loop

Difficulty: Easy

This trail is super short, but super fun! It’s a lollipop loop with extensive views of both Boise and the foothills. The Elephant rock itself kind of just pops out of nowhere and is super fun. It’s not as big as I thought it would be, but still super neat!

Hulls Gulch Interpretive Trail

Distance: 6.5 miles round-trip

Elevation: 1,138 feet

Hike Type: Lollipop loop

Difficulty: Moderate

I really enjoyed this trail, I had it mostly to myself on a cloudy day and the Fall colors were glorious. You hike in between buttes and next to a creek a lot of the way before climbing back up to a little viewpoint area that touches the Boise National Forest. The trail is narrow here, so be cautious of that. Be on the lookout for wildlife including birds, deer, and coyotes on this hike.

The Grove Loop #38

Distance: 1.3 miles round-trip

Elevation: 79 feet

Hike Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

The Grove is perfect for families and kiddos, it’s flat and accessible and offers lush green trees in the Spring and Summer, and gorgeous Fall colors in mid October-early November. There’s also lots of interpretive signs at the beginning of the trailhead and some fun features for children.

Table Rock

Distance: 3.3 miles round-trip

Elevation: 870 feet

Hike Type: Out & Back

Difficulty: Moderate

I love table rock for its close proximity to Boise, view of the valley, and workout it gives. It’s almost 900 feet in elevation gain, which provides a nice challenge with rewarding views.

Chukar Butte

Distance: 9 miles round-trip

Elevation: 1,135 feet

Hike Type: Out & Back

Difficulty: Moderate due to mileage

This trail can be a fun one on an overcast day! The hills surrounding the whole trail are so fun, this trail does have a lot of views of housing developments and suburbs, but you can still find some more solitude than some of the above mentioned trails. There is also a super fun tree swing at the end near the pond and it’s a neat little feature.

Final Thoughts

There are so many trails throughout the Boise foothills and all of them are so fun and have incredible views of the surrounding valley. I recommend getting to these trails earlier in the morning during a weekday or even for sunset on any day – you’ll find a little more solitude.

Enjoy this guide to the best trails in Boise? Be sure to save it for future adventures.

Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah 🙂