It's crazy to say this but I have lived in Boise for 30+ years and have never been on a majority of…read morethe greenbelt. I have been to a couple spots but not a good portion of the belt. It was sunny, warm and beautiful out today so I took it as a sign to take a bike ride along the river. I started my ride at the Marigold and Glenwood entrance. I made my way down the path. A lot of construction going on for the new park that is being built by the Fairgrounds. I look forward to checking it out when it's finally complete. The ride along the river was beautiful. The trail was easy to ride and had a lot of spots you can stop at to check out. Wildlife, plant life and of course the water. Every stretch of the river is so different. I did stop at a part of the river that looked like a lagoon. The trees covering the benched area. The sun shining through the branches. You get beautiful rays of sun peaking through. It was truly a magical area. Made my way further down by the white water rafting area. People everywhere on thier bikes or folks just walking. Everyone had the same idea about enjoying this beautiful weather today. We were all soaking up mother earth. I biked all the way down to Main and Chinden. I decided to flip around. I still had to ride my bike home and didn't want to overwhelm myself with a longer ride back to my house which was another mile from the Marigold entrance. If I would have had a partner with me or have driven to the river, I probably would have continued on. But, that's for another adventure! This stretch of the river was so pretty. I'm happy I got to check it out today. It's amazing how beautiful our little city is. I'm looking forward to checking out the other side of the river heading towards Eagle. I'm sure it's just a beautiful as what I experienced today.

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!

You guys remember that scene in the classic movie "George and the Dragon" where they stumble upon…read moresome dragon pooty and George has to stick his hand in to see how old it was? Well, that stack of pooty is this rock. In a good way. Honestly, our total hike was 11 miles and that killed me a little. A lot. But, it was overall a shady, pleasant hike with a great view at the end! I maybe would've go alone, just because you'd be hiking 4 hours by yourself. There's a parking lot at the trail head or street parking below that if the lot is full. Bring water and a snack!

Wow, oh, wow. This hike is a gem. The signs posted throughout the trail refer to it as "Freddy's…read moreStack Rock Trail", and this is considered an intermediate hike. To Stack Rock and back from the trailhead, this hike is just shy of 9 miles. I went with a group of friends and it took us roughly 6 hours from start to finish. How to get there: You'll find the trailhead about 13 miles up Bogus Basin rd on the left hand side. There's a larger gravel parking area on the side of the road. If you're going in the summer months, there is likely to be a lot of cars there. If you're not sure you're at the right spot, take a look at the map posted at the trailhead to ensure that it says "Freddy's Stack Rock Trail". I went with someone who had been before, so we made it there and back with no trouble. However, if it's your first time going, I recommend you read up on this loop or go with someone who has done it before. The loop breaks off into lots of other trails and it appears that it could be easy to get lost if you go into it ill-prepared. Scenery: STUNNING. There are gorgeous Ponderosa pine, and Douglas Firs surrounding the trail, as well as plentiful amounts of wildflowers. There are also lots of spots that overlook the forest and give you the opportunity to take in its grandeur. The photos I've posted give you an idea, but don't do it justice. From start to finish, this hike is beautiful. Stack Rock: I mean the trees and wildflowers are gorgeous, but this is what you do the hike for! After hiking 4-5 miles, you'll arrive at the stack rock formation. It's a bit daunting to climb, so take your steps wisely and consider how you'll get down before you go up! The views from here are truly remarkable though and absolutely worth the climb. Other things: - It's about 20 degrees cooler up here than it is down in Boise (and it's a bit windy). Bring a jacket, you'll probably want it at some point. Even if it is in the middle of the summer. - Also, bring snacks, bug spray, and sunscreen! - I had (limited) cell service for a good amount of the hike. - Lastly, for the sake of safety...don't do this hike alone. You go pretty deep into the forest. Bring a buddy. Better yet, bring 3 or 4.

Oh man, oh man, oh man--all of the heart eyes! (Not the easiest thing in the world to get to, but…read morelike a hidden treasure, once you find it, the hunt is so worth it!) How to get there(ish): 1. Head up ID 55 like you're going towards McCall 2. Hang a right on Banks Lowman Highway 3. Drive for 28 miles and then you'll see Pine Flats Campground on the right 4. (Now getting to the hot springs is a bit tricky. Side note: I definitely would NOT recommend attempting this in snowy weather, that just would not be smart or safe.) Anyways, you're going to take a trail that runs sort of by the river and is towards the rightmost part of the campground. You'll walk for what I assume to be a quarter mile, and then voila! You'll arrive at a beach along the river with massive boulders and pools stacked against the hillside (this is all natural by the way)! The Campground: Parking is $5/day, and I am not sure about the cost of overnight camping as we only made a day trip here. They have one bathroom here, and, well, it's totally a public park bathroom. The Views: We went on an October weekend, so we had a view that combined all things beautiful that Idaho has to offer in one--snow on mountains in the distance, lush green hills, stunning fall foliage, a rushing river running along the hot springs, and clean mountain air. The Hot Springs: A good amount of the pools of water were warm and I would only recommend sitting in them if the weather is above 80 degrees, or else you'll get chilly real quick. But for the most part, they were toasty, especially if you sat underneath the ones with waterfalls--those will heat you right up! Pro Tip(s): 1. Make sure you have more than enough gas in your car--you're out of service up here and out of luck if you run out of gas. 2. Bring a big water bottle! Sitting in hot water will dehydrate ya real quick.

For anyone feeling super adventurous and spontaneous. Maybe even wanting to just get out and…read moreexperience something new this beginning of spring Pine Flats is definitely the perfect spot. When you arrive it can be a little confusing but don't be overwhelmed with the long walking trail! Overall our experience for first timers was great. We did have to walk a little and if your a first timer also like us you may want to be ready with some hiking shoes, warm clothes/swimming clothes if your using the hot springs and a happy motivation(: The hot springs pool overall is pretty smaller then expected but good maybe for couples if you need a nice date idea. The temperature is perfect if you land in the right spot. (Lower ones are better) would we do this again ? 10/10 yes.