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 Largest park in Boise |
Americana Boulevard (south of Boise River; near Capitol and Americana boulevards) Boise, ID 83702 United States +1 208 384 4240 (Boise Parks Office) |
Geese and ducks boldly march past a cascading fountain, while children swing high into the air. Boise's largest park is a bucolic place to spend an afternoon. Stately homes look out from the Boise Ridge while the park unfolds like a green carpet. Named after Ann Daly, who is more famous under her married name of Morrison (as in Morrison-Knudson Company), this 153-acre park opened in 1959. Today, visitors can play tennis, softball, football and soccer or relax next to the Boise River for a picnic. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jason Abbott and Jessica Wright  |
 Photo: Lewis |
 Photo: Ken Chua iPod Bunster |
 Photo: Steven Strack |
 Photo: Jeremy Pickett |
 Photo: Gizy |
 Photo: Bill Davis |
 Photo: Adam Wise |
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Wildlife viewing and river rafting |
Highway 21 (six miles east of Boise) Boise, ID 83712 United States +1 208 384 4240 (Boise Parks Office) |
Hugging the Boise River, this park invites visitors to take a dip in the river's blue waters. Most visitors accept the invitation, with about 250,000 people beginning Boise's summer river-rafting ritual at the park. But river-rafting is not the only attraction. Fox, muskrat and beaver make the park their home. Developed sections of the park provide wildlife-viewing opportunities and educational information. Picnic facilities are scattered throughout the park. If you don't feel like packing a lunch, a concession stand is also available. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: captaincucumber |
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28-mile linear park |
700 South Capitol Blvd Boise, ID 83706 United States +1 208 384 4240 (Boise Parks Office) |
Stretching more than 20 miles from Eagle Island State Park eastward to Discovery State Park at the base of Lucky Peak Dam, this paved pathway offers inline skaters, joggers, walkers and cyclists a year-round paved pathway. The well-marked trail meanders through downtown Boise, Veterans Memorial Park, and Julia Davis Park following the serpentine Boise River. Trailside restaurants offer refreshments and people watching opportunities. Once you leave Boise's boundaries, the pathway provides views of rolling brown mountains and wildlife, such as herons and bald eagles. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Mark Mauno |
 Photo: James Festi |
 Photo: James Festi |
 Photo: Robert McDiarmid |
 Photo: Jeff Love |
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Climb the hump |
1200 Heron Street (13th and Heron streets) Boise, ID 83702 United States +1 208 384 4240 |
Nestled in the North End, this popular park rises like a camel's sandy hump in the high desert. To really appreciate the park, bring your walking shoes and get your heart rate up with a vigorous hike to the top. It stretches out below you from the tree-lined North End streets to the prairie like desert and craggy Owyhee Mountains in the distance. After your climb, grill some burgers and play a set of tennis at the public courts. If you've had enough activity, relax on the green lawn and watch Frisbee-loving dogs show off. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Brandon Dalton |
 Photo: oddivy |
 Photo: George Privon |
 Photo: Valerie Davenport |
 Photo: Chris Murphy |
 Photo: Corey Nasman |
 11,000-acre bird lover's playground |
13751 Upper Embankment Road Boise, ID 83686 United States +1 208 467 9278 |
With more than 200 bird species on record, this wildlife viewers' delight covers 11,000 acres. A 45-minute drive from Boise, the refuge includes Lake Lowell, a popular spot for boating, swimming and fishing. Annual bird migrations make the lake an enchanting place for bird watching. Low water during late August exposes muddy areas, particularly popular with water birds. From October 1 through April 14 the lake and islands are closed to boats. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Fight the heat |
2691 Mace Road Boise, ID 83616 United States http://www.idahoparks.org/park... |
Retaliate against those hot, dry Boise summers and head off to this nearby state park. Located in the town of Eagle, only eight miles west of the city, the park offers swimming, picnic spots, a waterslide, horseshoe pits and a sandy beach on which to stretch out. On warm summer days, smiling children disappear in and out of the bright blue waterslide's winding tunnels. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: M. Scott Gartner |
 Photo: M. Scott Gartner |
 Photo: sableshoe |
 Photo: AICAD |
 Photo: CarolinePav |
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Eleven theme gardens |
2355 Old Penitentiary Road Boise, ID 83712 United States +1 208 343 8649 http://www.idahobotanicalgarde... |
Located on the Old Idaho State Penitentiary grounds, these beautiful gardens are a must-see attraction. Well cared for all year long, the gardens are available for formal tours or for private browsing. Stretching over about 50 acres, the area offers 11 theme gardens including native plants, water displays and a nature trail. Winter brings the Winter Garden Aglow and festive holiday lights. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jess Johnson |
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Activity-packed park |
700 South Capitol Boulevard Boise, ID 83702 United States |
Boise's oldest park brims with activities. Named after an early Boise resident who died in 1907, the park offers Zoo Boise, rose gardens, museums, and the Boise River Greenbelt pathway meandering next to the Boise River. A bridge crosses the river to Boise State University where you can continue your explorations. The 87-acre park even offers boat rentals at the lagoon. The park is located within walking distance to downtown Boise, between Capitol Boulevard and Broadway Avenue. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Tim Rigsby |
 Photo: Wade Dorrell |
 Photo: picmax@flickr |
 Photo: Jasperdo |
 Photo: Steve Hulme |
 Photo: John Sumsion |
 Photo: Bryan Lass |
 Photo: Amy Wang (huimei98) |
 Photo: terronzo |
 Photo: Lea Driever |
 Photo: Michael |
 Photo: Tan Kok Hui |
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Attention nature-walkers |
Americana Boulevard Boise, ID 83705 United States |
This urban park, completed in 1989, is one of Boise's newest additions to its extensive park system. Ideal for nature-walkers, it features a self-guided tour, which explains its unique plant and animal habitat, on a peaceful paved pathway. Ducks float on a pond while fish occasionally break the water's surface. Gazebos, a fountain and the largest cross-section of a Ponderosa Pine on this planet can also be found here. Named after the wife of the Albertsons' grocery store founder, the park is located across from Ann Morrison Park and allows leashed pets. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Andy Dopieralski |
 Photo: Travis Downey |
 Photo: Julie Walton |
 Photo: Shawna Foster |
 Photo: Gerry Slabaugh |
 Photo: Madhu Muraleedharan |
 Photo: Zeb Palmer |
 Photo: David Dubrall |
 Photo: Allen Parks |
 Photo: Alisha Donahue |
 Photo: Sharon Murray |
 Photo: Denise Hughes |
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Get lucky! |
9275 East Highway 21 Boise, ID 83716 United States +1 208 344 2679 http://www.idahoparks.org/park... |
Visitors looking for a quick escape from the city should check out this large park just 10 miles east of Boise. You can build sand castles or enjoy a picnic at Sandy Point at the base of the Lucky Peak Dam. Cyclists can bike to the park on the Boise River Greenbelt. Named one of the best parks in the Northwest by a travel magazine, the area also offers fishing, boat slips and wildlife watching. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jack Sullivan |
 Photo: Jack Sullivan |
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Party-loving park |
500 South Walnut Street Boise, ID 83712 United States +1 208 384 4240 |
Sitting next to the Boise River and its old, gnarly trees, this popular park offers year-round access. Picnicking is what this park does best; it is often listed in the local media as the best place for birthday parties. Providing 10 picnic areas, including a large shelter with electricity, the park has a constant party atmosphere. Spandex-clad cyclists and inline skaters cruise by on the Boise River Greenbelt while the aroma of grilling burgers makes all but the most hard-core vegetarians salivate. Located adjacent to the Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center, the park offers a full day of activities. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Mirko Ivancic |
 Photo: Jason Densmer |
 Photo: Vern Hart |
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Climb Castle Rock |
2150 Old Penitentiary Road Boise, ID 83712 United States +1 208 384 4240 |
Beckoning to outdoor types like a rocky temptress, Castle Rock offers a heart-pounding climb from this East End park; the informal beginning for a Castle Rock hike. Less energetic visitors can munch on grilled hot dogs and burgers hot off the public grills, or shoot a few baskets at the basketball courts. Historically-minded visitors can stroll over to the nearby Idaho Botanical Garden and Old Idaho Penitentiary. The East End location also makes this park ideal for viewing the historic homes on Warm Springs Avenue, which are geothermally-heated from a pump at the park. Admission is free. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Trail system for hikers and bikers |
1104 Royal Boulevard Boise, ID 83706 United States +1 208 384 4240 |
Stretching from the Boise River to the Boise Ridge, this trail system offers hikers and mountain-bikers 75,000 acres of trails. Through the cooperative efforts of several government agencies, private landowners and other organizations, the trail system was created to preserve Boise's foothills. The old roads and trails allow for outdoor exploration practically from downtown Boise. Maps are available from the Boise Parks and Recreation, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Boise outdoor stores. Some of the easier trails to hike include #27 Cottonwood Creek, #28 Crestline Trail and #31 Corrals Trail. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Greenbelt access and lake fishing |
960 Veterans Parkway (State Street and Veterans Parkway) Boise, ID 83703 United States |
Flags fly high over the small memorial at this city park. Children play at the jungle gym, while inline skaters and bikers cruise along the Boise River Greenbelt. Pathways lead to the Boise River where the park joins the Boise River Greenbelt. Offering access to the Boise Cascade Lake, the park is also popular with fishermen and wildlife viewers. Its location makes it ideal for a quick after work picnic or for a relaxing stroll along the Boise River. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Josh |