Looking for the best wildflower hikes in Boise? I have to admit, I am an avid hiker, especially since getting our wirehaired pointing griffon, Finley. These hikes are dog friendly so grab your furry, four-legged friends and get out on the trails. Finley and I get out in the Boise foothills every single day and I am always showcasing our hikes on my Instagram. I get asked daily for my Boise hike recommendations so I created this “best wildflower hikes in Boise” guide to help you know where to go. I have had an overwhelming amount of people like, save & share my reel showcasing these hikes so I might just have to start a hiking feature each week, what do you think? Would you be into that?
Anyways, let’s get to these hikes that you need to put on your bucket list, ASAP!
The Best Wildflower Hikes In Boise
If you are looking for gorgeous hikes to enjoy the great outdoors while enjoying the scenery, you have come to the right place! I personally went out and hiked these trails to make sure they were my favorite hikes. And let me tell ya, they are bursting in every direction with incredible wildflowers. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing all of these wildflowers popping up and being in full bloom. It makes me feel alive seeing them thrive in the Boise foothills. Honestly, in my personal opinion, there is nothing better than the Boise Foothills being in full bloom.
These hikes are easy, to moderate and will have you wanting to create your own bouquet along the way. Although it’s tempting, it’s always best to leave them for others to be able to enjoy as well.
Now let’s get to the good part of knowing the wildflower hikes I personally recommend.
Quarry Trail
Quarry Trail is an easy to moderate hike that allows for incredible panoramic views of downtown Boise, the surrounding mountains & all the wildflowers. You can connect to Quarry trail from Table Rock Trail or Old Pen Trail.
This loop is really easy to walk and is our personal favorite morning and evening trail to see sunrise and sunset. There are so many different plant varieties on this trail that it is blooming in spring, summer, & fall.
“The Table Rock quarry trail packs a ton of character and excitement into a short distance. It’s got mini-Moab-style rock cliffs, some moderate exposure, cool views, and a gnarly rock chute or two. Great for hikers or advanced bikers.”
Eagle Ridge Trail
Eagle Ridge Trail is an easy to moderate hike within the Military Reserve. It has slightly steep stairs in one portion of the hike but otherwise offers a pretty flat trail. The views are worth the stairs and the mixed wildflowers overlooking downtown Boise are breathtaking. An easy trail to enjoy at any time of day. It is a quick walk to enjoy the views, and get some movement and fresh air.
“A slightly less crowded singletrack in Military Reserve with good neighborhood access. Partially covered in asphalt near the parking lot. Also provides great scenic views of Downtown Boise. Watch for signs for the portion of the trail that drops you down to that is foot traffic only.”
Ridge Crest Trail
Ridge Crest Trail is a great trail to pop on in the Military Reserve and walk around the foothills with views of downtown and surrounding mountains. This has become a favorite of ours because we recently had our family photos done here. My husband practices his archery at the Military Archery Range and one evening I went with him and OMG the wildflowers! I have never seen so many in one place before and I knew we needed to grab some photos. Trust me when I say this is the place to be hiking in springtime in Boise.
Shout out to With Love Creative who did our family photos you can see one of the incredible photos below. If you are needing any photos done, I highly recommend you contact them
“Ridgecrest is a nice winding little singletrack connection for those days where you just don’t feel like grunting up the Central Ridge water bars. Ridgecrest is popular with hikers, as it offers nice views of downtown and forms easy loops with the other Military Reserve trails.”
Watchman Trail
Watchman Trail is a moderate to strenuous hike with elevation gain and longer mileage, but totally worth it in my mind. This is one of my all-time favorite trails. It gives you epic views of the whole valley and so many wildflowers. It’s a must-hike at least once while in Boise! We have hiked and biked this trail and both are fantastic. Be sure you pack enough water and snacks since this is one of the longer hikes. You can hike out to wherever you want and then return or it is a loop trail. Be sure to check the mileage and check in with yourself, your friends, and your animals to make sure you feel up for the whole hike.
“Watchman is a high-quality trail–so good that it forms the centerpiece of one of our most recommended mountain bike rides in Boise. This modern, hardpacked singletrack traverses the hillsides of the upper foothills, with excellent views and lots of flow. Don’t get too distracted–the trail is narrow and there’s a bit of exposure on the steep hillsides. The Watchman wildflowers in spring are famously spectacular.”
Table Rock Trail
Table Rock Trail is close to my house and is a personal favorite. It is a more challenging trail and has you work for those views at the top. This trail is a bucket list trail that you must check off at least once. It is one that is well known by most locals and offers great photos from the top. I highly recommend you get this on your must-do list.
“The most popular hike in the Boise area. On any given weekend, hundreds of groups will hike up from the old penitentiary to the top of Table Rock. It’s popular because it’s close to town, leads to an iconic destination, and offers cool views of downtown. It’s not really a secluded nature trail–there are much better hikes for that. But it’s a good workout and a rewarding accomplishment. Not a great trail for cyclists; better for hikers.”
Hulls Gulch Nature Trail
Hulls Gulch is one of my favorite areas to go. There is an Upper Hulls Gulch and a Lower Hulls Gulch, so familiarize yourself with which one you will be hiking. There are new rules in the Boise foothills about uphill and downhill traffic on even and odd days. Check your calendar and make sure you are hiking in the right direction on the right days. This being very popular hiking and biking trail, it is very important to know proper trail etiquette. Here is a guide to help you with new rules and trail etiquette.
“6.3-mile out-and-back trail near Boise, Idaho. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 59 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.”
Stack Rock Trail
Stack Rock Trail. Ok, I am ending with this one because it might be my all-time favorite. I know, I know. I have said a lot of these trails are my favorite but this one really takes the cake. It can be a shorter 3.8-mile hike or you can connect it to include Stack Rock Loop among other trails and create a longer hike. The views on this trail are breathtaking and you look over the whole valley while hiking. It is a great hike to do during summer since the temperature drops a bit with elevation. Fin and I go on this trail frequently and I highly recommend you do the same.
There are so many other trails to be discovered and enjoyed but these are my top hikes for wildflower season. Cheers and happy hiking. Get out there and enjoy! Let me know in the comments if there are other hikes I need to include. I always love hearing from you!
Get out there and go enjoy the best wildflower hikes in Boise!
Be Sure To Check Out These Other Blog Posts
