Boise.
Walk the Boise River in the morning and look back at it from the foothills on a dry day. The paved path and the dirt trail answer to different weather.
Travel style
Overview
The Boise River runs along the foot of Idaho’s capital, close enough to the Basque Block that you can walk from a plate of croquetas to a cottonwood-lined path. Beyond downtown the streets climb into dry foothills. Give the river and those slopes different mornings, with a museum or a music room between them.
Downtown makes the easiest first base for shows and Basque food. Hyde Park in the North End suits a trip organised around coffee on 13th Street and walking from the neighbourhood to Camel’s Back. When the foothills are muddy, the paved Greenbelt still gives the day a direction.
Shortlist
Hull’s Gulch Reserve
Read the Ridge to Rivers condition report before choosing the dirt route out of the North End.
Activities ↓Morrison Knudsen Nature Center
Look up visitor access to the stream walk. It makes a short outdoor afternoon even when the foothills are muddy.
Activities ↓Morrison Center
Choose a campus performance if you want the river walk to end at a theatre. Book a seat before planning the crossing.
Culture ↓Three excellent days
Day 1
Capitol dome to riverbank
Capitol → Basque Block → Julia Davis Park
- Morning
See the dome from outside, walk through the mural alley or sit down for breakfast.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Idaho State Capitol
Walk around the pale stone exterior and look up at the dome. Go inside during public visiting hours if the morning is cold.
Freak Alley Gallery
Walk the outdoor mural alley between Eighth and Ninth. Leave delivery access clear and give the paintings a second look on the way out.
Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro
Put your name in for a downtown breakfast. Have one person stay close enough to hear the call while the others get their bearings.
- Afternoon
Take the riverside path, return for paella or choose a picnic spot opposite the Capitol.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Julia Davis Park
Follow the riverside path through the park beside the museums. Make this a short outing by taking a bench near the footbridge.
The Basque Market
Time lunch for the Wednesday or Friday noon paella service. The wide pan is the point of coming then. Get there before noon to choose a portion while the kitchen serves it outdoors.
Cecil D. Andrus Park
Pause on the green opposite the Capitol and look back at the dome. This works particularly well between two indoor stops.
- Evening
Walk the memorial bridge, share a plate on the Basque Block or see the seasonal roses.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge
Cross the river on foot for a view back toward the city. Shorten the evening walk by turning downtown at the north end.
Bar Gernika
Order croquetas to share at the small Basque Block pub. Ask how many come in an order before the table doubles up.
Boise Rose Garden
See the rose beds in Julia Davis Park during flowering season. Outside that season the riverside paths are the stronger evening choice.
Day 2
A foothills morning with a river afternoon
Camel’s Back → East End → North End
- Morning
Start on the park steps, get coffee in Hyde Park or walk farther into Hull’s Gulch.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Camel’s Back Park
Take the hillside steps if the ground is firm. The lawn at the bottom gives a flatter option with a view of the slope.
Hyde Perk Coffee House
Start the North End day with a cup on 13th Street. This makes a useful rendezvous when part of the group plans to hike.
Hull’s Gulch Reserve
Use the marked foothills routes above the North End. Turn around when the surface starts sticking to shoes and use the park paths below.
- Afternoon
Choose a dry foothills loop, look underwater at the nature centre or go inside the old prison.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Military Reserve
Choose a signed foothills loop above the city. Consult the Ridge to Rivers conditions report and turn back early if the path is muddy.
Morrison Knudsen Nature Center
Follow the stream walk for a look at fish habitat. The short loop leaves time to sit by the river.
Old Idaho Penitentiary
Walk through the former prison buildings on the eastern side of town. Allow an afternoon for the history and the transfer back downtown.
- Evening
Come back to either North End pub, or meet the group downtown at Bittercreek.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
13th Street Pub & Grill
Bring the group back to Hyde Park for a seated meal. Look at the patio when the weather suits a long dinner.
Hyde Park Pub & Grill
Choose this North End pub for an informal table after the trails. It is a separate restaurant from the similarly named 13th Street Pub.
Bittercreek Alehouse
Gather over a local draft or supper on Eighth Street. Set a meeting time that gives the walkers room to get back from the foothills.
Day 3
Follow the Greenbelt west
Pond district → downtown Greenbelt → campus
- Morning
Start at the ponds, watch the whitewater feature or choose the quiet wildlife paths.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Esther Simplot Park
Follow the paths beside the ponds on the west side of town. Bring breakfast and take the river walk in short sections.
Boise Whitewater Park
Watch experienced paddlers from the riverside viewing area. This part of the Greenbelt gives the walk a very different soundtrack from the ponds.
Kathryn Albertson Park
Take the paths through the ponds on foot. This is a quiet wildlife stop across Americana Boulevard from Ann Morrison Park.
- Afternoon
Walk the shore of Quinn’s Pond, read the memorial or head downtown to see the tractors at JUMP.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Quinn’s Pond
Walk the public shore from the Greenbelt. Choose the land route if water conditions rule out a paddle.
Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial
Read the inscriptions beside the Boise River. Give the quieter parts of the memorial space when other people are reading.
JUMP Boise
See what public activities are on at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place. The campus also gives a ground-level look at its unusual tractor collection.
- Evening
End at the river park, a campus performance or a brewery table close to the Greenbelt.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Ann Morrison Park
Walk along the river on the park side and cross only when ready to head downtown. A short out-and-back leaves the rest of the morning free.
Morrison Center
Choose a performance on the Boise State campus. Leave time to cross the river if dinner is downtown.
Payette Brewing
Make a group stop at the brewery near the Greenbelt. Leave the bikes parked if the evening calls for a ride home.
What to book
Pick the trail after the daily surface report. A timed performance is the one part of the river outing worth arranging ahead.
Hull’s Gulch Reserve
Read the Ridge to Rivers condition report before choosing the dirt route out of the North End.
Morrison Knudsen Nature Center
Look up visitor access to the stream walk. It makes a short outdoor afternoon even when the foothills are muddy.
Morrison Center
Choose a campus performance if you want the river walk to end at a theatre. Book a seat before planning the crossing.
The full guide
Neighborhoods
The Basque Block, Eighth Street and the theatre streets are close enough for an evening on foot. The North End has an appealing second centre on 13th Street, with Camel’s Back above the shops.
Dining
Boise’s Basque kitchens make timing lunch worthwhile. One serves paella from a big pan on particular days. The other makes a good place for a small plate after a show.
The Basque Market
Time lunch for the Wednesday or Friday noon paella service. The wide pan is the point of coming then. Get there before noon to choose a portion while the kitchen serves it outdoors.
Zaddy TipChoose the noon paella service before setting aside the rest of the day for the museum and river.
Bar Gernika
Order croquetas to share at the small Basque Block pub. Ask how many come in an order before the table doubles up.
Zaddy TipStart with a shared order of the fried croquetas. Keep dinner near the music room if you already hold tickets.
Culture
Pair the Basque Museum with the surrounding block, where the boarding houses put the migration story in a neighbourhood. Give Idaho’s wider history an afternoon by the park.
Boise Art Museum
Choose one exhibition at the museum on the edge of Julia Davis Park. It fits a shorter visit before a long lunch.
Zaddy TipRead the exhibition list and give one show a spacious afternoon by Julia Davis Park.
Morrison Center
Choose a performance on the Boise State campus. Leave time to cross the river if dinner is downtown.
Zaddy TipChoose a campus performance if you want the river walk to end at a theatre. Book a seat before planning the crossing.
Activities
Use the river as the flatter route across town. The foothills have exposed stretches and fragile surfaces. The trail system’s condition report is worth reading even if the day looks sunny downtown.
Idaho Botanical Garden
Spend an afternoon in the planted gardens below the foothills. Use the garden’s own visitor entrance and opening calendar.
Zaddy TipChoose a day the garden opens to visitors. A separate evening event may need its own ticket.
Hull’s Gulch Reserve
Use the marked foothills routes above the North End. Turn around when the surface starts sticking to shoes and use the park paths below.
Zaddy TipRead the Ridge to Rivers condition report before choosing the dirt route out of the North End.
Morrison Knudsen Nature Center
Follow the stream walk for a look at fish habitat. The short loop leaves time to sit by the river.
Zaddy TipLook up visitor access to the stream walk. It makes a short outdoor afternoon even when the foothills are muddy.
Nightlife
Eleventh Street gives record browsing and live music a shared address on the evening’s map. A programmed show at the Egyptian or Morrison Center calls for a different dinner time and, at the latter, a river crossing.
Neurolux
Look up the bill for this downtown music room before choosing dinner. An early arrival leaves time for the support act.
Zaddy TipCheck the band, age policy and doors for the actual show before gathering everyone on Eleventh Street.
Treefort Music Hall
Pick a show at the Capitol Boulevard venue and arrange the ride back before doors. Check the age information on the event listing.
Zaddy TipBuy for the act on the calendar and check the venue named on the ticket. The festival programmes several rooms.
Where to stay
Stay in the downtown grid to walk back from Neurolux or the Basque Block. The Linen District moves the room a few blocks west of the busiest restaurant streets. Ask about rooms over or beside a bar if you like an early night.
Modern Hotel
A former motor lodge in the Linen District keeps the walk back from Eleventh Street short. The hotel bar makes an easy meeting place for friends staying in different rooms.
Zaddy TipAsk how the room sits in relation to the bar and courtyard if you turn in early.
Getting around
The Greenbelt follows the river through multiple parks. Mark the bridge where you want to leave it before setting out. Use a bus or a ride for the East End exhibits if the group wants the afternoon on its feet inside.
FAQs
What if the foothills are muddy?
Move the walk down to the paved Boise River Greenbelt. The Ridge to Rivers daily report covers the trail surface and restrictions.
When should I plan paella on the Basque Block?
The Basque Market schedules its outdoor paella lunch at noon on Wednesdays and Fridays. The market’s calendar is the place to check for a change around a holiday.
Zaddy Travels researched these selections using local operators, public agencies and visitor information. The itineraries are editorial suggestions.
Related destinations
The Basque Market
Choose the noon paella service before setting aside the rest of the day for the museum and river.
Dining ↓Boise Art Museum
Read the exhibition list and give one show a spacious afternoon by Julia Davis Park.
Culture ↓Idaho Botanical Garden
Choose a day the garden opens to visitors. A separate evening event may need its own ticket.
Activities ↓Day 1
Art with a Basque lunch
Capitol → Basque Block → Julia Davis Park
- Morning
Look up at the Capitol dome, browse the bookshop after opening or meet for coffee.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Idaho State Capitol
Walk around the pale stone exterior and look up at the dome. Go inside during public visiting hours if the morning is cold.
Rediscovered Books
Pick a local-interest paperback at the independent downtown bookshop. Plan a late morning browse around the shop’s opening time.
Flying M Coffeehouse
Meet over a cup at the downtown Boise coffeehouse on West Idaho Street. The adjoining gift shop gives the early arrivals something to browse.
- Afternoon
Choose the paella pan on its service day, the Basque museum or an art exhibition by the park.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
The Basque Market
Time lunch for the Wednesday or Friday noon paella service. The wide pan is the point of coming then. Get there before noon to choose a portion while the kitchen serves it outdoors.
Basque Museum & Cultural Center
Follow the story of Basque migration to Idaho. Start at the museum desk for the day’s access to the historic boarding house.
Boise Art Museum
Choose one exhibition at the museum on the edge of Julia Davis Park. It fits a shorter visit before a long lunch.
- Evening
Share croquetas, stroll the plaza or settle into a seat at the Egyptian.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Bar Gernika
Order croquetas to share at the small Basque Block pub. Ask how many come in an order before the table doubles up.
The Grove Plaza
Finish with a turn around the brick plaza. On a programmed evening it is a natural gathering point before the group walks to dinner.
Egyptian Theatre
Choose a performance or screening in the historic downtown theatre. Check which kind of ticket the evening requires.
Day 2
Garden paths below the foothills
Hyde Park → East End → downtown
- Morning
Take a gentle walk on 13th, stop for coffee or wait for the soda fountain to open.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Hyde Park
Walk the commercial stretch of North 13th Street. Pick up coffee here before setting out for the foothills.
Hyde Perk Coffee House
Start the North End day with a cup on 13th Street. This makes a useful rendezvous when part of the group plans to hike.
Goody’s Soda Fountain
Choose a scoop at the Hyde Park soda fountain when it opens. Take your time over the counter choice after the morning walk.
- Afternoon
Choose the planted garden, the fish habitat or a riverside picnic.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Idaho Botanical Garden
Spend an afternoon in the planted gardens below the foothills. Use the garden’s own visitor entrance and opening calendar.
Morrison Knudsen Nature Center
Follow the stream walk for a look at fish habitat. The short loop leaves time to sit by the river.
Municipal Park
Spread a picnic under the riverside trees. The shaded paths and riverbank are an easy way to shorten the eastern outing.
- Evening
Eat in Hyde Park, browse records before closing or find a table at the Modern.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
13th Street Pub & Grill
Bring the group back to Hyde Park for a seated meal. Look at the patio when the weather suits a long dinner.
The Record Exchange
Browse records downtown before an early evening show. Start with the local section if you want something from the trip.
The Modern Bar
Settle in for a drink at the Modern Hotel in the Linen District. It makes an easy last stop for anyone staying on this side of downtown.
Day 3
Ponds on the west side
Americana Boulevard → river museums → campus
- Morning
Walk beside the ponds, follow the river or look down Capitol Boulevard from the depot.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Kathryn Albertson Park
Take the paths through the ponds on foot. This is a quiet wildlife stop across Americana Boulevard from Ann Morrison Park.
Ann Morrison Park
Walk along the river on the park side and cross only when ready to head downtown. A short out-and-back leaves the rest of the morning free.
Boise Depot
Come up to the grounds for the sightline down Capitol Boulevard. Treat an interior visit separately from the overlook and its gardens.
- Afternoon
Spend time with Idaho history, take a book break or read the riverfront memorial.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Idaho State Museum
Look for the exhibits that set the river and foothills in the wider Idaho landscape. Give the museum the full indoor part of the afternoon.
Boise Public Library Main
Browse the stacks at the downtown library by the river. A reading stop is an easy bridge between a museum visit and dinner.
Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial
Read the inscriptions beside the Boise River. Give the quieter parts of the memorial space when other people are reading.
- Evening
Choose the rose garden in bloom, a campus performance or the bridge walk back to town.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Boise Rose Garden
See the rose beds in Julia Davis Park during flowering season. Outside that season the riverside paths are the stronger evening choice.
Morrison Center
Choose a performance on the Boise State campus. Leave time to cross the river if dinner is downtown.
Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge
Cross the river on foot for a view back toward the city. Shorten the evening walk by turning downtown at the north end.
Reserve the afternoon for art or the garden. Fix lunch to the paella pan only if your dates line up with its service.
The Basque Market
Choose the noon paella service before setting aside the rest of the day for the museum and river.
Boise Art Museum
Read the exhibition list and give one show a spacious afternoon by Julia Davis Park.
Idaho Botanical Garden
Choose a day the garden opens to visitors. A separate evening event may need its own ticket.
Bar Gernika
Start with a shared order of the fried croquetas. Keep dinner near the music room if you already hold tickets.
Dining ↓Neurolux
Check the band, age policy and doors for the actual show before gathering everyone on Eleventh Street.
Nightlife ↓Treefort Music Hall
Buy for the act on the calendar and check the venue named on the ticket. The festival programmes several rooms.
Nightlife ↓Day 1
A downtown ticket and a Basque table
Eighth Street → Basque Block → Eleventh Street
- Morning
Meet over breakfast, get coffee on Idaho Street or compare favourite murals in the alley.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro
Put your name in for a downtown breakfast. Have one person stay close enough to hear the call while the others get their bearings.
Flying M Coffeehouse
Meet over a cup at the downtown Boise coffeehouse on West Idaho Street. The adjoining gift shop gives the early arrivals something to browse.
Freak Alley Gallery
Walk the outdoor mural alley between Eighth and Ninth. Leave delivery access clear and give the paintings a second look on the way out.
- Afternoon
Look inside the Basque museum, catch paella service or gather on the green by the Capitol.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Basque Museum & Cultural Center
Follow the story of Basque migration to Idaho. Start at the museum desk for the day’s access to the historic boarding house.
The Basque Market
Time lunch for the Wednesday or Friday noon paella service. The wide pan is the point of coming then. Get there before noon to choose a portion while the kitchen serves it outdoors.
Cecil D. Andrus Park
Pause on the green opposite the Capitol and look back at the dome. This works particularly well between two indoor stops.
- Evening
Choose a Neurolux gig, a seat at the Egyptian or croquetas on the Basque Block.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Neurolux
Look up the bill for this downtown music room before choosing dinner. An early arrival leaves time for the support act.
Egyptian Theatre
Choose a performance or screening in the historic downtown theatre. Check which kind of ticket the evening requires.
Bar Gernika
Order croquetas to share at the small Basque Block pub. Ask how many come in an order before the table doubles up.
Day 2
North End breakfast before a gig
North 13th Street → East End → Capitol Boulevard
- Morning
Get coffee, browse North 13th or let the early risers climb the park steps.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Hyde Perk Coffee House
Start the North End day with a cup on 13th Street. This makes a useful rendezvous when part of the group plans to hike.
Hyde Park
Walk the commercial stretch of North 13th Street. Pick up coffee here before setting out for the foothills.
Camel’s Back Park
Take the hillside steps if the ground is firm. The lawn at the bottom gives a flatter option with a view of the slope.
- Afternoon
Tour the old prison, spend time at the botanical garden or share a picnic by the river.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
Old Idaho Penitentiary
Walk through the former prison buildings on the eastern side of town. Allow an afternoon for the history and the transfer back downtown.
Idaho Botanical Garden
Spend an afternoon in the planted gardens below the foothills. Use the garden’s own visitor entrance and opening calendar.
Municipal Park
Spread a picnic under the riverside trees. The shaded paths and riverbank are an easy way to shorten the eastern outing.
- Evening
Choose a Treefort Music Hall show, browse the Record Exchange first or meet over supper on Eighth.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Treefort Music Hall
Pick a show at the Capitol Boulevard venue and arrange the ride back before doors. Check the age information on the event listing.
The Record Exchange
Browse records downtown before an early evening show. Start with the local section if you want something from the trip.
Bittercreek Alehouse
Gather over a local draft or supper on Eighth Street. Set a meeting time that gives the walkers room to get back from the foothills.
Day 3
A campus curtain and a brewery table
Boise Depot → downtown → Boise State
- Morning
Meet at the depot overlook, take the riverside walk or start at the west-side ponds.
Expand +Collapse − morning suggestions
Boise Depot
Come up to the grounds for the sightline down Capitol Boulevard. Treat an interior visit separately from the overlook and its gardens.
Ann Morrison Park
Walk along the river on the park side and cross only when ready to head downtown. A short out-and-back leaves the rest of the morning free.
Esther Simplot Park
Follow the paths beside the ponds on the west side of town. Bring breakfast and take the river walk in short sections.
- Afternoon
Choose an activity at JUMP, explore the state museum or browse the library near the river.
Expand +Collapse − afternoon suggestions
JUMP Boise
See what public activities are on at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place. The campus also gives a ground-level look at its unusual tractor collection.
Idaho State Museum
Look for the exhibits that set the river and foothills in the wider Idaho landscape. Give the museum the full indoor part of the afternoon.
Boise Public Library Main
Browse the stacks at the downtown library by the river. A reading stop is an easy bridge between a museum visit and dinner.
- Evening
Go to the campus theatre, meet by the brewery or keep the evening in the Linen District.
Expand +Collapse − evening suggestions
Morrison Center
Choose a performance on the Boise State campus. Leave time to cross the river if dinner is downtown.
Payette Brewing
Make a group stop at the brewery near the Greenbelt. Leave the bikes parked if the evening calls for a ride home.
The Modern Bar
Settle in for a drink at the Modern Hotel in the Linen District. It makes an easy last stop for anyone staying on this side of downtown.
A concert ticket sets the dinner neighbourhood. Check the venue on the bill and plan the walk or ride back from that particular room.
Bar Gernika
Start with a shared order of the fried croquetas. Keep dinner near the music room if you already hold tickets.
Neurolux
Check the band, age policy and doors for the actual show before gathering everyone on Eleventh Street.
Treefort Music Hall
Buy for the act on the calendar and check the venue named on the ticket. The festival programmes several rooms.