Outdoor Recreation

The Treasure Valley of Idaho is a popular place to live. While many people are relocating here due to its growing economy and affordable housing (compared to other states), outdoor recreation also plays an important deciding role for people moving here. Whether they enjoy golf, fishing, camping, skiing, biking, hiking, kayaking, etc., southwest Idaho has something for everyone.

Below is a list of outdoor recreational pursuits. By no means is the list exhaustive, it will give some insights into the types of activities that are available and some suggestions for exploration.

Golf

Boise and the surrounding Treasure Valley community is home to a variety of expertly manicured and lushly landscaped golf courses. In addition, the area hosts the annual Albertsons Boise Open, which is part of the Korn Ferry Tour.

The below map shows some of the area’s golf courses:

A couple of course suggestions include Banbury Golf Course, which was named one of the best places to play by Golf Digest; Falcon Crest Golf Course offers three different courses that deliver options for any skill level; and the RedHawk Golf Course in Nampa is nestled on the shores of Lake Lowell, offering a championship-caliber course suitable for all skill levels.

Fishing

The area offers people a variety of options when it comes to fishing. Locals enjoy fishing the Boise River while others will enjoy visiting one of the local area lakes. Ponds and reservoirs also offer great fishing locales. Check out the map below for some of the local fishing holes:

Camping

The Treasure Valley offers an abundance of places to camp. Whether you’re looking for a place to tent camp, or an upscale RV resort, the area offers a variety of campgrounds suitable for your situation or need. Some of the locations are conveniently located, minutes from Boise proper, while others can be reached within a day’s travel.

Ponderosa State Park in McCall is a favorite of both RV owners and tent campers, as its camp sites can accommodate either option. McCall is a couple of hours north of Boise, located on the banks of Payette Lake. The lake itself offers a variety of water sports including sailing, jet-skiing, water skiing, swimming, paddle boarding, and more. The area also has plenty of mountain biking and hiking paths worthy of exploration, and appropriate for all skill levels.

Hiking

The Boise area is home to many different hiking and walking trails that will appeal to any skill level. The Boise Greenbelt is probably the most well-known path in the area, that’s not only great for walking/hiking but for biking as well. Another popular path is Tablerock, a 3.7 mile jaunt near the old Idaho State Penitentiary that gives people an amazing view of the valley.

Skiing / Snowboarding

The Treasure Valley has one ski resort within about 45 minutes of downtown Boise, and that’s Bogus Basin. Bogus features a variety of slopes, suitable for any skill level for both skiing and snowboarding. Within a couple of hours of Boise, Brundage Mountain and Tamarack await. Sun Valley, which is about four hours away from Boise, is also a playground for celebrities.