Boise By Nature

Mahalo Trail Marker Last weekend, I went to check out the Mahalo Trail , a trail built by the Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association . Check out Stueby's Outdoor Journal for more information about the trail's origin and dedication.  This trail can be accessed off of Bogus Basin Road and Forest Service Road 275 C.  Saturday was dreary and rainy in Boise, but up on Mahalo Trail, it was snowing! It was exciting to welcome what may have been the first snow of the winter. I did not hike the entire Mahalo to Boise Ridge Road Loop due to the snow and not being prepared for cold weather, but I would love to come back and mountain bike this loop.   Despite being cloudy and snowy, there were some beautiful views of the valley and I enjoyed walking alone the ridgeline. I'm curious if this would be a good trail to snowshoe in the coming months, once we get a solid base of snow on the ground.  View on a cold day Ruby taking the lead  This bright lichen was a cheerfu...

Shoshone Falls A couple of weekends ago, I went on a short weekend trip to Pocatello, stopping at Shoshone Falls on the way. Did you know that Shoshone Falls is often called the " Niagara of the West "? The waterfalls' flow volume depends on the amount of snowfall the area has received, so spring is the best time to see . In October, the falls are at very small volume, but even seeing the rock formations and the overall scale of the falls was awe-inspiring. Also, the fee season is March 1-September 30, so if you're in the area, fall is a great time to swing by and take in this sight for free!  I've heard about being able to kayak to the falls, and this guide lays out all of the details on how to plan a trip. I am putting this on my Idaho bucket list as a fun summer adventure!  One of the great walkways to view the falls Hints of fall color peaking through in the brush! Traveling further into Eastern Idaho, I went to Pocatello, and explored this area for the first...

Fall in the Boise foothills I went hiking this past Saturday and observed some beautiful fall colors amongst the Boise foothills. Enjoy these photos!   Wild rose hips add some nice orange and red colors to the foothills Hillside view with some slight haze from wildfires in the air View from the Orchard Gulch trail A glimpse into a very large and old Cottonwood tree Gray or rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)