Boise By Nature

 A couple of weeks ago, I went to Idaho Department of Fish & Game's Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, which is located in Camas County, just under two hours from Boise. After turning onto Highway 20 in Mountain Home, it is an absolutely beautiful drive, complete with mountain views, and just that particular sense of peace that driving in the country that soothes and nourishes the soul.  View of the mountains from Centennial Marsh The camas bulb is an important food source for Native Americans This area is a wonderful destination for bird watchers! The camas flower  ( Camassia quamash ) that can be found at Centennial Marsh was fairly sparse, but I still found a few blooms along the main road. The typical blooming period for this area is late May to early June, so I think I was a bit early. The light, delicate blue color of the flowers was a delight to see.  Camas blooming with snow-capped mountains in the distance Close up of the periwinkle-colored Camas...

Sagebrush Buttercup in March Aase's Onion in late March Happy April! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the evenings feel longer with so much light, and spring is here. I love every season, but there is something so special about seeing all aspects of nature wake up and grow. My favorite part of spring is spending more time outside and being a witness to wildflowers blooming throughout the season. Every wildflower seems like a special discovery to me, because some of they bloom for such a short period of time, or are a rare species that only grow in specific areas. I love seeking out wildflowers on spring bike rides and hikes. If you want to welcome spring in your area, I encourage you to take a walk and look for wildflowers. Take photos of the flowers and identify them with field guides or websites at home!  Check out the  Treasures of the Boise Front  website for photo galleries of different wildflowers, wildflower walk destinations, and species lists of wildfl...

  March sunrise in the foothills Happy March! It feels like spring could be right around the corner, and with the change in seasons, I feel a burst of energy. I have been reflecting on the past year, and all of the challenges and silver linings that have come along with a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is mind boggling to think about a year ago, when I was aware of coronavirus, but also so naive in the fact that our daily lives would be turned upside down, routines upended, and our. It feels so hopeful to be going into the spring with three approved vaccines, with lighter days, and with the promise of a new season of growth.  With the spring sunshine, it's the perfect time to start getting back out on the trails in the foothills again. I had a wonderful winter of cross-country skiing, which I've always loved, but this year, being out on snowy trails in the peaceful woods was such a perfect antidote to lots of time indoors working on the computer. I'm starting to turn my ...

Beautiful winter view from the yurt Christmas sunrise! Along with backpacks, we used a pulk sled to carry our food and gear to the yurt   Snowshoes on the porch - can't beat the view Rocky Ridge yurt is perched on a ridgeline with scenic mountain views in the Idaho backcountry Winter wonderland  For many people, this past holiday season was unusual: trying to limit gatherings and social interactions is the opposite of many holiday traditions of family meals, travel, and Christmas parties. I was lucky enough to have my parents come to Idaho, and we embarked on a Christmas adventure that was one for the books: we reserved an Idaho City backcountry yurt, and spent two nights in a winter wonderland. There are six different yurts in the Idaho City, all accessible at different Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Park n' Ski areas . Last winter, I stayed at the Skyline Yurt  with a few friends and had a wonderful time. All of these yurts are located in the Boise National Fo...

Having a dog by your side as an adventure buddy is so much fun, and since I became a dog owner, I have been able to explore so many different areas in and around Boise with my furry companion. I put together some photos with ideas of many places in Boise, and beyond, that are great destinations for you and your dog to check out. Be sure to follow all seven of the Leave No Trace principles , especially Plan Ahead & Prepare, Dispose of Waste Properly, and Be Considerate of Other Visitors.  Take your dog to one of the Park and Ski areas in the Idaho City areas for great year-round trails to explore and vistas to enjoy Does your dog love hiking? Consider taking them on a backpacking trip in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Barber Park along the Boise River is full of nature trails (leashes required) and opportunities for wading and swimming for your pet Mahalo Trail off Bogus Basin Road does have quite a few mountain bikers, but in cold or rainy weather, is a less busy option than some of...

Sign on the way into Perjue Canyon   The Owyhee Canyonlands are such a sight to behold, and always a treat! This past weekend, snow and rain was in the forecast in the Treasure Valley, so we decided to venture out to the Owyhees. I was originally attempting to hike the Shoofly Creek Quick Loop as described on Stueby's Outdoor Journal , but somehow missed the last turn-off to the two-track. Just as we were about to turn around to find the two track, we came upon a small parking lot and a sign for the Perjue Canyon trail, so we decided to explore. We hiked about 5 miles of the 8.4 mile out-and-back trail , and were treated to the Frank Perjue cabin and a great trail in a slot canyon, a feature typical of the Owyhees.  The gray sky indicated winter was on the horizon (the next morning it snowed!), and there were only a few other people out. The trees along the creek in the canyon had mostly dropped their leaves, and it was a neat perspective to have rocky canyon walls towering ab...

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...

Beautiful fall sunset on a Military Reserve Trail Happy September! The month of September always seems like a fresh start, since it usually is the beginning of fall and beginning of the school year. This September, I'm looking forward to a month of highlights: Taking a vacation to the Pacific Northwest and exploring a beautiful area. Spending time on the trails of foothills through hiking and mountain biking. I'm excited to continue to get used to my new mountain bike, and use it to get further out on some of the local trails.  Continue my 2020 resolution to camp once monthly. Visit a winery on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail .  What are your September plans or goals?  A bit of fall color along the Boise River 

  View from 8th Street Extension Trail  A beautiful morning walk in the foothills  This week marks my anniversary of living in Boise for one year! I can hardly believe that this time last year, I was arriving in the City of Trees, strolling along the Boise Greenbelt in awe, and taking photos of the river. In some ways, it feels inconceivable that a year has gone by, but in other ways, the amount of things I've done and places I've gone in Idaho this past year seem impressive. It seems like a common theme that individual moments and days can seem slow, but years fly by.  In honor of my one-year anniversary of living in Boise, I jotted down a list of some of my favorite memories of exploring this city and state.   Memories of this past year (in no particular order): Floating the Boise River twice Showing my parents Boise (driving up to Bogus Basin, running a half marathon, the farmer's market, biking the Greenbelt,  hiking Ridge to Rivers trails, etc) Le...

Sawtooth Wilderness boundary Looking toward the far side of Farley Lake - the first campsite  This past weekend, I went backpacking on an iconic loop in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho. The Sawtooths are beloved and renowned for their dramatic sharp, rocky peaks that resemble the teeth on a saw. I had only been to the Sawtooths once before (six years ago when I was working a seasonal position in McCall), so I was looking forward to exploring more.  I hiked the Toxaway Lake to Alice Lake Loop , and spent two nights in the backcountry. This was the perfect amount of time to spend backpacking, since it's been several years since I've hit the trail and done backcountry camping. My back and legs were achy and tired by the end of the weekend, but this trip itinerary allowed  The fire smoke that has been looming over Boise was present in Stanley (a small river town close to the Sawtooths) and the views of the mountains took on a dreamlike, mystical quality w...