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HIKING, RUNNING AND BIKING LOOPS

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Ridge to Rivers team members are often asked for loop suggestions from users who want to start and end a hike, run or ride from a particular trailhead or parking lot. The Boise Foothills provide a variety of opportunities for beginners, intermediate users, and advanced hiking and cycling options for those looking to challenge themselves. Trail crew members Sam, Matt, Bart, Mike and David curated these suggestions for hikers and bikers of all levels. It goes without saying, but please know your limits and always remember to tell someone where you plan to travel in the Boise Foothills. Always plan ahead and use the interactive trail map to prepare for conditions.

Need additional advice or suggestions? Please email us.  

HIKING + TRAIL RUNNING

Beginner Trail Loops

  • Big Springs Loop Trailhead: Big Springs Loop #113 -> Veterans #114 -> Big Springs Loop #113 back to trailhead (approx. 1 mile)
  • Seamans Gulch Trailhead: Wild Phlox #112 -> Seaman Gulch #110 back to trailhead (approx. 1.75 miles)
  • Cartwright Road Trailhead: Polecat Loop #81 -> Quick Draw #83 -> Doe Ridge #82 -> Polecat Loop #81 back to trailhead (approx. 4.2 miles)
  • Whitman Trailhead: Oregon Trail #103 -> Basalt #101 -> Rim #102 -> Oregon Trail #103 back to trailhead (approx. 2.6 miles)
  • Bob’s Cul-de-sac (Hearthstone Dr.): Bob’s #30 -> Urban Connector #9 -> Highlands #1 back to trailhead (approx. 2.3 miles)
  • Hillside to Hollow Trailhead: Harrison Hollow #57 -> Connector -> Who Now Loop #51 -> Hippie Shake #50 -> Harrison Hollow #57 back to trailhead (approx. 2.5 miles)

Intermediate Trail Loops

  • Collister Trailhead: Polecat Loop #81 -> back to trailhead (approx. 6.2 miles)
  • Hulls Gulch Trailhead (Foothills Learning Center): Kestrel #39A -> Crestline #28 -> Lower Hull’s Gulch #29 (on even days) back to trailhead (approx. 5.5 miles)
  • Hillside to Hollow Trailhead: Harrison Hollow #57 -> Connector -> Who Now Loop #51 -> Buena Vista #53 -> Robert Smylie #54 -> West Climb #55 -> Full Sail #56 -> Buena Vista #53 -> Who Now Loop #51 -> Hippie Shake #50 -> Harrison Hollow #57 back to trailhead (approx. 6.1 miles)
  • Miller Gulch Trailhead: Connector to Corrals #31 -> Bob’s #30 -> Highlands #1 -> Corrals #31 -> Connector back to trailhead (approx. 9.1 miles)

Advanced Trail Loops

  • Cartwright Road Trailhead: Peggy’s #76 -> Sweet Connie #77 -> Chukar Butte #74 to Dry Creek Trailhead on Cartwright Road -> Hidden Springs Road to Barn Owl Trail #85 -> Cartwright Ridge #84 back to trailhead (approx. 19 miles)
  • 8th Street ATV Trailhead: Hulls Gulch Interpretive Trail to Upper Hulls Gulch Trailhead -> down 8th Street Extension to Scott’s #32 -> Corrals #31 -> cross 8th Street Extension to Hulls Gulch Interpretive Trail back to trailhead (approx. 11.7 miles)
  • Lower Bogus Trailhead: Sweet Connie #77 -> Freddy’s Stack Rock Trail #125 -> down Bogus Basin Rd. to Shafer Butte Rd. -> Headwaters Trails #LT1 and #LT2 -> Doug Fir Loop #LT3 -> Ponderosa Pine Overlook #LT5 -> To Dry Creek #LT6-> Dry Creek #78 back to trailhead (approx. 16.1 miles)
  • Lower Bogus Trailhead: Dry Creek #78 -> Shingle Creek #79 -> down Dry Creek #78 back to trailhead (approx. 17.5 miles)
  • Homestead Trailhead (S Council Spring Rd): Homestead #12 -> Lucky Peak Road -> Shaw Mountain Road -> West Highland Valley #11 -> Cobb #13 -> Lucky Peak Road -> Homestead #12 back to trailhead (approx. 14.6 miles)

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Beginner Trail Loops

  • Cottonwood Creek Trailhead: Toll Road Trail #27A -> Ridge Crest #20 -> down Mountain Cove #22C back to trailhead (approx. 3.1 miles)
  • 9th Street Trailhead (Camel’s Back Park): Red Fox #36 to Gold Finch #35 -> Owl’s Roost #37 -> Kestrel #39A across Mile High Rd to Red Fox #36 -> down Red Fox #36 back to trailhead (approx. 2.6 miles)
  • Seamans Gulch Trailhead: Wild Phlox #112 -> Seaman Gulch #110 back to trailhead (approx. 2.4 miles)

Intermediate Trail Loops

  • Hawkins Range Reserve Trailhead (closed Dec. 1 - April 30): Hawkins Trail #60 (approx. 5.5 miles)
  • Cottonwood Creek Trailhead: Toll Road Trail #27A -> Ridge Crest #20 -> Central Ridge #22 -> Shane’s #26A -> Three Bears #26 -> Shane’s #26A -> Bucktail #20A -> Ridge Crest #20 to Central Ridge Spur (North) #22A -> short section of Central Ridge to Central Ridge Spur (South) #22A -> Central Ridge #22 back to trailhead (approx. 6.8 miles)
  • Old Pen Trailhead: Old Pen #15A -> Table Rock #15 -> Table Rock connector to Rock Island (West) #16B -> Rock Garden #16A -> Table Rock connector to Table Rock #15 back to trailhead (approx. 3.6 miles)
  • Hulls Gulch Trailhead: Short distance on Red Fox #36 -> Chickadee Ridge #36A back to Red Fox #36 -> 15th Trail #41 -> down to Hill Road, up Bogus Basin Road -> Harrison Hollow #57 -> Kemper’s Ridge #52 to Hippie Shake #50 -> Who Now Loop #51 -> Buena Vista #53 -> Full Sail #56 -> up West Climb #55 to Robert Smylie #54 -> Buena Vista #53 -> Who Now Loop #51 -> Kemper’s Ridge #52 -> Harrison Hollow #57 -> Bous Basin Road to Hill Road -> 15th St. Trail #41 -> Red Fox #36 down to Gold Finch #35 -> Owl’s Roost #37 -> Kestrel #39A back to trailhead (approx. 9.6 miles)
  • Dry Creek Trailhead: Red Tail #71 to Chukar Butte #74 -> Currant Creek #75 across Cartwright Road -> Red Tail #71 -> Landslide Loop #70 -> Currant Creek #75 -> Red Tail #71 back to trailhead (approx. 7.6 miles)

Advanced Trail Loops

  • Old Pen Trailhead: Old Pen #15A -> Table Rock #15 to the top -> Table Rock Quarry #17 -> Table Rock connector to Rock Garden #16A -> Connector to Tram #14 -> Rock Island (West) #16B to Rock Island (East) #16B -> Connector back to Table Rock #15 -> Quarry #18 -> Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Trail #19 -> Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Trail #19A back to trailhead (approx. 7 miles)
  • Hulls Gulch Trailhead: 8th Street Extension to 8th Street Connection -> down Bob’s #30 -> Highlands #1 -> Corrals #31 -> Hard Guy #33 -> Sheep Camp #80 -> Dry Creek #78 -> Sweet Connie #77 -> Chukar Butte #74 -> Currant Creek #75 -> Red Tail #71 -> Landslide Loop #70 -> Currant Creek #75 -> Red Tail #71 to Bitterbrush #73 -> Chukar Butte #74 back to Sweet Connie #77 -> Dry Creek #78 -> Sheep Camp #80 -> down Hard Guy #33 -> down Connector to Bogus Basin Road -> Bogus Basin Road to Corrals Trailhead -> Corrals #31 -> Highlands #1 -> Bob’s #30 -> 8th Street Connection, down 8th Street Extension back to trailhead (approx. 39.5 miles)
  • Stack Rock Trailhead: Bogus Basin Road for 2.9 miles -> Eastside #120 -> Sinker Creek #122 -> Big #124 -> Big-Stack Cutoff #126 -> Freddy’s Stack Rock Trail #125 (counter-clockwise) back to trailhead (approx. 17.4 miles)
  • Cottonwood Creek Trailhead: Cottonwood Creek #27 -> Ridge Crest #20 -> Central Ridge #22 to Shane’s #26A -> up Rocky Canyon Road to Five Mile Gulch Trailhead -> Five Mile Gulch #2 -> Watchman #3 -> Three Bears #26 -> Bucktail #20A -> Central Ridge Spur (North) #22A -> Central Ridge #22 back to trailhead (approx. 17.6 miles)
  • 9th Street Trailhead (Camel’s Back Park): Red Fox #36 to Gold Finch #35 -> Owl’s Roost #37 -> Kestrel #39A -> Crestline #28 -> Sidewinder #24 -> 8th Street Motorcycle #4 -> Lower Hull’s Gulch #29 -> Red Cliffs #39 -> Crestline #28 -> Kestrel #39A -> Red Fox #36 -> Chickadee Ridge #36A -> Red Fox #36 back to trailhead (approx. 12.4 miles)