The beautiful thing about Boise, Idaho, is your 30 minutes from just about every ecosystem. Mountains to the North, canyons to the west, desert to the east, and high plains to the south. Like a broken compass, let’s only focus on the north for a moment. The most popular area just outside of Boise is Bogus Basin Mountain. In the warmer months, hikers and mountain bikers zip up the windy road to breathe some fresh mountain air. In winter, snowboarders and skiers pile up by the busload to hit the slopes. But based on your reading this, you are probably more interested in the hiking trails on Bogus, so let’s talk have some trail talk.
Bogus Basin has dozens of well-maintained trails for a decent day hike. It has even more if you count some of the hikes whose trailheads are on the road up the mountain’s base (which I do). If you have trouble picking which trails to try out, here are the best Bogus Basin hiking trails, in my opinion.
Schafer Butte
If you want sweet views and fall colors (which obviously you do, because come on, who doesn’t’?) Shafer Butte is the top choice. I mean that both figuratively and literally because the trail is actually at the top of the mountain. At over 7,000 feet, you will have views of the entire valley and the surrounding Boise Ridge Mountains. Hike this trail in Autumn when the leaves are changing, and you’ll swear you’ve stepped right into the magical world of a Bob Ross painting.
The best way up to Shafer Butte is via Brewer’s Byway and the Lodge Cat Track. The trailhead starts at Pioneer Lodge, winds around the top of the mountain before going to the top, and then circling the other side for a total length of 5.2 miles and an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet.
Deer Point
One of the most underrated trails on Bogus Basin is Deer Point trail. This trail exists to connect a more comprehensive course that circles the mountain, which is appropriately titled “Around the Mountain” (a little too on the nose if you ask me). But just on its own, it is a surprisingly great hike. The trail starts at Simplot Lodge, the main lodge on Bogus. Avoid the Yogis who like to assemble outside the clubhouse with their mats and yerba mate tea, and begin the switchback course up into the trees. The trail begins slowly in terms of views but opens up after the first half-mile. The end of the trail is Elk Meadows Junction, and the view from there is spectacular. Overall the track is only 2.2 miles and gains a good 700 feet in elevation, making it a good challenge for beginner hikers. There is often snow on this trail until May, so plan accordingly.
Stack Rock
As I mentioned earlier, you can find some of the best Bogus Basin hiking trails on the road up to the mountain. Potentially one of the most popular hikes in Idaho is Stack Rock. What used to be a little known trail has exploded in popularity over recent years. The trailhead used to be just a dirt pull off on the side of Bogus Basin Road. It’s now a fully paved parking lot complete with fancy signage and artificial landscaping.
The trail is popular and for a good reason. It’s a nice wide path leading down into the Boise National Forest, which eventually climbs to some spectacular views. If you’re not afraid of heights, you can scramble up Stack rock for a 360-degree view of the valley. At just shy of 11 miles round trip and over 1,000 feet of elevation gain this trail can be a challenge, but the views are worth the sweat.
Click here for Stack Rock Trail Guide
Conclusion: Best Bogus Basin Hiking Trails
With lots of hiking options between the foothills and Bogus Basin Recreation area, it can be tough to choose a favorite route. But if you want great views or epic fall colors, I would recommend the Shafer Butte, Deer Point, and Stack Rock trails.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.