Lifestyle

Recreation

The Boise Metro is your base camp for Idaho’s great outdoors. The Gem State offers more miles of whitewater than any state in the lower 48, some of the most celebrated mountain ranges to hike, climb, camp and backpack, and more national forest land per capita than any other state.


  • The Boise Foothills offer more than 135 miles of nationally acclaimed hiking and mountain biking trails, right in your backyard.
  • Bogus Basin Mountain Resort is just 16 miles north of the Boise Valley and offers almost every winter activity imaginable – along with summer adrenaline adventures and some of the most breathtaking views of the valley.
  • World-famous Sun Valley ski resort, home to the world’s first chairlift, is just a three-hour ride to the northeast.
  • Two hours north of the Boise Valley, nestled between Tamarack ski resort and Brundage Mountain, is the cozy resort town of McCall and Payette Lake.
  • Water activities such as kayaking, whitewater rafting and fly fishing can be found throughout the region and all across the state on the Boise, Payette, Snake and Salmon River systems (see a video taken on the Payette River below).
  • Elaborate systems for hiking and biking can be found just about everywhere in Idaho, along with numerous opportunities for camping.
  • Numerous rock climbing areas can be found just minutes outside of the city.
  • Boise State University is proud to be home to the Boise State Broncos.
  • Minor professional sports teams in Boise Valley include the Class A Boise Hawks and the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL.