Important Information About Floating Down the Boise River

Floating the Boise River is a popular activity during the Summer months. Each day hundreds of rafts and tubes can be seen meandering their way down this river which winds through the very center of Idaho's capitol city. In Boise, floating the river is as much a summer tradition as fireworks on the fourth of July. Because of the popularity of floating the Boise River, the city of Boise has put a lot of effort into making it as accessible to everyone as possible. If you are interested in floating the Boise River, the following information and suggestions should be helpful to you.

First, you need a raft or tube. Obviously, in order to float the Boise River you need some type of flotation device. Inflatable rafts, kayaks, or tubes are most common on the Boise River. However, just yesterday I actually saw a group of teens put a giant inflatable trampoline in the river and float down on that! You can buy a raft, tube, or inflatable kayak yourself, and there are many to choose from, ranging from about $15 to over $3,000. You can also rent rafts and tubes at Barber Park. Barber Park is the most common put in for the river. Raft prices range from $35 to $55, and the price includes a life preserver for each person who will be riding in the raft.

Next, you need to know the routine. Most people put in at Barber Park. You can park there, and a shuttle bus will bring you back up to your car from the take out at Ann Morrison Park for a $3 fee per person. When you get to Barber Park, park your car for a $5 fee ($6 on weekends). Take your deflated raft to one of the air stations and inflate it for free. This is also where you will rent a raft if you do not own one. There are restrooms and a snack shop here, as well. It is pretty easy to get into the water with your raft, and you will see others doing it too, so you can follow their lead. The trip down to Ann Morrison Park will take 2 to 3 hours. However, there are a few takeouts along the way so if you decide you've had enough of the river before you make it to the last takeout, just takeout early and climb up to the Green Belt where you can walk the rest of the way to Ann Morrison to catch the shuttle back to your car.

Don't disregard safety! The Boise River looks really peaceful and calm from the banks, but being in it can be a little different. For the most part, floating the Boise River really is fun and easy. But there are locations where you have to be careful not to run into trees. There are also a few spots along the six mile route from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park where the water flows a bit faster, and you hit tiny rapids (really tiny). However, as small as these little rapids are, they still have the potential to flip your raft, and this happens a little more commonly than one might think. So, it is really important that everyone is wearing a life preserver, even if you can swim. Most areas of the river along this route are actually shallow enough for many people to be able to reach the bottom, but there are a few deeper areas. Plus, falling into a flowing river isn't the same as falling into a lake. The water is moving, and if you fall in, you'll be moving right along with it. So, a preserver is important. And children aged 14 and under are absolutely required by law to be wearing an approved life preserver, so make sure they are. The city's website actually recommends that people do not even bring babies or young children on the river at all. Also, alcohol is strictly prohibited on the river. Clearly, this isn't a rule everyone follows, and you'll realize this quickly if you take the shuttle bus back to your car. It's often filled with adults who clearly don't know when to say when.