Our Family's Unusual Boise Staycation Plan

Thanks to several recent and unexpected expenses, our family has had to shelve our plans for a summer vacation in Seattle. Fortunately, we live in Boise, Idaho, which has an amazing variety of things to do for families who are watching their costs and staying close to home over the summer.

A vacation spent at home, known as a "staycation," means taking advantage of the great attractions that your home city has to offer. This year, our family's unusual staycation plan includes hiking all 130 miles of trails in Boise's Ridge to Rivers trail system.

Most Boiseans are familiar with the Ridge to Rivers trail system and may have even walked along some of the more popular trails around Camel's Back, Hulls Gulch, and above the Military Reserve. What few families realize is the extent of the trail system. These trails march along ridge lines and down gulches, across streams and over the hillsides all while providing a hiker with a panoramic view of downtown Boise.

The Ridge to Rivers network has over 100 different trails in all and just in the past two weeks, our family has managed to hike about 42 of the them. So far some of the surprises we've experienced included hillsides covered with bachelor buttons, hidden gulches filled with syringa and wild roses in bloom, stands of sagebrush that are taller than an adult, and some amazing rock formations that are as breathtaking as those found in many National Parks.

Even though our budget didn't allow us to take a "real" vacation this year, our family agrees that our unusual staycation is shaping up to be a smashing success. With only 60 trails to go, we can hardly wait to see what other surprises might be out there for us to discover.

Before setting out on a hiking staycation in the Boise foothills, we recommend the following:
1. Always check the weather report before heading out and dress accordingly.
2. Wear sturdy shoes with socks.
3. Bring along plenty of water and energy bars or other snacks. In the summer, one pint per person per hour of hiking is a good rule of thumb.
4. Lather up with sunscreen and wear a hat. Remember to bring a first aid kit as well.
5. Pack a trail map. These can be found at most sport stores and bike shops. While most of the trails are well marked, having a map can help you plot a shortcut back to the car if needed.
6. Choose trails that are appropriate for your family's age and skill level. From our own experience, we've noticed that few families seem to venture more than a mile or so from the parking lots due to steep climbs.
7. Visit the Ridge to Rivers website at Ridge to Rivers.cityofboise.org for updated trail conditions and other information before starting your hike.