Float the Boise River

Boise River Greenbelt

Stretching from Lucky Peak Dam to Eagle, Idaho is Boise's best amenity: The Boise River Greenbelt. Whether you like to walk, bike or float, this is a great way to clear your mind, have a fun summer adventure, and enjoy the natural beauty of Boise. You are likely to see ducks, geese, and many other birds including Bald Eagles along the 25-mile paved pathway. As you walk or bike along the Greenbelt or float the Boise River, it is very common to see fishermen fishing for Idaho rainbow trout.

The Boise Greenbelt follows the Boise River with several bridges that cross the river along the way. Icons along the trail include BSU, Boise Zoo, Barber Valley Park(which is where many put in to float the river), Ann Morrison Park (where most people finish floating the river) Whitewater Park in Garden City, and Veterans Park. Whether you are out for an intense workout, light exercise, just a stroll, bird watching, fishing, or floating the river—please respect the environment and other participants! Don't ruin the Boise Greenbelt for others. We in Boise and Idaho as a whole are very proud of our access to the natural beauty around us and want to keep it pristine for everybody to enjoy for generations.

Homes for Sale along the Boise River Greenbelt

Homes for Sale along Boise River Greenbelt March 18, 2024
92
Listed
71
Avg. DOM
$416.68
Avg. $ / Sq.Ft.
$679,450
Med. List Price
92 Properties
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IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. IMLS does not assume any liability for missing or inaccurate data. Information provided by IMLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All listings provided by IMLS are marked with the official IMLS IDX logo.

 

Why are people moving to Boise?

Quality of Life! Boise ranked higher than 90% of the country for job and high-tech GDP growth and reported some of the lowest unemployment and property crime rates for the metro areas in the country. Treasure Valley offers plenty of things to do with over 200 days of sunny weather. Enjoy shopping, wineries, numerous cultural and music events, lakes, hiking, skiing and the most popular feature, the Boise River Greenbelt which runs 26 miles from Lucky Peak Reservoir to Eagle, ID. Learn more about the Boise Greenbelt.

Walk, Bike & Explore the Boise Greenbelt

The tree-lined pathway follows the river through the heart of the city and provides scenic views, wildlife habitat, and pedestrian access to many of the city's popular riverside parks. The Greenbelt also serves as an alternative transportation route for commuters.

Boise River Greenbelt Map

As you walk along the Boise River Greenbelt with its towering trees, lush riparian areas, and abundant wildlife, you may get a sense that this beautiful setting has always been here for us to enjoy. In 1964, the city hired a consultant to write a comprehensive plan and update Boise's zoning ordinance. The consultant suggested that the city acquire land along the Boise River to create a continuous "green belt" of public lands stretching the entire length of the community. Soon, a local grassroots effort to clean up the waterway and create public access to the river corridor began to take hold. This vision caught on and in 1966 and 1967 three small parcels of land were donated to the city to launch a "green belt" through the city.

In 2001, a new directional and site location system was put in place on the Greenbelt within Boise City limits to help Greenbelt users know exactly where they are in case they need to call for help. The Distance and Orientation Trail System (DOTS) is a series of 20-inch white spots painted onto the Greenbelt pavement every tenth of a mile. Inside the white spots are black numbers and letters that describe the user's location on the Greenbelt.

The numbers represent how far that spot is from the "zero point" at the 8th Street pedestrian bridge at the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. The letters inside the spot indicate what sector of the Greenbelt it is on, such as the northwest quadrant, or the southeast quadrant. The Greenbelt is maintained by the Boise Parks & Recreation Department working in conjunction with local landowners and public agencies to expand, maintain, and improve the existing pathway.

Explore the trails following the Boise River

Every day, thousands of people will put on their shoes and hit the paved path along the Boise River called the Boise Greenbelt. They may be exploring, exercising, enjoying the natural beauty, or just getting some fresh air and a stroll. It is a beautiful place, The Boise Greenbelt is a major part of the Boise LIfestyle offering year-round fun including biking, hiking, splashing in the river, fishing, spectacular bird watching, and miles of it. From Lucky Peak Dam, follow the river west downstream while it gently moves through downtown Boise and on to Garden City. You can eventually make your way to Eagle Island State Park in Eagle.

Finding homes for sale with immediate access to the Greenbelt is not easy. Once people do find a home here, they love it and tend not to move. On the other hand, if you are willing to travel a bit whether it is a short drive, walk or bike many opportunities open up. The are many access points along the entire 25-mile greenbelt. As you walk along the Boise River Greenbelt with its lush riparian areas, abundant wildlife, and tall cottonwood, oak, and willow trees, you get to experience this beautiful setting that has always been here for us to enjoy and is carefully maintained by everyone. The Greenbelt is a safe, fun, and beautiful place to enjoy from sunrise to sunset.

User Courtesies
To ensure that all users' rights are protected and to guard against accidents, the Boise Parks and Recreation Department has established the following courtesies and safety guidelines for pedestrians, in-line skaters, E-scooter users, and cyclists to obey.

  • Stay only on designated trails.
  • Pedestrians have the right of way at all times. Cyclists, E-scooter users, and in-line skaters must be aware of pedestrians.
  • All Greenbelt users should stay to the right and use caution under bridges and at blind corners where vision could be impaired or restricted.
  • Pedestrians should not walk more than two abreast.
  • Motorized vehicles as defined by city code and hoofed animals are prohibited on the Greenbelt. (Except for maintenance, patrol, and vehicles for disabled visitors.)
  • All non-paved sections are restricted to foot traffic only.
  • Dogs are allowed only if on a leash - leash not to exceed eight (8) feet.
  • Cyclists, E-scooter users, and in-line skaters should maintain speeds safe for the conditions. Bicyclists and in-line skaters may not conduct serious training or maintain fast speeds.
  • Bicyclists, E-scooter users, and skaters who wish to pass other users along the Greenbelt must notify others that they are passing, either verbally (example: "passing on your left") or by other audible means (bell, horn, etc.). The person wishing to pass is responsible for passing freely and clearly around others, and not hindering approaching users.
  • Don't harass or encroach upon wildlife. Disturbing or collecting any vegetation or natural habitat along the Greenbelt is prohibited.