Record temps to hit Boise. Here are our favorite ways to beat the heat
Sunny skies, gentle breezes and chirping birds are calling your name this week, Boise residents.
With high temperatures approaching record-breaking numbers, it’s time to come out of hibernation and bask in the sunshine.
Here are some ways to beat the heat and enjoy the warmer weather:
What are best things to do outdoors in Boise during heat wave?
One of the most accessible and cheapest ways to enjoy the March heat wave is taking a stroll along the Greenbelt.
This paved walking path runs along the Boise River, has several access points throughout the city and is completely free to explore.
The Greenbelt is 29 miles long and decorated with 12 public parks named after “remarkable women” from the city’s history, according to the Boise Parks and Recreation Department. This network of parks is also known as the Ribbon of Jewels.
Bring an activity and some snacks to make your Greenbelt outing an all-day getaway.
If you’re looking for a more active way to enjoy the scenery, take your bike or rent one for $25 from Greenbelt Bike Rental, right off of the river path at 504 East 45th St., Unit 21, in Boise.
Another good way to enjoy “one of the finest urban trout rivers in the country” is to cast a line into the Boise River and see if you can get a nibble, according to Idaho Fish and Game.
What are risks of Idaho rivers, lakes in the spring?
As daytime temperatures soar, you might be tempted to take a dip in the Boise River and other waterways.
Be careful, experts say.
“Even if it feels warm outside, rivers, lakes and streams can still be cold and running fast” due to melting mountain snow, the National Weather Service said in a Tuesday, March 17 post on X. “Always wear your life vest and consider cold water protection gear. ... Cold water can kill.”
Boise and other Idaho cities rely heavily on snowpack melt to supply water to rivers and streams during the warmer months of the year, so river water stays cold the weather service said.
“The average water temperature of Idaho’s water is 52 degrees, even during the summer,” the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation said on its website.
Swimming in cold and quick-moving water can lead to cold shock, hypothermia, immersion failure and eventually drowning, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.
Looking for an animal adventure?
From big cats to prairie dogs and birds of prey, you can see lots of wildlife during a ZooBoise visit at 355 Julia Davis Drive in Boise.
If you stop in to meet the animals, remember not to tap on the glass of their enclosures or throw food in them to ensure the animals’ health and comfort in their homes, ZooBoise said on its website.
ZooBoise visitors can get a closer look at some animals Thursday through Sunday.
You can feed goats for $3 per person from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on those days, or feed a sloth bear through a tube from 2:30 to 3 p.m, according to the zoo website.
Where are the best Boise restaurants for eating outside?
If you’re not the picnicking type, Boise is packed with restaurants with outdoor dining options.
These eateries made Yelp’s list of the top 10 spots for patio dining near Boise:
- 1. Suite 104, 280 North 8th St., Suite 104, Boise
- 2. Susina, 1621 North Orchard St., Boise
- 3. Fireside Inn, 1610 North 31st St., Boise
- 4. Matlacks, 1100 West Front St., Boise
- 5. The Wylder , 501 West Broad St., Boise
- 6. The Roosevelt, 126 East Broadway Ave., Meridian
- 7. Sid’s Garage Barber Village location, 3035 East Barber Valley Drive, Boise
- 8. The Front Door, 105 South 6th St Boise
- 9. Percy, 400 South 4th St., Boise
- 10. Trillium, 245 South Capitol Blvd., Boise
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 3:00 PM.
