Curious what Boise’s fave summer activities are? Check out the latest voting in our poll
A couple of weeks ago, we asked you to tell us some of your favorite activities to do in Boise as the temperatures ramp up and we head into the heat of summer.
And as we head into a heatwave next week, it seems like the perfect time to preview the latest voting numbers of the poll, considering two of the top three involve water at the time we published this story.
Our summer activities poll will remain open, so be sure to cast your vote below and check out what other people will be doing this summer. Once you’ve voted, continue scrolling down to read more about some of the current front runners in the poll.
Raft an Idaho River
A popular activity for locals is rafting an Idaho river. Raft Idaho is your one-stop shop to find the best rivers to raft in your area. Using the website’s river map, you can select your closest city, providing a list of rivers nearby that can then be sorted by trip length and difficulty.
Raft Idaho lists seven rivers near Boise, ranging from short half-day trips like the Boise River and Payette River to journeys that can take upwards of a week, such as the Jarbridge and Bruneau Rivers or the Owyhee River.
Idaho River Sports offers daily rentals of rafts and oars, starting at $55 per day. Don’t forget that any multi-day raft trip will also require overnight camping, so be sure to bring camping equipment and find a good overnight camping spot.
Family camping trip
The popularity of rafting leads straight into another favorite summer activity for Boiseans: family camping trips.
There are over 70 campgrounds in the Boise National Forest, just a short drive north of Boise. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation allows people to book camping spots in Idaho State Parks up to nine months in advance and offers a search tool to find the best camping ground that fits your needs.
The Sawtooth National Forest is a little farther east than the Boise National Forest and also offers over 80 camping grounds.
Float the Boise River
You don’t need a lot for this activity, simply a raft or a tube which can be rented on-site, a couple of friends and a cold drink in your hand.
Over 125,000 people float the Boise River every year, according to Ada County Parks and Waterways. The six-mile float from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park takes two to three hours, and tubes can be purchased on-site for $30. You can also rent a deluxe tube for $27, a four-person raft for $75, or a six-person raft for $85.
The start point for the river float is at Barber Park, about six miles southeast of downtown at 4049 S. Eckert Rd.
Other summer activities
This story was originally published July 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
