Running trails in Boise, ID
Boise has 21 trails in the directory — 2 paved and 5 on crushed gravel or dirt, 11 loops that return to the trailhead, 3 with a stated distance, 3 shaded, and 4 open 24 hours. 14 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 10,904 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Camel’s Back Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,560 reviews
Dedicated in 1965, this 11-acre park features a playground, tennis courts, an outdoor gym & more.
Kathryn Albertson Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,223 reviews
This 41-acre park features wildlife, ponds & a fountain, plus paved footpaths, restrooms & gazebos.
Hulls Gulch/Camel's Back Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,160 reviews
Sizable reserve known for its native grasses, wildlife viewing, steep climbs & multi-use trails.
Table Rock
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,124 reviews
Well-maintained trails winding up a scenic cliff for views of the city and mountains.
Lucky Peak State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 927 reviews
State park with picnic pavilions, fishing & trails, plus a beach with swimming, marina & boat ramps.
The Military Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 690 reviews
Rustic natural-terrain park with trails, an archery range, a military cemetery & off-leash dog area.
Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 715 reviews
This 44-acre preserve for bats, birds & other animals offers trails, overlooks & public art.
Old Penitentiary/Table Rock Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 479 reviews
Popular hiking destination with views of Boise and Treasure Valley, open only to foot traffic.
Hulls Gulch Interpretive Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 217 reviews
Dog-friendly foothills area popular for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding.
Oregon Trail Trailhead-Ada County
4.6 ★★★★★ 179 reviews
Park, trails and exhibits tracing the route of the 1800s Oregon Trail, with basalt formations.
Camel’s Back Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 146 reviews
Popular park with many trails for hiking and biking, plus wildlife sightings.
14 Tram Trail Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 50 reviews
Area with trails for mountain biking and hiking, some of which feature scenic views.
Bob's Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 50 reviews
Hiking area offering a mix of hilly and road-side trails that's good for dogs and kids.
Upper Hulls Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 45 reviews
Scenic, well-maintained trail offering hiking and biking routes, plus creek and waterfall sightings.
Shane's Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 33 reviews
Bikers' and runners' multi-use trail with views of the city.
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Boise
- Match the surface to your legs. Boise gives you a choice: 3 natural surface, 2 paved, and 2 crushed gravel. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More natural surface trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 11 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Boise is Hawkins Range Reserve Trailhead at 5 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 4 trails in Boise are open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 14 of the 21 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 3 are lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 16 have trailhead parking, 12 have restrooms, and 2 have a water fountain in Boise. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 3 shaded, 1 with mile markers, 2 that runners describe as quiet, 12 dog-friendly, and 4 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Boise trails by type
- Natural surface trails
- Paved trails
- Crushed gravel trails
- Loop trails
- Long-run trails (5+ mi)
- Shaded trails
- Lit for early & night runs
- Flat & fast
- Hilly trails
- Scenic trails
- Trails with restrooms
- Trails with water fountains
- Trailhead parking
- Trails with mile markers
- Quiet, uncrowded trails
- Dog-friendly
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible
Running trails near Boise
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.