The Best Of Boise Bike Rides

BOISE, ID — The weather is warming and families want to get out of the house to take a ride. With more people using the Boise Greenbelt, those on bicycles are looking for alternative places to ride. Thanks to Trek, here is a listing of favorite rides around Boise. For detailed maps of the rides, visit greatrides/boise.

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1. Military Reserve-Ridgecrest. Ridgecrest is a nice winding little singletrack connection for those days where you just don’t feel like grunting up the Central Ridge waterbars. Ridgecrest is popular with hikers, as it offers nice views of downtown and forms easy loops with the other Military Reserve trails. The trail is 1.1 miles in length and is currently clear of mud and snow.
2. Camel's Back Park-Kestral. Kestral is a beginner trail, but it’s also a semi-steep little grunt. The pain is short, though, and before you know it you’re on Crestline. Kestral is wide, heavily-used (often looped with Red Cliffs) and prone to mud in the spring. It’s popular with all kinds of trail users. Like the Reserve ride, the trail is 1.1 miles and clear.
3. Bogus Basin-Berm Baby Berm. This is exactly what a flow trail should be: a dirt rollercoaster where every whoop, jump and berm works together to preserve momentum without the need for braking or pedaling. Berm Baby Berm is well-designed and tons of fun. It has a couple of beginner-friendly tabletop jumps, but its defining characteristic is in its name: berms, berms and more berms. Berm Baby Berm is open only to downhill bikers. This trail is currently closed and riders are urged to call before attempting.
4. Camel's Back Park-Sidewinder. Sidewinder is a fast, flowy and fun hardpacked trail. Sidewinder has good sightlines and ample opportunities for speed, so you can really fly on the (very rare) occasion that the trail is empty. In drier months Sidewinder gets really sandy, but in the spring it’s mint. Sidewinder is a popular climb, often looped with Fat Tire Traverse and Freestone Ridge. The 1.3 mile trek is open and riding well at this time.
   
5. Bogus Basin -Morningstar. Morningstar is a fun intermediate downhill singletrack at Bogus Basin. It zigzags across the hillside, with a nicely sculpted berm on each turn and various optional wooden ladders along the way. Also, it’s very shuttle-friendly because you can drive up the paved road to Pioneer Lodge and hop right onto Morningstar. Many folks use Morningstar as the final descent after a loop Around the Mountain. There is still snow on this 1.6 mile ride and the trail is closed.
6. Boise Foothills-Bob's Trail. Bob’s is a classic Boise creekside trail. Check out Bob’s if you’re tired of the smooth, buffed and arguably homogenous singletrack that is so abundant around Boise. Bob’s is littered with rocks that will keep you on your toes, including one notorious rock step-down that’s sent more than one mountain biker over the handlebars. Bob’s is a perfect grade—not too steep and not too flat—but despite that fact, mountain bikers tend to ride only downhill on Bob’s. Hikers and trail runners are more likely to climb it, however, so watch your speed and keep your eyes open. The enjoyable 1.6 mile ride is open and ready for use.

This is just the first installment of BoisePatch.com looking at outdoor activities around the Capital City. Tomorrow, we look at more cycle excursions available to you and your family.

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