There is no denying that I will always choose to opt outside when I’m looking to get creative. I love taking couples and families to explore places in a way they have never seen before. And it is even better when that place holds a special memory for them.

Here are my 5 favorite hikes in the Boise area.

Stack Rock Trail

Difficulty: Medium

Length: ~10 miles round trip

Traffic: High

Located 3 miles from Bogus Basin, Stack Rock has it all. It is the most woodsy of all of my favorites and you are often surrounded by trees over 20 feet tall. You start the hike descending down the mountain and quickly find out you must cross the road (and that there is a second parking lot that cuts almost 2 miles off the hike!). Once you’re across the road, you have an incredible view of the Treasure Valley with spurts of open plains filled with wild grasses and flowers in the spring. As the hike continues, you return to the forest and climb until you reach the pinnacle that is Stack Rock and you should expect to budget time to explore the monolithic boulder.

I love this hike the most in the summer when the lower valley gets too hot to bear. Stack Rock not only offers a higher elevation, the majority of the trail is shaded, giving you a much needed break from the sun. And if 10 miles is too long, I love that at any point, you can turn around and still say you got to see breathtaking views.

Eagle Rock Loop (formerly Castle Rock Loop)

Difficulty: Medium

Length: 2 mile loop

Traffic: Low

This particular hike has to be my most frequented trail in all of Boise. Not only is it only 5 blocks from my house, I love that it is a relatively short loop with a spectacular sunset view of downtown Boise. During the summer, my family is known to do this hike before or after dinner to get out and enjoy the wildflowers and sunshine.

In the same trail system as Table Rock, Eagle Rock Loop is a great short alternative to the nearby Table Rock. And if you’re looking to expand your hike, I love that the end of the loop drops you right into the beginning of the hike to Table Rock.

Lucky Peak Loop Trail

Difficulty: Hard

Length: ~15 miles round trip

Traffic: Low

There is no denying this hike is hard and if you want to be successful at it, you need to start early in the morning before the sun comes up. I often find this trail to be the most deceiving because when you look at it from the bottom, you are certain the entire trail will only offer dust and sagebrush. The trail can be steep at points so you’ll want to make sure you pace yourself, bring plenty of water and maybe invest in some trekking poles.

The reward for this hike comes 1 mile before the summit. Suddenly, you are transported from the high desert below to a forest you can barely even see from the road. And the trees reach over 30 feet into the air and offer a breath of cool air for any hiker who makes it to them. We loved hearing streams gurgling, especially since we were so surprised by the change in ecosystem.

My favorite time of year to do this hike is the spring because, as very few people know, at the summit of Lucky Peak is a bird observatory. Oftentimes, you can find scientists working on the weekends and they are always excited to explain what birds they are seeing that day. We even got to hold and help tag finches and see the Peregrine falcons soar overhead. If you just want to bird watch, you can also drive to the top of Lucky Peak. Just make sure you have 4 wheel drive as the road is often in poor condition from winter storms and run-off.

Cottonwood Creek Trail

Difficult: Low

Length: ~2 mile loop

Traffic: Low/Medium

Located in Military Reserve, Cottonwood Creek offers a rarity in Boise; a shaded, tree covered trail. And my favorite part is you can turn this trail into a loop via Eagle Ridge Loop and see a spectacular view of the Boise Capitol right above the JA and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation bike park. This is a very popular trail with hikers, joggers, and bikers and you can expect to see people throughout the day.

If you’re looking for amazing fall colors, this is the trail for you. Because of the marshy land and the protection the hill offers from the sun, this area is filled with aspen trees, which give colorful displays throughout the cooler months. Be mindful of trail conditions and don’t go out when it is muddy. Hiking on muddy trails leads to erosion and soil compaction that can cause long-lasting damage and be expensive to repair.

Table Rock Trail

Difficulty: Medium

Length: ~4 miles

Traffic: High

Arguably the most famous hike in all of Boise and I would be lying to myself if I didn’t include it among my favorites. Starting from the Old Penitentiary parking lot, the trail climbs for nearly two miles to the top of Table Rock itself. Here, you get a close look at Table Rock Cross that has stood for over 60 years. The trail gains nearly 1,000 feet of elevation along the way, but the views of the surrounding city are worth the effort.

Nowadays, the only way to see views from top requires a hike. Recent improvements to land surrounding and work to improve erosion required the parking lot at the top to be removed. You can still drive to the beginning of the dirt road though you’ll need to get there early to get a parking spot along the road.