With over 90 parks in Boise, there is one close to every neighborhood!
Boise Parks & Recreation Department in Boise, Idaho, manages over 90 parks and undeveloped sites, where you will find 86 tennis courts 48 soccer fields, 25 pickleball courts, 22 basketball courts, 6 bocce ball courts, 3 lacrosse fields, disc golf courses, an archery range, and even a cricket field! You will also find almost 200 miles of trails!
We were recently enjoying some of our local parks and realized that we have amazing opportunities for short Daytrips in our beautiful Northwest - almost in our backyard! Even if you only have a lunch hour or a couple hours on the weekend, you can take advantage of the activities and beauty in one of the many parks in the City of Boise! Maybe you want a picnic. Or you want a walk or a longer hike or a bike ride. Or you want to try a new activity - bocce anyone? - that you never tried before. You can find a wide variety of outdoor activities in the many well-maintained parks in Boise!
Boise provides recreational opportunities for all ages and in every area of the city. To find a park near you, here are a few links:
Here are just a few of the parks close to where we live. But check out the lists above to find one you would like to explore, whether you are visiting Boise or you live in Boise!
Check the Boise Parks and Recreation website for details about hours and rules for each location, as they may change.
Simplot Sports Complex
2437 E Lake Forest Dr, Boise
Simplot Sports Complex has over 160 acres that includes 20 soccer fields, plus baseball fields, a playground area, restrooms, and an off-leash dog area during winter months (refer to park information for dates).
We enjoy seeing the youth soccer games - sometimes local and sometimes regional - that are just minutes away.
Cypress Park
4382 S Tableridge Way, Boise
Cypress Park is a small neighborhood park in Southeast Boise with a playground, pickleball and tennis courts, open play areas, a non-reservable picnic shelter, a paved walking path, off-leash hours for your dog, and a nice view of the Boise Front for everyone!
Ivywild Park
416 W Ivywild St, Boise
Ivywild Park includes an outdoor pool with a toddler pool and slides - one of the park's most popular features. The park also includes a walking path, tennis courts, a playground, softball fields, soccer fields, restrooms, open play areas and a reservable picnic shelter.
Marianne Williams Park
3451 E Barber Valley Dr, Boise
Marianne Williams Park includes 72 acres along the Boise River in East Boise's Barber Valley. This park has beautiful, paved pathways with two large ponds (where you will frequently see people fishing), a gazebo, picnic shelter and restrooms.
Service animals are welcome but no pets are allowed, per city code. The park is signed to show where dogs and bikes are permitted. Refer to the park map for details.
Park map (to show where dogs and bikes are permitted)
Ann Morrison Park
1000 S Americana Blvd, Boise
Ann Morrison Park covers 153 acres next to the Boise River. This beautiful park includes picnic facilities, bocce courts, a disc golf course, horseshoe pits, an outdoor gym, volleyball court, playground, tennis courts, and fields for softball, soccer, cricket, and football.
The park is named in memory of Ann Daly Morrison, the wife of Morrison-Knudsen co-founder Harry W. Morrison.
Boise Depot and Platt Gardens
2603 W Eastover Terrace, Boise
The Boise Depot is a Spanish-style building and historic site, opened in 1925 and located next to the beautiful Platt Gardens. The Depot and its facilities may be rented with reservations through the City of Boise Parks Department.
Open House Hours
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays.
Closed all legal holidays.
The Depot and its facilities may be rented 365 days in advance.
Ways to Reserve: Call: (208) 608-7600 Walk In: 1104 Royal Blvd, Boise, ID Office hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed all legal holidays.
Service animals welcome. No pets on the Boise Depot grounds or in the Platt Gardens, per city code.
Barber Park
4049 S Eckert Road, Boise
Barber Park is best known as the starting point of Float the Boise River rafting and tubing.
Barber Observation Point
6300 S Surprise Way, Boise
Close to home for us.
Barber Observation Point is a small park with great views of the Barber Pool Conservation Area (BPCA) and the rock cliffs heading up to Lucky Peak, plus a nice walking path (that our dog, McKenna, enjoys).
How Do We Get To These Parks?
STARTING POINT: Boise
DISTANCE FROM STARTING POINT: Parks can be across the street or across the city!
TIME TO REACH: Refer to the lists and maps, with links in the intro above.
ROAD SURFACE: Most are paved; some are dirt.
WHEN ACCESSIBLE: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
FEES: None
RECOMMENDED VEHICLES: Any
PET FRIENDLY: On leash recommended, but off leash is allowed in some parks.
WHEN WE WENT: We visit the parks year-round!
I'm Here - Now What?
Refer to information links for each park to see what is available!