The city of Boise is located in southwest Idaho, where the arid landscape of the desert to the south meets the tree-covered mountains of the north.

Pressed against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boise is located in a large, flat, open basin, called the Treasure Valley. Two rivers, the Snake River and the Boise River, which flows through downtown, along with the high foothills to both the north and south define this wide valley.

The valley floor sits at about 2,840 feet above sea level, while the foothills just minutes north of downtown rise to an elevation of 7,600 feet. Bogus Basin ski area, located just beyond the top of the ridge that separates Boise from the Rocky Mountains, provides an excellent venue for winter sports, and is only about 15 miles from downtown. Further to the north and east the Rocky Mountains continue to gain in elevation.

South of Boise the terrain remains flat until reaching the Snake River about 6 miles out of town. The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, where Raptor come to nest along the canyon's walls, straddles the river along this stretch of the Snake. Beyond the river are the remote Owyhee Mountains, named after a group of Hawaiian explorers that were lost in the hills during Idaho's silver mining heyday.

Due to the protection provided by the mountains around Boise, the city maintains a relatively mild climate year round. Temperature extremes are minimized and the valley remains semi-arid, averaging about 12 inches of precipitation annually. However, the higher mountain elevations have greater snowfall than the valley, and as a result winter sports are easily accessible, and spring run-off provides ample opportunity for water sports along the area's rivers and three man-made reservoirs.

Whether it's hiking, biking, skiing, or canoeing that you enjoy, the Treasure Valley offers you the opportunity to indulge yourself.

Although relatively mild in Boise, winter offers abundant snowfall in the foothills outside of town. Bogus Basin ski area, located just 15 miles form downtown Boise, receives on average 200 inches of snow annually. The mountain's 1,800' of vertical drop, 32 groomed alpine trails, and 2,600 acres of skiable terrain provides for excellent winter sporting activity from late-November to mid-April.

Even closer than the ski slopes are the lower foothills, which are crisscrossed with trails for hiking, biking, and jogging. These trails located just to the north of Boise are usable year round. Many of the trails were developed and are maintained through a unique partnership between private landowners and various government agencies. The resulting Ridge to Rivers Trail System forms a network of trails that provide residents and visitors a vast expanse of possibilities.

In the lower foothill trails around Boise, hiking and biking trails are well marked and well used. The Ridge to River Trails have been assigned numbers; these numbers are posted along the trails to provide guidance. With the use of a map, these trails can provide miles of enjoyment. Maps of the whole trail system are available through local outdoor stores, or maps of portions of the trail system are available here, on this web site.

The lower foothills are generally dry and provide little cover from the elements. High summer temperatures, and year round winds can provide for uncomfortable conditions, so be careful when planning your trip by carrying water and wearing proper attire.

Beyond the foothills are the famed Rocky Mountains and the rest of Idaho, where...

• Winter turns Sun Valley into a world-class ski resort.
• Summer turns the Salmon River into one of our country's most scenic wild rivers.
• Borah Peak scrapes the sky at 12,662 feet. More than 4.1 million acres of officially designated wilderness area, and 23 State Parks help make Idaho a great place to plan an outdoor adventure.

If you need further information regarding recreational opportunities in Idaho, the state maintains an extensive site at www.idoc.state.id.us/irti/. Spend some time reading up before you hit the trails.