The Boise Foothills rise directly from the back of the city — a chain of dry, sagebrush-covered hills that offer immediate escape from downtown. The Ridge to Rivers trail system threads through them, with more than 190 miles of trails ranging from easy riverside walks to steep technical mountain bike routes on the upper ridges.
The most popular entry point is the Hulls Gulch Reserve trailhead off 8th Street, about 10 minutes from downtown. From there the Kestrel Trail and Crestline Trail offer good loops with city views. In spring the foothills are green and wildflower-dotted; by July they have turned golden-brown. The light at sunset from the upper ridges, looking back over Boise and the Snake River plain, is one of the better free views in the state.