Of the many outdoor activities Boise has to offer, a popular one is biking along the Boise Greenbelt. It’s a 25-mile path that runs alongside scenic views and quaint residential areas.
The Greenbelt is a favorite park in the city, and it’s easy to understand why once you pass through a couple of miles along the path. I was able to cycle several miles on a weekday and had lunch at a park, stopped by a bridge and saw a couple of houses. What was also nice is that a good portion of my ride was through shady trees.
My favorite scene of all was the Boise River, which I stopped to admire for a couple of minutes several times throughout my ride.
Something interesting about the Boise Greenbelt is that prior to the 1960s, the Boise River and its banks used to be a dumping ground for waste, including sewage and trash. Then in 1964, a consultant hired by the city suggested that Boise acquire land along the river to create a “green belt” of public land spanning across the community. You can read more about the history here if you’re interested.
I rented a bike at a place called Boise Riverside Bike Rentals and opted to go with an adult cruiser. My experience there was hassle free, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a simple rental place. The bike I got cost $20 for 4.5 hours – along with a helmet – which I thought was a pretty good deal. Boise Riverside Bike Rentals has a couple of options to choose from, though there’s not a wide variety. If you’re pickier about a bike you’d like to ride, you’ll probably want to opt for another rental shop. I just chose this one because it was located more north of Boise, which I previously hadn’t seen much of.
It’s also located in an RV park that’s right next to part of the Greenbelt, which made it easy to begin exploring this Boise park.
Because I went on a weekday, traffic on the pathway wasn’t too bad. I did encounter some people biking and walking, but it was never problematic. Going on a weekend might be a different story, though, but I don’t imagine it would get chaotically busy.
Biking along the Greenbelt was an incredible experience that anyone visiting Boise should try out if you can. You can also walk or jog/run instead if you’d prefer to do that. I definitely think the Boise Greenbelt a highlight in the city, and it’s great to be able to cycle along a path where you can hear the river, birds chirping and other sounds of nature. It’s something I’d like to do again if I visit Boise in the future 🙂
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