Bogus Basin Dry Creek If you have read my other reports then you will notice this isn't exactly the prettiest of the hikes out there. I say that admitting that I have a bias for hikes that have some sort of an actual endpoint (waterfall, top of a mountain, etc). Having said that this hike does have some charms, and is very close to Boise. I would recommend this hike when you don't feel like driving yet don't want to walk on the greenbelt with a thousand other people.    

Directions:

Assuming a start from Broadway avenue from the freeway:

     This is the trailhead. The far left shows the actual trailhead. There are no signs. Watch for the road bend, the creek, and the power lines!

    To the immediate left is a picture coming back out showing Bogus basin road.

 The Trail

     I found this trail by accident a couple of years ago when trying a new trail from a guide my sister had given to me. I don't usually hike the Boise foothills much as I like trees, interesting rocks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, destinations, etc. I decided to try the trail that led me to this one as it was an overcast day and the trail was a loop. Even if it turned out to be nothing more than dead weeds at least I didn't have to do it twice... and it is nice to get away from the city for a while.

     Tyler elected (read: he was dumb enough to get into the truck before asking "W here we were going dad?") to go along so off we went. The trail guide book was a tad hard to follow for this trail. We did manage to find the trailhead after not TOO long of search. Sure enough the trail was mostly dead weeds. Good for bikers but not as interesting for walking. We did see a few lizards and a couple of snakes: A Garter and a Blue Racer,  a very interesting snake. Unfortunately I did not bring a camera so I didn't get any pictures of the Blue Racer.

     We followed the trail for quite a while and still we hadn't started to loop back yet. We decided to go off trail and head back towards the road on our own as we were getting tired (read: Tyler was really starting to whine). Bad decision. We walked for another 45 minutes and saw nothing but hills. We then came across a creek and.. trees! cool water! Of course we could not drink it and we were very smart and decided we did not need to bring any water as it was just going to be a "short hike". Next to the creek was something even more important.. a trail! leading towards Bogus basin road!

     The trail we came across is the trail for this report. We followed it out (another 30 minutes) and it was actually a nice little trail. It followed the creek for the most part, had some interesting rocks, and more Mormon crickets than I've ever seen in my life. It also went on much farther than where we crossed its path so it bared its own investigation. Unfortunately when we did make it out to Bogus Basin road we still had another 60 minutes to follow it back to our truck. Needless to say we were both a little burnt out on this area for a while.

     Once you are past that first small hill the trail gets interesting. The first part is nice for the rock formations and views of the gulch. You can hear the creek most of the time even when you can't see it.

     The trail is well marked and does not require any creek crossings until about thirty minutes into the hike. After that it crossed periodically. You will be hard pressed to not get your feet at least a little wet (depending on the time of year). Unfortunately the trail tends to split at times where people have tried to get around having to cross the creek and then have to come back and cross.

     The last time I visited (well second to last time) My son and I caught a couple of lizards on the rock to the above left. My plan was to keep them for a couple of weeks and then return and let them go. Being the nice guy that I am I let him keep them at his moms house :) Unfortunately (I'm typing that word way to often) the large lizard laid eggs while in our custody. All were returned 3 weeks after capture to the rocks above.

     I had GPS locations for these and everything else along this trail but at this time I CAN'T FIND THEM. The stone house is located just after you cross the creek for the first time (watch for it, there are bushed covering it, about 2 minutes from the crossing).

     About 30 minutes into the trail the creek splits. The trail does also. Either way you choose to go you need to cross the creek at this point! (very easy to do here) If you follow the trails on the other side they will dead end and you will have to make your way back.

     To the right is the split in the creek. The creek to the left (coming from the northwest) is Dry creek. The creek to the right (coming from the west) is Shingle creek. Both have similar flows and interesting trails with them.

     Personally I prefer the trail along shingle creek as it is more green, goes through a small canyon, and involves no creek crossings.

     The second trail following Dry creek is also interesting and should be your choice if you enjoy hoping across the creek. Basically there is a hill that is between the two creeks. It is steep on the dry creek side and more sloping on the shingle creek side. If you look at the trail outline in the picture next to the directions you will see the two trails look like they may come together and loop around. I do not know if this is true as the outline is as far as I have followed either trail. This is also about the same area where the forest starts and pine trees are beginning to appear.

     There is one object visible from both trails. Below is a picture of the lone tree that sits on the top of the hill that separates the two creeks. It is from the Shingle creek side but is as easily visible from the Dry creek side as well. I don't have any pictures from the Dry creek side (camera had a dead battery that day) so you will have to take my word for it.

     I am planning on seeing if the two trails loop next year. I usually have a wimpy hiker with me and have to turn around but I think I have sufficient bribery material for Tyler to get a three hour hike or so for this route next time.