September-October 2023 Boise County Guide

Welcome

To Fall in Boise County, Idaho, a land of small, vibrant communities, steep mountains, fast rivers, and dense forests, making it a recreation destination any season of the year.

Only one hour from Idaho’s capital city of Boise, this year-round escape is a haven for residents and visitors seeking outdoor activities, water-based fun, scenic driving, and motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities.

Road Information

Dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov for road reports, weather conditions, traveler information and more. If your phone company does not support 5-1-1 or if you are calling from outside of Idaho, dial 1-888-IDA-ROAD (888 432-7623).

Only One Hour From Boise!

Boise County’s three primary routes are scenic byways.

WILDLIFE CANYON SCENIC BYWAY

33 MILES

The turbulent South Fork of the Payette River Canyon is the attraction along this route between Banks and Lowman. Experience rafting,fishing, wildlife-viewing, soaking in hot springs or shopping/eating in the Historic town of Crouch.

PAYETTE RIVER SCENIC BYWAY

111.7 MILES

This riverside drive guides you along the Payette River where it makes a U-turn in Horseshoe Bend, on up through Banks, Cascade and on to McCall and picturesque Payette Lake.Combine your drive with an exciting whitewater ride on the Payette River.

PONDEROSA PINE SCENIC BYWAY

130.9 MILES

Journey from the heart of the Stanley Basin, through Lowman and past Idaho City, a miningera town which was once the northwest’s largest city. The drive concludes in Boise, Idaho’s capital.

Cover Photo Courtesy Francisco Lozano

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https://airbnb.com/h/thebunkhouseic

The Cowboy House is a studio style cabin that features one queen bed and one futon, full bath and full kitchen 208-695-9402

https://airbnb.com/h/thecowboyhouse

OUTLAWS HIDEAWAY

Where rustic and luxury combine together to provide an extremely cozy and romantic setting. Suite features a private uniquely furnished room with a queen size bed and a beautiful soaking clawfoot tub and a stand-alone shower. 2 private sitting decks, BBQ to include a firepit and private hot tub filled with ROCKS Natural Spring Water are available to enjoy while outdoors.

https://airbnb.com/h/outlawshideaway

REBELS RENDEVOUS

Sassy, Seductive and Sexy, designed specifically for romance and passion. The sleeping area features an open concept room, uniquely furnished with a queen size bed. Also featuring a 71-inch copper and mosaic soaking tub.

https://airbnb.com/h/rebelsrendevous

Located one mile south of Idaho City, in the Boise National Forest along the Ponderosa Pines Scenic Byway sits a 6 acre gathering ranch. The Bunkhouse uniquely features 6 Queen beds, within the Barn, for a family style stay.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend was originally settled as a gold miners’ staging area, as prospectors waited along the river for snows to thaw at the higher elevations. Gold had been discovered in 1862 in the Boise Basin mountains to the east, near Idaho City.

The settlement became known as Warrinersville, after a local sawmill operator. The name was changed to Horseshoe Bend in 1867 for its location at the horseshoe-shaped U-turn of the Payette River. After the gold rush quieted, the city became a prosperous ranching and logging community. The railroad, from Emmett up to Long Valley following the Payette River (its North Fork above Banks), was completed in 1913. However, the railroad is not currently in use.

The town’s current culture is a blend of ranching and is a growing bedroom community for Boise.

Lowman is located along the eastern edge of the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway, 40 miles east of Banks. The traveler will marvel at the deep canyon created by the powerful Payette River. Steep canyon walls provide shelter for wildlife throughout the area. Waterfalls drop through narrow canyon walls offering some spectacular views of nature. All along the route are USFS campgrounds, several of which have natural hot springs to soak in. These campgrounds are well maintained and accessible to all travelers. After enjoying the wildlife and scenery you can enjoy a meal in Lowman. Area restaurants and businesses offer all who venture by a place to relax and enjoy the day. Several lodging options and cabins are available for overnight accommodations can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Kirkham Hot Springs, located near the Boise National Forest campground of the same name, features somewhat shallow rock pools (unimproved) with sand/rock bottoms next to the river. The multiple hot waterfalls are quite a sight! Both the pools and hot waterfalls can be seen from a large pullout off highway 21 on the west side of the campground. Fall soaking can help one avoid the full-house use of the summer and winter seasons.

Kirkham additionally serves as an interpretive site for geothermal activity. There is a trail that winds through the seeps and sources which continuously provide the hot springs pools with fresh mineral water. There are signs along the way that describe the hot springs and area history.

MARTIN LAKE

Garden Valley - Area Attractions

Silver Creek Plunge Pool

Garden Valley - Area Attractions

Help us raise money to support the Garden Valley Fire Auxiliary and our EMT’s.

Begins and ends at The Calvary Chapel

Registration Starts at 9:00 AM

Prizes and T-Shirts for ALL riders

GRAND PRIZE for the Rider who collects the most money!

HELMETS ARE REQUIRED

Bring Collected pledges to the AWARDS CEREMONY HOTDOGS &DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED

September 30- 11:00 am @ WEILMUNSTER PARK

Garden Valley - Hot Springs

1

Rocky Canyon

Hot Springs -- Middle Fork of the Payette River

12.5 miles from the intersection of Forest Road 698 (Middle Fork Rd.) and Hwy 17. Go 1.5 mi. past Hardscrabble Campground. Park in a pullout on your left. You’ll have to wade the river, which could be dangerous during high water. The spring emerges from the steep hillside near the mouth of Rocky Canyon. Bathers have chiseled out a family-size soaking pool well up the bank. A PVC pipe in the dam provides a great shower for the slightly cooler pool immediately below.

15 miles from the intersection of Forest Road 698 (Middle Fork Rd.) and Hwy 17. (2.5 miles past Rocky Canyon Hot Spring) to a junction at Trail Creek Campground. Take the left fork for .3 miles. Bear left on a rough spur ending at the river. A loop encircles an undeveloped camping area. The pools are out on a gravel bar to your right. The spring is on the river’s edge, but, on the near side. No river crossing necessary. Can get hot as the river drops -- some adjusting may be necessary!

3

Boiling Springs

23 miles from the intersection of Forest Road 698 (Middle Fork Rd.) and Hwy 17, to the road-end campground and trailhead. Stroll .3 miles north on the trail to find the springs flowing down a bank beside a couple of cabins. The cabins, formerly a Forest Service guard station, are now rented to the public for recreational use. Please ask permission before entering and try to avoid the cabin area as much as possible. Steaming water emerges at 188 degrees from many fissures in a cliff just beyond the cabins, and a broad cascade streams down the hillside. One spring flows through a shallow soaking pool or two at the base. The water cools as it runs through a ditch across a wide meadow. A few rock-lined pools at the river’s edge are usually filled on weekends with kids from the nearby campground.

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2 • Fire Crew

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Garden Valley - Hot Springs

4 & 5 • Moondipper - Pine Burl

Take your choice of trails from Boiling Springs upriver. Two separate springs flow down the banks of a creek just above the river into a pair of scenic soakers spaced 50 yards apart along the tree-studded canyon. Both get swamped during high water, so fall is an ideal time go visit these spots. One trail, steep and slippery in spots, hugs the west side of the river all the way. This is the safer route during high water. The Middle Fork Trail is more direct, but you’ll have to ford several times in the 2-mile hike upstream. When you reach Dash Creek, the first side stream on the west side, you’ll find Moondipper 30 yards up the creek against a rocky bank. The large, sandy-bottomed pool can hold several happy soakers and offers a great view up the canyon. Pine Burl, a gem tucked out of sight a few bends up the creek, has a pool roughly 7 to 8 feet in diameter. The name, once inscribed on a small masonry dam at the downstream end, has eroded away, but the inspiration for it still sits up the hill on the north side. The spring perks up through the sandy bottom, and if the water gets too hot, you can shift the rocks at the other end to let creek water trickle in.

6 • Groundhog

1.3 miles beyond Moondipper and Pine Burl, there is little foot traffic, and the way is pretty brushy. Watch for Ground Hog Creek on the west bank shortly before the 8th ford of the river. Right after this crossing, the river makes a horseshoe bend to the right. Cross the river one last time to find the springs in the center of the curve on the east bank. Pool gets little use, so be prepared to move some rocks!

7 • Bull Creek

Take Silver Creek Trail vs. Middle Fork. Drop down the far side of Silver Creek Summit into Bull Creek. Take Bull Creek Trail. Turn left and follow it 2.7 miles downstream above the north bank of Bull Creek. The trail drops steeply to a bridge over a small stream, then reaches another with no bridge. Look 30 feet uphill and climb up to reach the springs on a granite bluff overlooking the canyon. REMOTE and can get hot!

Boiling Springs Hot Springs where the water cascades down the hillside, with the guard station in the background.

The pool at Pineburl Hot Spring.

A

Garden Valley - Area Attractions/Lodging

GOLF COURSE - POOL - TENNIS - RESTAURANT - LOUNGE - HOMESITES

Challenging 18-hole mountain golf course surrounded by tall pines and spectacular views!

Geothermal swimming pool, open year-round.

Restaurant and lounge for your convenience. With no need to cook, every weekend can be a vacation!

Winter fun includes sledding, snowmobiling, swimming and cross country skiing.

Visitors Welcome! Try the food & check out additional info on Terrace Lakes memberships & cabin/home sites. Call - 208462-3250 in Garden Valley 208-377-2121 in Boise. Ask for Ilene Johnson. www.terracelakes.com

Lodging

2 bedroom, 2 bath town houses

Sleeps 4-7 • One night - $224/night

Two or more nights - $189/night

50% off at pool

Two one room cabins • $79/night

Motel Rooms • $59/night Includes Use of Pool

Garden Valley - Services

Garden Valley - Services

Avimor

GV

HSB

Michael Koenig M.D. • Colton Randell, PA-C

Jared Moser, PA-C • David Anderson, PA-C

After Hours Emergencies contact on-call Provider at 208-861-5038

Garden Valley: Monday- Friday 8:00-5:00

Horseshoe Bend: Monday-Thursday 8:00-5:00

Avimor: Monday-Thursday 8:00-5:00

• Women’s Health Care

• Pediatrics

• Immunizations

• Geriatrics

• Routine health care including management of acute and chronic conditions

• Pharmacy (for patients)

• Physical Therapy

• Lab Services

• Bi-Monthly Mammogram Services

• Covid Testing & Vaccines

www.resortcabins4u.com

resortcabins@gmail.com

208-577-1557

TERRACE LAKES 12 SUNRISE $599,900

3 bedroom, 2bath, 1773 Sq. Ft. All glass prow front. Light and bright, cozy and comfy. Low maintenance with a covered deck. Located on the 18th fairway of the golf course. The 600 Sq. Ft. master suite is downstairs. It includes a kitchenette and family room with double doors to a patio. It could be used as a weekend rental. Garage, shed and a paved circle driveway.

PIONEER ESTATES PHASE 2 IN HORSESHOE BEND

2 to 3.49 acres from $169,000 to $189,000 New Subdivision in Horseshoe Bend on Pioneer Road on the east side of the river. Underground power and all are approved for septic. Developer has built a building site on all lots and they all have a view. There are two 2 acre lots available in Phase 1. Priced at $155,000 each. Both are flat and would be ideal for a mini-farm. Located on Barnyard Road.

For more info and/or to buy a Family

Membership in Terrace Lakes Resort for free golf, swimming & pickleball, contact ILENE JOHNSON

208-577-1557 or email resortcabins@gmail.com

TERRACE LAKES 14 SUNRISE $750,000

4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1950 Sq. Ft. On the 18th fairway of the golf course. A desirable floor plan for family and friends to enjoy. Oversized garage with plenty of room for the big boy’s toys. Golf carts, ATV, and two autos. Memberships includes all members of the household for free golf, pickle ball and a geo-thermal swimming pool. The winters are fun at Terrace Lakes too.

SOLD 15, 17, 19 Gardena Ln., Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629

$649,000

Endless opportunities on 3 riverfront lots with 240' of Payette River frontage!

1440 sf home

864 sf shop

2 wells/2 septics/2 RV Pads

No CC&RS

IMLS #: 98878549

3 7 6 P i o n e e r R d . , H o r s e s h o e B e n d , I D 8 3 6 2 9

$ 5 2 5 , 0 0 0

E x p e r i e n c e b r e a t h t a k i n g v i e w s

o f H o r s e s h o e B e n d a n d t h e

P a y e t t e R i v e r o n 2 0 a c r e s !

L i s t e d b y C h r i s S t e w a r t w i t h

A m h e r s t M a d i s o n

N e w r o a d s a n d c u l v e r t s

W e l l , s e p t i c a n d p o w e r

L e v e l b u i l d i n g p a d

U n d e v e l o p e d s p r i n g

C l o s e t o U T V t r a i l s

N o C C & R s

I M L S # : 9 8 8 8 1 4 4 9

1075 Banks Lowman Rd., Garden Valley, ID 83622