northwest boise/foothills
Photo: Courtesy of Idaho Tourism
Just a few miles west of the bustle of downtown Boise, Northwest Boise offers its residents many of the amenities that draw people to Idaho in the first place. With the lush, tree-lined Boise River and Greenbelt to its south and the vast Boise Foothills to the north, Northwest Boise is within close reach of miles of hiking and biking trails, river recreation, spectacular views of the city, downtown dining, and nationally recognized arts and entertainment.
The foothillls area is home to an expansive trail network.
Once an orchard and farming area in the 1880s, Northwest Boise is today a charming and eclectic mix of older historic homes mingling with newer construction; towering trees and mature landscaping; quiet cul-de-sacs; and larger lots, many of which are still used to pasture horses, goats, and maybe even a cow or two. Many of the streets and neighborhoods bear the names of early landowners who settled in the area in the late 1880s, bought up acres of land and turned them into peach orchards, farms, and even an amusement park with a half-mile long lake and a dance pavilion. They built homes, schools, and churches, and many of these structures from the early 1900s have been renovated and are still in use. The boundaries of Northwest Boise—give or take—are State Street on the south, Hill Road on the north, 36th Street to the east and Highway 55 to the west. Although it is a large area, every part of Northwest Boise is within a few minutes of some of Boise’s most beautiful outdoor amenities.
Just south of State Street is the Boise River and several nearby ponds where summer water lovers enjoy swimming, tubing, fishing, stand up paddle boarding, and canoeing, as well as world-class surfing, kayaking and wakeboarding at the Boise Whitewater Park. There are a number of large city parks dotting the area, including Veteran’s, Hillside, Optimist and the meandering 55-acre Esther Simplot Park, featuring playgrounds, picnic sites, boardwalks and a series of interconnected ponds. There are many other smaller parks tucked away within the Northwest neighborhoods. To the north, just above Hill Road, the Boise Foothills are a virtual playground for runners, hikers, bikers, and dog walkers, with miles of open space to breathe deep, take in the views and recreate. Deer, hawks, and other wildlife abound in the open spaces. There are also several newer developments in the nearby foothills. For the golfers, the public Quail Hollow Golf Course off of Hill Road and 36th Street is considered to be one of the most challenging in town, due to its location in the foothills. Other golf courses in the Northwest area include Plantation and Pierce Park. All along State Street there are several commercial hubs that offer convenient shopping and dining, as well as family entertainment and services. In the Collister Center there is a Boise City Library, an indoor roller-skating rink, numerous restaurants and pubs; down the road there are fitness facilities, veterinarians, garden centers, a hospital,
grocery stores, and large retailers like Home Depot and Walmart. Away from the major traffic area of State Street, the 36th Street Garden Center and Bistro at Hill Road and 36th Street is a lovely complex of small townhomes, single story businesses, and professional offices that encircle a garden center and a conservatory or sunroom-style bistro and garden-oriented gift shop. There are dozens of little neighborhoods throughout Northwest Boise. From the city view homes in the foothills to the rural-like acreage in the lower flat land neighborhoods, Northwest Boise is filled with character, history, beauty and a great location.
Northwest Boise
JUST THE NUMBERS Median Home Value: $298,550 Median Age: 35.7
SCHOOLS There are five schools in the Northwest. River Glen Junior High is located at the base of the foothills and four Elementary Schools round out the offering in this area.
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