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Sawtooth Lake via Iron Creek-Stanley Lake Trail
As spring quickly approaches and the urge to return to the trails intensifies, I find myself reminiscing on my favorite hikes from 2023 that I didn’t have time to write about last year. As March Madness games echo in the background, I’m working on three posts highlighting trails that I would highly recommend all Idaho…
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2023 Almost-Blogworthy Hikes
These are my favorite 2023 hikes that weren’t worthy of an individual blog post. The Cliffs of Étretat and the Mortain Cascades The paved path along the Cliffs of Étretat offers stunning views of the namesake limestone bluffs and formations jutting out from the English Channel. Famous impressionist Claude Monet spent time here honing his…
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North Star Lake via Lower Lava Mountain Trail
All I really need to say about North Star Lake and Lava Mountain Trail is that I like them so much, this is my second blog post about them. Having hiked the entirety of Lava Mountain Trail, I can comfortably say it’s one of the best trails in the Boise National Forest, and it would…
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Box Lake
I try not to use superlatives excessively when describing trails, scenery, and experiences, but every once in a while, I hike a trail that is definitively “the best” in a certain category. I’m delighted to report that last weekend, I found another one. Box Lake Trail, located just fifteen miles northeast of McCall, has the…
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Lucky Peak via Adelmann Mine Trail
I didn’t expect to delay my first blog post of 2023 until more than halfway through the year, but our incredibly long and epic winter didn’t relent until mid-May, and its snowy and icy remnants are still clinging in the nooks and crevices of most trails even as summer temperatures crest 100 degrees. I’m not…
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2022 Almost-Blogworthy Hikes
These are my favorite 2022 hikes that weren’t worthy of an individual blog post. Sage Hen Nature Trail This short loop near Sage Hen Creek Campground travels through lush forest to a scenic ravine where the creek cascades down through several small waterfalls before it settles in Sage Hen Reservoir. There are benches along the…
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Juniper Gulch to the Yellow Jacket
It’s hard to believe that southern Idaho’s hiking season is already coming to an end, but with early snowfall and perpetual sub-40° temperatures on the horizon, I can’t imagine I’ll complete many trail miles from now until next spring. Like most endings, it’s bittersweet, as it ushers in a new, promising ski season, but nevertheless,…
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Ruffneck Peak via Langer Lake Trail
Sometimes it’s difficult for me to write introductions without feeling like these posts are getting repetitive. How many different ways can I ask the reader if they like lakes, forests, and mountains with great views? Do I even need to ask? That’s why you’re reading this, right? Do I really need to introduce this to…
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Lone Lake (North Idaho)
Up to this point, I’ve only written about hiking destinations within three hours of Boise (hence the blog name), but last weekend, I found myself in Coeur d’Alene for a wedding and seeking a hike to do the following day. My search parameters were simple: I was looking for something around 7 miles long with…
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Marten & Kelly Lakes
When you think “lakes in the Sawtooths,” your mind probably goes straight to Redfish, Alice, Toxaway, and Imogene – some of the most popular and beautiful hiking locations in the state of Idaho. While I’d highly recommend the latter three to anyone looking for an incredible backpacking loop and Redfish for boating or paddling, I’ve…