Wildflowers are blooming! Some tips on where to hike and see wildflowers in Boise

The bitterbrush is starting to flower big-time in the lower foothills. 

Wendy takes a breather next to arrowleaf balsomroot in bloom 

Indian Paintbrush blooming in the Owyhees 

Bitterroot blooming in the rocky soil in the Owyhees 

Hi all,

After a beautiful week of sunshine and warming weather, wildflowers are popping up everywhere in the lower Boise Foothills and the Owyhees.

We're seeing the bright yellow bouquet of arrowleaf balsomroot, bitterbrush blooming with mustard-colored flowers, as well as sky pilots, aase's onion and lupine. Out in the Owyhees, you'll see the bright red Indian paintbrush, showy daisies and many more.

Dust off your wildflower guide and take a hike to refresh your memory of our local wildflowers. Here are a number of recommended trails in the Boise Foothills and the Owyhees where you're like to see a diversity of early flowers in full display:

Courtesy HartImages.com

Boise Foothills - All of the lower trailheads are adorned with flowers right now ... west to east, I'd recommend: Seaman's Gulch Loop, Polecat Gulch, Peggy's Trail, Hillside to the Hollow, Owl's Roost-Kestrel-Crestline-Red Cliffs, multiple trails in Military Reserve, including Toll Road Trail, Cottonwood Creek, Central Ridge, Bucktail and Shane's Trail. Table Rock and Homestead trails also are a good bet.

See my Boise Trail Guide - 95 Hiking and Running Routes Close to Home or the Ridge to Rivers map for more detail.

Owyhee Canyonlands - Lower-elevation trails are best for wildflowers right now, including Little Jacks Creek, Between the Creeks, Shoofly Quick Loop, Mud Flat Road/Owyhee Canyonlands Scenic Byway, Browns Canyon, Jump Creek Canyon, Wildcat Canyon, Leslie Gulch, and Succor Creek Natural Area. 

Click on the hyperlinks to see directions and details about these hikes. All of those routes also are featured in my Owyhee Canyonlands guide.

Have fun!
- SS