Boise National Forest

Contact Information

Boise National Forest
1249 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 200
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 373-4100

Welcome to the

Boise National Forest

A Quick Overview

Boise NF - Camping with tent

The 2,612,000 acre Boise National Forest is located north and east of the city of Boise, Idaho.

Topography: Elevations range from 2,600 to 9,800 feet. The mountainous landscape was developed through uplifting, faulting, and stream cutting. Most of the land lies within the Idaho Batholith, a large and highly erodable geologic formation.

Major rivers: Boise and Payette Rivers; South and Middle Fork drainages of the Salmon River.

Learn more about the Forest.

Recreation Activities

Motorcycle Riding by Ann Thornton

The Boise National Forest has 5 Ranger Districts, the Supervisor's Office and a Guard Station in Garden Valley and High Valley.

Click on each highlighted Ranger District for more information about recreational opportunities.

Cascade RD - Areas of interest: Highway 55 and 22, Cascade Reservoir, Warm Lake, Johnson Creek, Landmark, Cascade, Yellowpine

Emmett RD - Areas of interest: Highway 17, Sage Hen Reservoir, Middle and South Fork Payette River, Crouch, Garden Valley

Idaho City RD - Areas of interest: Highway 21, Mores Creek, Granite Ck, Banner Ridge, Middle Fk Boise River, Barber Flats, Idaho City, Graham, Atlanta

Lowman RD - Areas of interest: Highway 21 and 17, Deadwood Reservoir, Scott Mountain, Bear Valley, Bull Trout Lake, Lowman, Travel to Stanley-

Mountain Home RD - Areas of interest: Highway 20, Anderson Ranch Res., Little Camas Res., Lucky Peak Res., Shafer Butte, Trinities Rec. Area

Features

Boise NF Scott Bodle Studies Sage Grouse

Scott Bodle, Mountain Home RD Wildlife Biologist is studying Sage Grouse as a Forest Service representative with the Mountain Home Sage Grouse local working group, a mixture of Federal, State, landowners and local residents.

Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project - Success with Partnerships

Sample photo of a treated area near Idaho City

The Clear Creek/Placerville Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project will conduct mechanical treatments across 600 acres within the Idaho City Ranger District with funding received in FY11 and continuing into FY12.

With the help of “Above Base” funding, this stewardship project will reduce hazardous fuels near the community of Placerville and the Clear Creek subdivision about 25 miles northeast of Boise.