BOISE, Idaho — As the rainy season approaches, Boise hiking trails are prepared to sustain the water.
The popular Hillside to Hollow Reserve off Bogus Basin Road has had all-weather improvements made to the terrain.
Construction to the trails began this past summer and officially concluded on Monday, Sept. 9.
The trail upgrades have been funded by the City of Boise. The Hillside to Hollow Reserve area is co-managed by Land Trust of the Treasure Valley and Ridge to Rivers, another City of Boise partner.
“Everyone recognized and appreciated the value that having an all-weather trail in the Boise foothills had as use was increasing. And I think the city, you know, recognized that they wanted more access," said Chris Colson, executive director of Land Trust of Treasure Valley.
The trails should now have year-round accessibility, even in winter weather conditions.
The existing Harrison Hollow trail has been widened and had extensions added to the south and north ends of the pathway. Altogether, the path is still under a mile in length but has still provided more water-resistant pathways likely to be accessible year-round.
“Within reason, it's year-round. I mean, obviously, if we get a major deluge, we can only help so much," Chris Colson said. "But I've seen very few circumstances where the trail, the existing trail, that trails made to the same standards and is newer now, where it can't tolerate nearly all wet conditions.”
The all-weather improvements were made possible by bringing in off-site gravel and soils that are water tolerant. They have been compacted in a way that drains water better and avoids creating muddy conditions.
The Hillside to Hollow Reserve spans over 260 acres so the area has been serving hundreds, if not thousands, of people daily and will likely now serve more.
Land Trust of Treasure Valley says the popularity of these trails and the success of the upgrades could dictate whether more improvements are made in the future to other trails and areas.
