Boise Trail Heads

March 20th is a Full Moon, what better way is there to enjoy it than from up at the top of Table Rock? This is a MODERATE/STRENUOUS HIKE with some steep inclines and is set for relaxed pace hikers. Total distance will be about 3 miles round trip and total hike time will be about 1.5 hours. Sunset is at 7:57 p.m. and moonrise is a few minutes earlier at 7:45 p.m. Let's MEET at 7:00 PM at the parking lot behind the Bishop's house at 2420 East Old Penitentiary BRING flashlight/headlamp, water, snacks, good hiking shoes, camera, etc. Event will be cancelled in case of rain.

NOTE: This Meetup is only for if you will be camping. Please sign up for the Day Hike event if you will not be camping. Start Spring off right with car camping and some great, easy hiking! Located south of Mountain Home on the Snake River, the Bruneau Dunes are the tallest single structure dunes in North America and they are open for hiking and exploring (even sand boarding!). I'm planning on hiking along the spine of the big dunes on Saturday and maybe do a little night hiking. I will check to see if there will be any programs going on at the observatory. You can reserve a campsite through ReserveAmerica: https://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/bruneau-dunes-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=ID&parkId=313035 It's still March, so we may luck out and have great weather or it may be rainy and cold - either way, I'm going! When: Friday, March 29 - Sunday March 31 Where: Bruneau Dunes, Broken Wheel Campground Itinerary: Friday - Arrive and setup. Saturday - Hike the dunes, starting at 11:00 a.m. and explore the area. I wasn't planning a pot luck dinner for this trip but I might be setting up my potato fryer, so bring something if you feel like it. Sunday - explore some more and then break camp. Facilities: Campsites with just tent pads and awnings or with water and electric hookups are available. Restrooms with showers are in the center of the campground. As of posting, there are still many campsites open for that weekend but they will fill up quickly, so reserve yours now (my campsite is on the far western side of the "wheel"). There is lots of open space to set up a tent in the grass on your campsite, however there are only 2 tents per campsite allowed. Each campsite is only allowed 1 vehicle per reservation with the option of 1 extra vehicle for $5 per night. Extra cars may park over by the bathrooms. Getting There: From Boise, head East on I-84 to exit 95 in Mountain Home (about 45 miles). Turn right and follow American Legion Blvd about 2 miles into town until it ends at N. Main St. Turn left and follow N. Main St. as it passes under the railroad and then as it makes a sweeping right turn and becomes Airbase Road. Follow Airbase Rd. for about another mile and turn left at Hwy 51 (at the Airbase Road Chevron) - look for the signs for Hwy 51 and Bruneau Dunes. Follow Hwy 51 south for about 14 miles until you cross the Snake River and then turn left on Hwy 78 (look for the signs to Bruneau Dunes and Hammet). Follow Hwy 78 for about 1.5 miles and then turn right to enter Bruneau Dunes State Park. Follow the park road in for a mile to the visitors center. From the Visitor's center, follow the park road in for about 1.5 miles to the Broken Wheel Campground on the right. Activities: Hiking, fishing, dune skiing and boarding, star gazing What to Bring: • Tent/Camper/RV • Sleeping Bag/Blankets (bring warm stuff!) • Air mattress/sleeping pad • Jackets and warm clothes for evenings and mornings. • Toiletries • Food and food prep • Firewood • $5 per vehicle entry fee (free with ID Passport) • Campsite Reservation ($21 - $29 per night) For Hiking • Daypack • Good hiking shoes and socks • Long or convertable hiking pants • Rain/wind gear • Trekking poles • Sunglasses & Sunscreen • Hat • Gloves • Water • Food/snacks • Binoculars • Camera Dogs: Dogs must be leashed at all times as per Bruneau Dunes. RSVPs: I'll be leaving reservations up to everyone individually, so there is no attendee limit this year. As of posting, there are many campsites still available but they will be taken quickly. Only RSVP for this event if you will be camping. There will be another Meetup posted for just the day hike. Links: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneau-dunes

NOTE: This Meetup is only for if you will be Day Hiking and NOT camping. Start Spring off right with some great, easy hiking! Located south of Mountain Home on the Snake River, the Bruneau Dunes are the tallest single structure dunes in North America and they are open for hiking and exploring (even sand boarding!). I'm planning on hiking along the spine of the big dunes on Saturday. I will check to see if there will be any programs going on at the observatory. The hike will be about 5 miles - we'll take the scenic route over to the equestrian campsite area. It's still March, so we may luck out and have great weather or it may be rainy and cold - either way, I'm going! When: Saturday, March 30 @ 11:00 a.m. Where: Bruneau Dunes, Observatory Parking lot Itinerary: Saturday - Hike the dunes, starting at 11:00 a.m. and explore the area. Getting There: From Boise, head East on I-84 to exit 95 in Mountain Home (about 45 miles). Turn right and follow American Legion Blvd about 2 miles into town until it ends at N. Main St. Turn left and follow N. Main St. as it passes under the railroad and then as it makes a sweeping right turn and becomes Airbase Road. Follow Airbase Rd. for about another mile and turn left at Hwy 51 (at the Airbase Road Chevron) - look for the signs for Hwy 51 and Bruneau Dunes. Follow Hwy 51 south for about 14 miles until you cross the Snake River and then turn left on Hwy 78 (look for the signs to Bruneau Dunes and Hammet). Follow Hwy 78 for about 1.5 miles and then turn right to enter Bruneau Dunes State Park. Follow the park road in for a mile to the visitors center. From the Visitor's center, follow the park road in for about 1.5 miles to the Broken Wheel Campground on the right. Day Hiker Parking: Park at the Observatory parking lot - we'll be leaving from there at 11:00 a.m. Activities: Hiking, fishing, dune skiing and boarding, star gazing Bruneau Dunes State Park: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneau-dunes • What to bring • Daypack • Good hiking shoes and socks • Long or convertable hiking pants • Rain/wind gear • Trekking poles • Sunglasses & Sunscreen • Hat • Gloves • Water • Food/snacks • Binoculars • Camera • $5 per vehicle entry fee (free with ID Passport)

Leslie Gulch returns for 2019 - come on out to Eastern Oregon for some camping, hiking, and fantastic scenery! Leslie Gulch is a hidden gem on the Owyhee reservoir that is a short 80 mile, 2 hour drive from Boise. Things are just starting to warm up and green up in April so it's the perfect time to visit. We'll car camp at the Slocum Creek Campground at the bottom of the gulch. The boat lauch is just a few hundred yards away. As Leo has done in the past, I'll be asking for some volunteers to map out and lead different hikes. If you're not in the mood for hiking, feel free to just relax and take in the beautiful scenery. Since the campsites are first-come-first-served, I plan to arrive early and secure a few sites - feel free to arrive early as well. Bring your boat if you have one! When: Friday, April 12 - Sunday, April 14 Where: Slocum Creek campground at the bottom of Leslie Gulch [masked], [masked]) PDF Map to Leslie Gulch (https://files.meetup.com/1478520/Leslie_Gulch_BTH.pdf) Itinerary: Friday - arrive and setup camp Saturday - hike, hike, hike! Then prepare your favorite dutch oven recipe (or anything!) for a pot luck dinner. After dinner we will continue Leo's tradition of The Burning of the Peeps (dried, stale Easter Peeps) and we'll have some fun with the Third or Sixth Annual Poetry Fireside Recital where we again encourage people to try crafting/reciting original outdoor poetry (ala cowboy poetry) or a tall tale around the campfire. Sunday - more hiking and then break camp. Facilities: Slocum Creek campground has 8 camping shelters suitable for campers, each with a table, fire ring, and shade and there are several group sites (there are no fees). There is plenty of space to pitch a tent amongst the sagebrush and there is a vault toilet available. There is NO WATER SERVICE, so be sure to bring enough for your stay and trash is PACK-IN-PACK-OUT. Getting There: Note: The last 25 miles is on a good gravel road that is suitable for a passenger vehicles. From Boise, take I-84 west to Exit 33A in Nampa (Karcher Rd./Hwy 55 to Marsing). The road will take you due West and then make a sharp bend South to Marsing. Cross the river and continue through Marsing to the junction with US95 (at the I-O-N truck plaza - a good place for last minute essentials). Turn Left and head South on US95. Before you get to the Oregon state line, turn Right at McBride Creek road (look for the sign that says Leslie Gulch 25 Miles at mile marker 5). You'll follow this road past several ranches to a T-shaped junction at the Rockville School, where you will turn Right toward Succor Creek for another 1.8 miles. Then turn Left at the junction with the sign pointing to Leslie Gulch and drive the final 14.5 miles to the road’s end at Slocum Creek Campground. PDF Map to Leslie Gulch (https://files.meetup.com/1478520/Leslie_Gulch_BTH.pdf) Activities: Some suggested hikes: • Upper Leslie Gulch (6-7 miles) • Upper Dago Gulch (4-6 miles) • School House Rocks/Spring Creek (7-9 miles) • Juniper Gulch (3 miles) Timber Gulch (2 miles) • Slocum Creek (6 -7 miles) • Rooster Comb Arch (4-5 miles) Boat access required • Hoodoo Creek near HS (4-5 miles) Boat access required • Petroglyphs (6 miles one-way by boat) Other fun stuff: • Hot Springs • Fishing • Boating • Mountain Biking • Sport Climbing What to Bring: The spring weather can vary from warm to cool, sunny and dry to windy, raining, and thundering - sometimes all in the same day! So, pack accordingly. For Camping • Tent • Sleeping Bag/Blankets • Air mattress/sleeping pad • Jackets and warm clothes for evenings and mornings. • Toiletries • Food and food prep (don't forget the potluck and Peeps!) • Water • Firewood (please bring a little extra for the group fire) • Trash bags to pack out your trash. For Hiking • Daypack • Good hiking shoes and socks • Long or convertable hiking pants • Long-sleeved shirt (for bushwhacking) • Rain/wind gear • Trekking poles • Sunglasses & Sunscreen • Hat • Gloves • Water • Food/snacks • Binoculars • Camera Dogs: There is cattle grazing as well as protected wildlife in the area - please make sure that your pup is under control at all times and that it is snake-trained Links: BLM Leslie Gulch Website (http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=286) Brochure (PDF) (http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Leslie%20Gulch.pdf) Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Gulch) Photos from 2014 trip (http://www.meetup.com/Boise-Trail-Heads/photos/21581342/) *** Please, please, please - only RSVP if you will be likely to attend. If your plans change and you cannot make it, please un-RSVP as soon as possible.