If you’re seeking a weekend getaway with a mix of urban and rustic scenery, you can’t go wrong with Boise, Idaho, and the incredible natural wonders of Bruneau. Boise has all the cultural and gastronomic pleasures you’d expect from a big city nestled in a wild mountain landscape with plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. At the same time, Bruneau Dunes State Park boasts spectacular dunes, fantastic fishing, hiking and stargazing just an hour away.
From biking along the Boise River to sandboarding on towering dunes, here’s a two-day itinerary to maximize your weekend in Boise and Bruneau.
Getting There & Accommodations
If you are flying in for the weekend, the closest airport is Boise Airport (BOI). From there, it’s just a short drive into downtown Boise, where you’ll find plenty of hotel options. For a taste of luxury, check into The Grove. For a more intimate stay, check in at The Anniversary Inn, a Victorian-style bed and breakfast featuring themed rooms, such as the Biker Road House, Country Garden and the Enchanted Forest.
Day 1: Eat, Bike, and Float Your Way Around Boise
Morning
Fuel your day with a hearty breakfast at Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro in downtown Boise, a popular local joint known for using locally sourced ingredients and specialties like their scratch-made hollandaise sauce, pancakes, spinach frittata, and Andalusian eggs (fried eggs over a bed of potatoes, onions and peppers).
Next, spend the morning biking the Boise River Greenbelt — several outfitters near downtown rent out road and e-bikes. This 25-mile trail along the Boise River offers stunning city views and access to several city parks and wildlife sightings – keep an eye out for songbirds, geese and even bald eagles.
Afternoon
After your morning ride, stop for a riverfront lunch at Cottonwood Grille. Offering a rustic vibe with views of the Boise River, you can dine on menu staples such as wraps, fresh salads and locally sourced steak.
The adventure continues just outside of downtown at the Idaho Botanical Garden, where you can explore seven gardens featuring a variety of native and exotic plants in the Boise foothills, such as Indian paintbrush, succulents and cacti and sagebrush. No matter the season, you’ll find photo-worthy flora, and for visitors with mobility needs, the gardens provide all-terrain wheelchairs that work on most of the garden’s pathways.
Once you’ve explored the gardens, it’s time to cool off with a tubing excursion with Boise River Raft & Tube in Barber Park and take a leisurely six-mile float to Ann Morrison Park. Plan to spend 2-3 hours on the river – a shuttle will be waiting at the end to bring you back to the starting point.
Evening
Begin the night with a stroll through the Freak Alley Gallery, the most extensive outdoor gallery in the Northwest. This art exhibit features colorful murals and graffiti art by different artists, and it continues to grow and change as new works are added.
Wrap up the day with tapas at The Basque Market. Known for its Spanish-style small plates, this restaurant serves savory dishes, such as croquetas, meatballs simmering in chorizero sauce, and cured meats with Spanish cheeses. If you visit on the weekend, live music from local bands will accompany your meal.
Day 2: Explore the Natural Wonders of Bruneau Dunes State Park
Morning
It’s time to say goodbye, Boise – hello, Bruneau. Your morning begins with an hour-long scenic drive to Bruneau, Idaho. Along the way, you’ll pass by creeks, lakes and through the small town of Mountain Home. When you roll into town, grab breakfast at Bruneau One Stop, a hole-in-the-wall café and convenience store serving up classic breakfast fare like omelets, pancakes, and breakfast burritos. While you’re there, pick up ice, snacks, beverages, fishing supplies, and anything else you might need for the day.
Onward to the day’s main event – Bruneau Dunes State Park, home of North America’s tallest single-structured sand dune. First, settle into your cabin. These cozy, rustic cabins offer amenities such as bunk beds, dining tables, sitting benches, electricity and air conditioning. You also can’t beat the stunning views of the dunes from the front porch.
With cabin arrangements done, it’s time for fun. Head to the Visitor Center to rent sandboards for a late-morning adrenaline rush on the dunes – think snowboarding but with sand. If you’re visiting in the fall, the dunes transform with colorful trees dotting the sandy peaks.
Afternoon
Grab your fishing rod, pack a picnic lunch and hike to the Dunes Lake Picnic Area for a leisurely afternoon of casting a line for bluegill, rainbow trout, and yellow perch. The park offers loaner rods; you will need a fishing license for anyone aged 14 and older. You can purchase a day pass online.
If fishing isn’t your thing, hop in the car and drive to nearby Bruneau Canyon Overlook — the “Grand Canyon of Southwest Idaho” — for incredible views of the deep basalt and rhyolite canyon that plunges 800 feet to the winding Bruneau River.
Evening
Before dinner, catch a spectacular sunset from the porch of your cabin over the rolling dunes. Then, head to nearby Mountain Home for cocktails and smokehouse pizza and salad at Smoky Mountain Pizzeria Grill.
End your weekend under the stars by stargazing back at the park. On Friday and Saturday nights from mid-May through mid-October, the park’s observatory offers free tours and solar viewing through a special telescope one hour before sunset (weather permitting). You can view the stars and planets in the dark Idaho sky at night through several telescopes.
