Bogus Basin Road
From the intersection of Hill Road and Harrison Boulevard, head north on Bogus Basin Road (Harrison becomes Bogus Basin after Hill). After about a mile, you’ll hit a stop sign ― continue north, and start going up … and up, and up. You’ll know you’re there when you see the ski lodge. Out-and-back ride. Hawkins Pac-Out ($; 2315 Bogus Basin Rd.; 208/338-9627) is at the corner of Hill and Bogus Basin. Total distance: 32 miles.
Hidden Springs
From the corner of Hill and Bogus Basin Roads, ride north on Bogus Basin for 0.7 miles. Turn left on Cartwright Road (at the bottom of Simplot Hill). At 4.5 miles, turn right to follow Cartwright. (Watch out, the downhill grade here is steep.) At 6.4 miles, Cartwright splits; take the left fork, which is Dry Creek Road, and Hidden Springs comes into view. At 7 miles, turn left into Hidden Springs on North Humphreys Way. Go straight through the stop sign at 7.2 miles. At second stop, turn right on West Hidden Springs Drive.
At 8.1 miles, stop at Dry Creek Mercantile ($; 5892 W. Hidden Springs Dr.; 208/229-2001) for refreshments. Looking at the Merc’s front door, you’ll leave on the road up and to the left ― taking a left at the stop sign, onto North Seaman’s Gulch Road. (This 3.7-mile section is hilly, with no bike lane.) At 11.9 miles, Seaman’s Gulch becomes West Hill Road Parkway. (Here’s where you’ll get your bike lane back again.) Take a left at the light at 12.2 miles, onto Hill Road. At 14.2 miles, turn left to continue on Hill, following Hill until you return to where you started.
Note: It’s more traditional to ride this loop in the opposite direction, so try that if you want to skip the breakfast at Dry Creek Mercantile and end with a burger at Highlands Hollow Brewhouse ($; 2455 Harrison Hollow Lane; 208/343-6820). Total distance: 17.1 miles.
Corrals
From Camel’s Back Park, ride north on 13th Street until it turns into Hill Road, then west to the intersection with Bogus Basin Road. Turn right; ride up Bogus Basin 2.8 miles, until you reach the Corrals Trailhead. Head east on Corrals Trail (Ridge to Rivers Trail #31), until it turns into Crane Gulch Connector Trail (#1).
Trail #1 will take you to the motorcycle parking lot on Eighth Street. From here, descend Eighth Street Motorcycle Trail (#4) to the top of Hulls Gulch, then down Crestline Trail (#28) to Red Cliffs Trail (#39). From Red Cliffs, take Lower Hulls Gulch Trail (#29) to Red Fox Trail (#36), which will take you back to Camel’s Back Park. To get to Java ($; 1612 N. 13th St.; 208/345-4777), follow 13th south a few blocks from the park. Total distance: About 14 miles. Detailed trail information can be found at ridgetorivers.org
