Summertime in the mountains means wildflowers. Pink, purple, white, yellow… tall, short, lacey, hardy. Wildflowers come in all different shapes and sizes and they can turn an already-beautiful mountain meadow into a work of art. Pack a picnic, take a drive with your family, go for a walk, and let nature’s beauty take your breath away. Can you think of a better way to spend a summer’s day?

Blue Lake

        In the mountains east of Cascade, lakes dot the landscape. Among them is Blue Lake. During the summer, a carpet of wildflowers decorates the family-friendly hike and the lake is gorgeous in its own right. From Boise, it takes about an hour and a half to reach the Blue Lake trailhead. The hike is downhill on the way in and takes about 30 minutes or so.

        Directions: Head north on Highway 55. Travel through Smith’s Ferry, and then turn left on Cabarton Road. Next, turn right on Snowbank Road (#446). There is a big red barn at the intersection. You’ll come to an obvious parking area and you’ll be able to see the lake from the lot.

Mores Mountain

        This nature-lover’s paradise is just 20 miles outside of Boise. Mores Mountain has an easy mile-long nature trail and a second two-mile loop. Wildflowers bloom throughout the summer, and the trail has beautiful views of the Sawtooth Mountains to the east and the Oregon Blue Mountains to the west. You might even see elk, deer, or possibly a black bear.

        Directions: Drive up to Bogus Basin. Continue through the Bogus Basin parking lot toward the Nordic Center. The pavement ends. Follow the dirt road for three miles until you come to a junction. Take a right at the junction and continue for one mile until you reach Shaffer Butte picnic and campground area. The Mores Mountain trailhead is near the campground entrance. There is a $5 day use fee if you park at the trailhead and use the facilities there.

Boise Foothills

        It’s true, the peak season for wildflowers in the Foothills is during May, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still worth a visit during summer. You can see lots of growing things, and because it’s so close to town, you can get an outing in even if you don’t have a whole day to do it. My girls and I followed the Kestrel Trail (#39A on the Ridge to Rivers Trail System*) to the Red Cliffs Trail (#39), which loops back around to the Kestrel Trail again. My girls, ages 11 and 7, were able to handle the ups and downs and twists and turns of the three-or-so-mile loop. They were tired and ready for an ice cream when we were done, though!

        Directions: From I-184, take the River Street exit. Turn left on 15^th. Continue 1.3 miles to Lemp Street and turn right. Take a left at 8^th Street and follow it as it turns into Sunset Peak Road. There’s a public parking lot on the left before the pavement ends or you can follow the gravel road to the public lot near the Foothills Learning Center. There are trails that begin at both parking lots—the Kestrel Trail starts at the second lot.

Heather Robson is a local freelance writer with a passion for healthy families. You can send her questions and comments at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .