A bridge between winter and spring: Snow-free hiking, riding and more

The evening sky above the zig-zagging rimrock buttes on the south side of the Snake River near Guffey Bridge turned intense orange-red and seemed to bleed down into the water.

Winter sunsets in the Snake River canyon southwest of Boise can be dramatic and the highlight of a hiking, horseback riding or mountain biking trip.

With snow finally in the high country and most of the trails in the Boise Foothills getting wet and soggy, it’s a good time to head down into the canyon, where a lot of the trails are on sandy soil.

Plan you hikes or rides late in the day so you can take in the sunsets of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.

PLANNING AHEAD

The picnic area at Celebration Park south of Nampa is a great jumping-off point for hiking and riding.

It’s a perfect place for a picnic with tables, fire rings and a heated restroom. Pack a picnic dinner or campfire meal so you can sit around and eat and enjoy the sunset.

Take along plenty of layers because the weather can be mild for winter during the day but the temperature can drop 20 degrees as the sun sets.

Some kind of seat cushion for the cold picnic table seats and a blanket will come in handy while dining and watching the sunset.

Wear sturdy hiking boots for the rocky terrain in the canyon.

Now let’s get going.

GETTING THERE

Head south out of Nampa on 12th Avenue South. It turns into Idaho 45 and continues south to just before Walters Ferry. Take Ferry Road east (left). Turn south (right) at Hill Road and continue on Sinker Road, which eventually ends up in the park.

Celebration Park is Idaho’s only archaeological park. If members of your group don’t want to take a long hike there is a short walking trail that leads past Native American petroglyphs.

The area features high-desert plants and bushes, basalt cliffs and rimrock and lots of desert and river wildlife and birds.

There is a $2 day fee for the park.

For information, go to canyonco.org/parks.

ACROSS THE RIVER HIKE

If you walk on a trail along the Snake River heading downstream and northwest from the park, you’ll come to the historic Guffey Bridge. You can see it from the park.

Cross the bridge, which kids seem to love to do. You can walk upstream a few miles or explore the nearby buttes.

There are lots of opportunities to see birds along the river and birds of prey on the rimrocks above.

The terrain is a mix of sagebrush and wetlands.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management calls this area a place for “the adventurous soul to explore on their own.” There is no formal trail system, but you canfollow old roads and game trails.

HALVERSON LAKE HIKE

This is a neat hike through boulder fields below the canyon rim and probably the easiest in the area.

Expect to hike from 4 to5 miles round trip if you hike directly from Celebration Park. Walk along the dirt road from the park southeast along the Snake River to the trailhead that marks the River and Lakes trails. Go left on the Lakes Trail. The trail goes up a hill and flattens out near Halverson Lakes.

The hike goes through sagebrush country with views of the rimrock canyon walls.

RIVER HIKE

You can hike from 2 to 20 miles out and back depending on if you want an expert or novice hike south along the Snake River.

Leave Celebration Park and walk southeast on the dirt road along the river to the trailhead and go right on the River Trail.

You’ll hike along the river in a brushy wetlands habitat with opportunities to see waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. Many songbirds inhabit the brushy areas.

The trail goes through water-polished boulders that were scattered by the ancient Bonneville Flood. There are remnants of mining homesteads and old placer claims.

You can walk as far upstream as you want all the way to Swan Falls Dam, which would be a 20-mile round trip.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445