Hawkins Range Reserve
Hawkins Range Reserve is a beautiful addition to the recreational offerings in the Boise Foothills. The reserve, which is located off N. Bogus Basin Road, features a 5.7-mile directional trail called Hawkins Loop and .6-mile nested trail called Harrow Trail. The paved trailhead is located in a unique area of the Boise Foothills that until now has not been accessible to the public. It offers a restroom and horse trailer parking.
Hawkins Range Reserve and all trail access is closed seasonally from December 1 to April 30 to protect critical habitat and important wildlife corridors for the animals who call the foothills home. In addition, Dogs are required to remain on-leash on all trails in the reserve from May 1 through June 15 to protect elk calving in the area. Dogs will be allowed off-leash but must be under voice control at all times from June 16 to November 30 annually.
Hawkins Range Reserve spans 393 acres of foothills property off Bogus Basin Road. It is owned by the City of Boise and managed by the Ridge to Rivers Trail System partnership.
The property was protected in 2015 with the purchase of land owned by the Hawkins family, the Berry family and other properties owned by the Idaho Humane Society.
Public and partner agency engagement efforts began in 2017 and included federal and state environmental review, open houses, online surveys and virtual events.
The Boise Parks and Recreation Department and Ridge to Rivers partnership submitted an improvement project application to the Open Space and Clean Water Advisory Committee to use levy funds to build the new trail and trailhead due to significant increases in construction costs. Members of the committee unanimously recommended approval of the funding request at their April 13, 2022 meeting.