Off the Beaten Path: Whoop Um Up National Recreation Trail

FUN: Not yet over

If you have children who are still in the single digits, you know that it’s hard to take them on a hike or nature walk. It’s like they have an auto-complain chip in their heads: “I can’t go any farther! My legs are tired! I have a pain in my side.” I’ve found a great starter trail for all of you.  It’s a day trip from Boise --- an hour from Downtown and it’s loads of fun during every season.

My husband first took the kids snowshoeing without me (thank you, honey) on the Whoop Um Up Trail between Idaho City and Lowman.  The beautiful forested trail doesn’t have much elevation gain and every 50 feet or so, there is a blue marker on the next tree, to know that you’re on the right path.  Heck, the path is groomed!  Of course you’re on the right path.

Winter time at Whoop Um Up!

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We just went there in May for Mother’s Day. My husband thought that it would be busy with people. This is Idaho we’re talking about. We pulled into the EMPTY parking lot at 11:30am. I guess for Idaho, it is busy.  There was us!


We walked along the Lower Lamar Trail and stopped for a leisurely picnic. There was not a soul around... until a random guy appeared and asked us where the yurt was. Yurt? We had no idea, but subsequently found out that we could. (We will!) Good, cheap fun in Idaho!

Whoop Um Up is also a campground and equestrian trail. We saw fresh horse tracks -- and fresh poop -- but never met up with the horses. They even allow dogs -- this is the “no excuses” trail, dig?

If we wanted to get lost, we couldn’t.  It's a great summer getaway because it's cooler in the mountains and the trail is mostly shaded.

We actually got the children to walk 4.18 miles (I tracked it) over two hours and that included lunch.  And not everyone (7 year old) is amenable to walking in nature.

They were rewarded with an ice cream cone at Sasparilla's in Idaho City. Old fashioned joint, great ice cream, no brainer.

If you're looking for something to do with kids on a day trip in Boise, look no farther!



Check out more of my posts about Idaho on TravelingMom.com