Summertime in Boise, Idaho means one thing: floating the Boise River! The beloved river officially opened for its 2020 float season earlier this month, but be aware. Some changes have been made in order to accommodate social distancing city guidelines and keep everybody as safe as possible. You definitely don’t want to miss out on floating this incredible river this summer, so here’s all you need to know for your upcoming river float.
It's official! The Boise River is open for the 2020 float season. We're excited as ever to partake in this treasured summer pastime, but keep in mind some changes have been made to the floating experience and you'll want to be aware of them before you head out.
The biggest change to the Boise River floating experience is the closure of the Barber Park air stations. Unlike previous years, the air stations will NOT operate during the 2020 season. Because of this, floaters will have to bring their own equipment to inflate their raft, tube, or other vessel.
Additionally, floaters are asked to abide by social distancing guidelines by staying 6-feet apart from others not in your group while putting in and getting out of the river. Also, face coverings are a requirement both indoors and outdoors if you're in a space where you could encounter others within 6-feet of you.
Other than that, everything about floating the Boise River will be the same as it has in the past. Equipment rentals, shuttle service, the snack shack, and parking fees will all be operational as long as floaters follow the new protocols and recommendations.
There are different put-in and take-out points along the river, but the most popular route is to put-in at Barber Park and take-out six miles downstream near Ann Morrison Park. This float typically takes two hours and is always an absolute blast.
This section of the Boise River is known for its calm and gentle waters—perfect for cruising down on a hot summer day. However, there are a handful of splashy diversion drops to keep things interesting!
These uncertain times have made making summer plans a tad more cumbersome than usual, but you can always count on floating the Boise River. As long as you follow these new guidelines, you'll definitely be in for an experience to remember.
When’s the last time you floated the Boise River? Tell us about your favorite Idaho river floating experiences in the comments below. We’d love to hear them!
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