I went on a real quick jaunt to Robie Creek from Boise. From downtown, it’s only 20 miles with a small number of twisties. It’s about half way to Idaho City, so is at the very base of the tree line. I have included a short movie of the park, where you can do some swimming, BBQ, boating, etc. It is less crowded than I remember it being years ago. If you keep going up the road, you will get to all the homes which were built in Robie Creek.
Robie Creek is the destination of “The Toughest Half-Marathon in the North West”. Basically, you can go the back way to Robie Creek which takes you up Shaw Mountain Road, over Aldape Summit, and back down to Robie Creek. Total distance of this annual race is about 13.1 miles. I have never taken this route, though will try to do so before then end of the summer.
My second stop was at the Diversion Dam on the Boise River, just about a mile from Lucky Peak Dam. It was completed in 1909 to get water to the New York Canal, which had already been completed. In 1912, a power generation plant was added to the dam, providing power to build Arrow Rock Dam, several miles upstream. When water flows are decent, it’s a noisy walk out to the middle of the dam where you can stand looking out over the water, a mist cooling you off.
Diversion Dam Vid
I headed back after that – it was almost 100 degrees and I was a bit fatigued from being in all my safety gear. Next short ride will most likely be to Eagle Island, further down the Boise River.
-TJD
