Adventure in the great outdoors is at the core of what makes Idaho such an amazing place to live. Sharing outdoor experiences with a four-legged companion makes life here even better. But, what do you do when you can’t get out of “the burbs,” and you still want to blow off some steam with the pup? We’ve got you covered with helpful resources so you can make the most of your day-to-day “city” life with your best friend.
In this article, we’ve mapped out the 5 Must-Visit Boise Dog Parks you should go explore and we’ve curated some gear to help you transport your furry friend to and from the dog park, or wherever your adventures take you.
Five Must-Visit Boise Dog Parks
1. Dog Island at Ann Morrison Park (Boise)
This is the Ritz-Carlton of dog parks. With 5.4-acres of space to run and play, dogs absolutely love this place. There’s a big moat surrounding the location, so water retrievers and other water-loving dogs have ample swimming space. If you’re trying to acclimate a new shelter dog or puppy to socializing, there’s also a fenced “shy dog” area they can hang out until they’re ready to get out there and start mingling.
2. Nampa Dog Park
This park easily could have made the top spot on our list. It has six acres of space for dogs of all sizes, ages, and interests. It has separate spaces for small/older dogs and larger, more rambunctious dogs, walking trails, dog/human drinking fountains, and even a swimming pond for water lovers. We don’t recommend any humans use the swimming pond, however. Sorry, it needed to be said.
3. Storey Bark Park (Meridian)
Dog Island may rank highest on our list, but it doesn’t have a pooch playground like the one at Storey Bark Park. This runner-up spot features dog steps, jump-through rings, and a walking bridge for dogs training to earn gold in the obstacle course at the next Westminster Dog Show. There’s separate fenced areas for small and large dogs. Human visitors can also enjoy the paved walkways and restrooms.
4. Military Reserve Dog Park (Boise)
To be honest, this isn’t the nicest looking dog park around. It’s just a dirt park with a bit of fenced space for the canines to run around and get to know each other. The real draw for this park, however, is the large network of nearby foothill trails with quick access via a rear gate. Some trails are designated off-leash and some aren’t, but there are plenty of signs indicating each trail’s rules so you don’t get the stink eye from mountain bikers and/or trail runners.
5. Molenaar Dog Park (Boise)
Molenaar Park is a quaint little spot with a pond, picnic tables, and cavity nester bird conservation station you can check out after you’ve let the dog burn off some energy in the acre-sized fenced dog park. This location also features a smaller “shy dog” fenced area for social training. If you’re into angling, the Molenaar Park Pond is open year-round to fishing and has been stocked with Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Largemouth Bass.
Dog Gear for Your Vehicle
1. Backseat Cover
Price Range: $50-150
Dogs just don’t care about keeping your seats clean. If it was up to them, they’d roll around in the mud and cover the inside of your car with a layer of muck that can take hours to remove. But even if your dog loves getting dirty, you can still keep your vehicle pristine with a backseat hammock cover. They’re really easy to install and remove so you can hit the road in no time.
2. Seat Belt Zipline
Price Range: $20-50
You’re probably not going to be pulled over and ticketed for failing to seatbelt the family dog, but investing in a doggie seatbelt is still a great idea. These devices attach to your rear seatbelts or hand grips and some even come with a wearable harness so you’re not having to worry about lap dive-bombs or preventing daring escapes through lowered rear windows.
3. Rear Barrier
Price Range: $50-100
Even with a rear seat cover, it can be pretty hard to keep your interior free of scratches and hair. If you’ve got the rear space in your SUV or truck, why not make that area the designated dog space? Getting an adjustable mesh barrier will help keep your interior pristine and allow your pooch to stretch out in comfort on road trips or after an especially grueling day of adventure.
4. Cooling Mat
Price Range: $30-80
Dogs operate best when kept cool. You don’t want to end up with a hot dog! Ok, we’ll stop. Horrible jokes aside, getting a cooling mat for the car helps your canine friend stay comfortable on those long road trips or cool-down periods after a run or session at the dog park. These come in all sizes too, so you can keep that chihuahua or husky chillin’ all summer long.
5. Dog Ramp
Price Range: $50-100
Like us, our canine companions start to show some wear and tear over the years, and for older dogs, getting in and out of your rig can be challenging or painful. These step ramps allow aged or larger dogs to get in and out of your ride with ease. Just because your beloved dog is getting up there in years or is too big to lift, doesn’t mean you can’t maximize adventure time.
We hope this article has provided good information for you and has inspired you to check out a few new places for your furry friend. If there’s a dog park we missed that you really like, let us know. We love having your input and our community is always looking for great information and resources.
Next Week: Best Hiking Trails Near Boise