Best places to go boating near Boise, Idaho
We have lived and been boating in southwest Idaho now for 20 years. This is one of the most prevalent questions I get asked. Where are the best places to go boating near Boise, Idaho?
Thankfully, there are quite a few options within 2 hours drive time from the garage to floating the boat. Therefore, the answer is often followed by a question. Quick trip of 4 hours or less or are you going all day? Are you going on a weekend or weekday? You want to go on the 4th of July, but want no crowds? Early in the summer or late in the summer?
Quick Trips
If you only have a part of a day to go boating near Boise, Idaho, these are the places on top of my list.
Lucky Peak
1. Lucky Peak – I put Lucky Peak Reservoir at the top of my list for quick trips. Lucky Peak is just 15 minutes east of Boise in the foothills. It is a canyon lake over 10 miles in length in the foothills, so when it is not busy there is smooth water to be had in one of the canyons. At just over 200 feet at its deepest point and a very long ramp at Turner Gulch, there is a year round opportunity to scratch your boating itch if it arises.
Best Time to Go
Lucky Peak stays near its full water mark between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The water is clean all season due to its depth, making it a great lake all season. Even in the months outside of summer there is always at least one boat ramp in the water. We have been on Lucky Peak as early as April and as late as the day after Thanksgiving. I know people that waterski year round out there if you are into that sort of thing. This can be a very busy lake on the weekends in the summer. Best time to go is during the week and early (off by noon) on the weekends otherwise it can become quite busy. Avoid holidays and weekends after noon.
Lucky Peak campsites
Amenities
There are a few sandy-ish beaches scattered around the lake. Lucky Peak has several campsites with docks located around the lake available for boaters as well. A rare amenity is the Spring Shores Marina that offers boat slip rentals, store and fuel on the water. There is no private land along the shores of Lucky Peak, so wherever you want to hang out on the shore is fair game.
Lake Lowell
2. Lake Lowell – Located on the southwest side of Nampa, Idaho, Lake Lowell is a great early season option. It is an open valley lake about 7 miles in length. Lowell opens to boats each year April 15 to September 30. Boating is closed the remainder of the year due to the lake being part of Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge.
Best Time to Go
Lake Lowell is a shallow reservoir(less than 40 feet deep), so the water warms up quickly in the late spring. However, by mid to late June the water begins to grow algae thanks to its warmth. There are other options in the area that become more attractive as summer heats up. Wind will find you at this lake. It is out in the middle of the valley so there is really no protection from the wind at Lake Lowell. This is another lake that is great during the week or early morning runs on the weekends. Avoid holidays and weekends after noon.
Wakeboarding at Lake Lowell
Amenities
Lake Lowell has two ramps with park areas near each ramp. The parks near the ramp are really the only ‘beaches’ there are on the lake. The vast majority of the lake’s shoreline is marshy and not really suitable for hanging out or playing with the kids. There is no camping at Lake Lowell as the ramps/parks are gated and the gate closes and is locked each night. However, the parks do have some nice grassy areas, trees and BBQ’s, providing a nice gathering spot for an afternoon.
Black Canyon Reservoir
3. Black Canyon – Located on the Payette River just east of Emmett, Idaho. Black Canyon Reservoir offers a beautiful park and lake setting. The lake is on the smaller side with only about 2 miles of it being relatively deep water. The upper end of the lake where the river comes in gets shallow and it is a river so sand/gravel bars tend to shift. The lake as mentioned is small, so boats are asked to travel in a certain pattern. There are signs posted for the boating pattern at the ramps.
Best Time to Go
This is a great lake during the heat of the summer. The water never gets very warm due to the lake being rather small and the Payette River always flowing a decent amount of water. The water just does not spend a lot of time in this lake. This is also a lake that can seem busy if you are skiing, wakeboarding, or wakesurfing with any more than about 8 boats on it. Therefore, this is a great weekday lake for a quick trip. I would not recommend the weekends or holidays unless you get there early.
Amenities
There are multiple boat ramps available for day use on the lake. There are also 3 day use parks and 1 campground available. There are boat docks for use near the parks as well as restrooms at the parks. However, other than the park areas with docks, there is not much availability on the lake for beach activities.
Longer Trips
If you have a day or more to spend boating near Boise, Idaho, then these lakes rank at the top of my list.
Cascade Lake
1. Lake Cascade – Located between Cascade and Donnelly, Idaho about 75 miles from the Treasure Valley. It is a beautiful drive up highway 55 along the Payette River that is less than 2 hours from Boise. Lake Cascade is a beautiful mountain reservoir with treed mountains to the west and an area of sand beaches on the southeast part of the lake. The lake is no more than 60 feet deep so it warms rather quickly, making it as warm or warmer than Lucky Peak or Black Canyon for much of the summer. Lake Cascade is over 15 miles long and nearly 4 miles wide in areas. The lake is primarily a large bay with some narrow fingers on the north end.
Best Time to Go
Lake Cascade is best during the summer months for watersports. Typically, we begin wakesurfing on Cascade in June and go until Labor Day. This is the 4th largest lake in Idaho so it can accomodate a fairly large number of boats without being crowded. As long as you are willing to take your boat a little ways from the marinas, we have had no problem finding good flat water even on weekend or holiday afternoons. If you go during the week, it is practically your own private 47 square mile lake.
Boating on Lake Cascade
Amenities
There are more than 10 boat ramps located around the lake. No matter if you are just coming up for the day, staying overnight in a cabin, or camping, chances are that there is a boat ramp not too far away. Speaking of camping, there are 15 public campgrounds around the lake. The town of Cascade is on the south end of the lake and Donnelly on the north end. These towns make fuel, food/beverage, and lodging options readily accessible. There is currently no fuel for boats available on the lake, however plans are in the works. The lake has some private land primarily on the north end of the lake, but most is public lands. Included in the public land are some great sandy beaches along the south eastern shoreline of the lake between Crown Point and Vista Point.
Lake Owyhee
2. Lake Owyhee – About 75 miles west of Boise in Eastern Oregon, Lake Owhyee is a great desert canyon lake. While only 75 miles, it takes almost 2 hours to get to the ramp at the state park. The last 15 miles or so winds alongside the Owyhee River, which has some fantastic fly fishing and is picturesque. The road can be narrow and slow over that stretch that winds up to the lake, but it is worth it on a busy holiday when you finally make it up over the dam. The lake is over 50 miles in length and relatively narrow and winding. When the dam was built in 1932 for Lake Owyhee it was the tallest dam of its kind in the nation. Therefore, it will not surprise you to see readings of over 200 feet of water depth in areas of the lake.
Best Time to Go
Lake Owyhee is great all throughout the summer months, but it really shines on weekends and holidays. The lake can absorb boats like a sponge absorbs water. You may see 50 trailers in the parking lot, but only run across a handful of boats out on the lake. You can literally go find your own mile stretch of canyon on the 4th of July and have flat water. The concern out there on a holiday is which edge is the wind coming from, not boat traffic. Go prepared to spend the day or a couple if you want to camp. This is definitely my go to lake on a busy holiday weekend.
Wakesurfing on Lake Owyhee
Amenities
There are 3 boat ramps, some restrooms and a couple of nice campgrounds on the northeast end of the lake. There really are no services, no fuel and no food near the lake, so go prepared. The lake is nearly all public land, so any beach you can find is pretty much all fair game. However, most of the canyon walls are steep and rocky, so the beaches are scarce. Once you leave the main bay near the dam and boat ramps, you will really not see any other signs of man. No cell service on the lake either, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. However, if escaping the crowd is your goal, this is the place.
Payette Lake
3. Payette Lake – Located near McCall, Idaho, Payette Lake is a picture postcard mountain lake. With trees coming right down to the shoreline all around the lake and crystal clear water, it is the most picturesque lake of those reviewed. It is also one of the smaller lakes reviewed at just over 8 square miles of surface area. Payette Lake is just over 100 miles from Boise and right at if not slightly over my 2 hour radius. However, the list would not be complete without Payette Lake on it. Perhaps the most known and popular destination lake in the area. Payette Lake and the town of McCall are a great place to enjoy an Idaho resort setting.
Best Time to Go
Payette Lake is a natural lake, not man made, and is deep at over 380 feet at its deepest point. Therefore, it does not warm up rapidly, so unless you plan on a wetsuit or drysuit, the season will start the latter half of June and run through Labor Day. Payette can get extremely busy on weekends or holiday weeks. My experience on Payette Lake is that you must get up at first light to get flat water on a weekend or holiday week. As the air temperatures warm, boaters of all types start hitting the lake. On a Saturday afternoon the lake can have that washing machine effect where waves are coming from all directions. However, if you can go during the week away from holidays, you will not find a more beautiful setting to get in that session on the lake.
skiing on Payette Lake
Amenities
Mile High Marina has fuel on the water and McCall boasts a large number and wide variety of restaurants. You can even pull your boat up to public docks and go grab dinner or an ice cream from a variety of establishments. Ponderosa State Park offers campsites or there are hotels and condo/house rentals throughout the town. There are some public lands and parks along the shoreline that visitors may use. However, much of Payette Lake’s shoreline is private and lined with cabins and private docks. If you are lucky enough to have access to a private dock, it can be the ultimate boat lovers lake. There are officially 3 boat ramps on the lake. The one near downtown McCall is the most accessible and popular. Take your patience pills on a busy weekend.
Wakesurfing Payette Lake
To Sum It Up
There are some great places that I have not mentioned either because they were just outside of the 2 hour radius or due to access concerns such as washboard dirt roads. The point is there is a lake for just about any type of outing your are planning. Regardless if you only have a few hours or a few days. Whether it is a holiday weekend or in the middle of the week. The Boise area has some great lakes to go play and work on your skills. One of the many reasons why I love this little corner of the world. Go out and enjoy!