Boise Mountain Bike Shuttle Routes - Bogus Basin Road

In 2022, I launched Boise Bike Shuttle, and even though we only operated for one season, what a ride it was! In that short time, we managed 24 shuttles, served 66 enthusiastic riders, and covered over 500 miles. Unfortunately, our journey was cut short when the local government decided to halt all commercial mountain bike shuttle services in the Boise area. Despite this setback, we gathered valuable feedback from local riders, and I'm excited to share insights on various self-shuttling options for these fantastic routes.

Currently, no permitted commercial bike shuttle services operate in the Boise area, so you'll need to self-shuttle for all the routes discussed in this blog post. Before diving into the routes, let's define self-shuttling and how it works.

Self-shuttling typically involves two cars: Car 1 is parked at the bottom of the trail (this is your meetup location), while Car 2, carrying the bikes and riders, drives to the top parking spot (your unloading location). Car 2 is left at the top, and the group rides down the trail back to Car 1. Then, two people take Car 1 back up to retrieve Car 2. With that in mind, lets take a look at some of the options available for self-shuttles on Bogus Basin Road.

Boise’s main road for mountain bike shuttles is the scenic Bogus Basin Road, offering access to three key drop-off points that run parallel to it: Freddy's Stack Rock Trail, East Side Trail, and Dry Creek Trail. This blog will provide an overview of these mountain bike shuttling options, helping you plan your rides effectively. Each shuttle experience can vary depending on where you park your return vehicle (car 1). For more detailed routes and additional tips, be sure to check the links at the end of this blog.

The first spot I want to highlight is the Sweet Connie shuttle, which was the most popular option with Boise Bike Shuttle. This shuttle is by far the simplest in terms of parking and the route riders take. You'll park care 1 at the Sweet Connie/Dry Creek parking lot, conveniently located right on Bogus Basin Road. From there, you'll drive car 2 up Bogus Basin road 7.8 miles to the Freddie's Stack Rock parking lot and unload.

Sweet Connie is the main descent from the upper foothills trails, serving as a hub for various routes. Any route down the north side of Bogus Basin Road will bring you to the Sweet Connie junction. If you park car 1 at Polecat or Hidden Springs (Red Tail), and drop off at Freddy's Stack Rock or Eastside you will be descending Sweet Connie. Essentially, all trails lead to Sweet Connie.

Here are some maps that show various parking spots and routes to unload spots.

On the south side of Bogus Basin Road, you'll have 3 options for downhill routes: Dry Creek, Shingle Creek, and Hard Guy. To access these trails, you’ll need to ride portions Ridge Road #275. The main drop-off point for these trails is at the junction of Ridge Road and Around the Mountain Trail (Bogus Basin Trail). From there, you can ride to your chosen trail and descend back to your parked vehicle.

Each trail offers a unique challenge and pace—Dry Creek & Shingle Creek are more technical, while Hard Guy provides a high-speed descent with some steady climbs near the end. If you're planning to descend Hard Guy Trail, you'll want to park at Miller Gulch parking lot (see image 3 above) and prepare for a 6-mile ride along Ridge Road #275 to Hard Guy trail.

I want to take a moment to highlight the Mahalo trail. Many riders like to include Mahalo in their shuttle plans, as it’s on the backside of the Boise Ridge and reconnects to Ridge Road on the way to Dry Creek, Shingle Creek, and Hard Guy. This creates a fun and varied riding experience, making the most of multiple trails. Mahalo is special to locals because it requires a commitment to fully enjoy and is often best when combined with a shuttle descent down Dry Creek.

That wraps up our overview of the parking spots and shuttle options for Bogus Basin Road. Stay tuned for detailed guides in the upcoming posts. I'll be adding links below to each blog as they are completed, covering the parking spots and riding routes in-depth and maybe some GoPro footage from my rides on these trails.

• Shuttle Option 1 - Sweet Connie Trail #77
• Shuttle Option 2 - Mahalo / Dry Creek (coming soon...)
• Shuttle Option 3 - Eastside / Sweet Connie (coming soon...)
• Shuttle Option 4 - Hidden Springs / Eastside (coming soon...)

Thank you for reading, and I hope these insights help you plan your next mountain biking adventure! If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to leave a comment or reach out to me directly.

Forever Two Wheels.

-Myles