Dry Creek - Shingle Creek Loop in the Boise Foothills

Dry Creek and Shingle Creek trails, close to downtown Boise, are relatively lush with vegetation and a great place to run, hike or bike in all seasons.

Related:  Four "Grand Slam Peaks" near Boise:
Mt. Heinen, Grand Slam Peaks Completed!
Kepros Mountain Hike
Cervidae Peak
Lucky Peak Winter Ascent

Trip Stats:

• Location:  Middle portion of Ridge to Rivers Trail System, north of downtown Boise, Idaho; this loop occurs in both Ada and Boise counties.
• Dry Creek Trailheads :   
• Lower Trailhead: 4.7 miles north from intersection of N. Bogus Basin Rd/Harrison Blvd and Hill Road.  Pass Mile Marker 4 on N. Bogus Basin Road and start looking for parallel dirt parking under large power lines. 
• Upper Trailhead at intersection with Sweet Connie Trail:  If there is no parking at lower trailhead, continue up N. Bogus Basin Rd for 3 more road switchbacks to find large parking on right side of road for Dry Creek Trail heading south and Sweet Connie Trail heading north.  This is the official Ridge to Rivers parking for these trails.
• Distance:  entire Dry Creek/Shingle Creek loop = 13.88 miles according to my GPS.
• Total elevation change: ~ 2,600 feet net elevation gain/loss. Trailhead = 3,454 feet; highest elevation in loop near junction with Trail 78 leading to Boise Ridge Road = ~ 5, 540 feet.
• Dry Creek Trail #78 intersects with Shingle Creek Trail #79 at 1.9 miles from trailhead - take either trail if you want to complete the loop; they connect at the highest point in the loop near Boise Ridge Road, 2,000 feet higher.
• Map:  Ridge to Rivers interactive map
• Dogs:  Controlled Off-leash trail.  Ridge To Rivers stipulations:  
• ​Owners must carry a leash with them at all times.
• Dogs remain within 30 feet of owners, and under strict sight and voice control.
• Dogs are prevented from harassing people, wildlife or other pets.
• There are many creek crossings with flat logs and new bridges over Dry Creek after the intersection heading up towards Boise Ridge Road.  More creek crossings on Dry Creek than on Shingle Creek.
• Vegetation varies during the 2,000 foot climb from riparian ecosystem including willows, Wood's Rose, Bitterbrush and Rabbitbrush at lower elevations, to Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir at higher elevations.
• Geology and Hydrology:  Beautiful granite outcrops from the Idaho Batholith seen along Upper Dry Creek.  Much data including stream output in Dry Creek is monitored by the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed of Boise State University.
• Popular trail for runners and mountain bikers.                              

Interpretive sign illustrating trails in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed, monitored by Boise State University

Dry Creek/Shingle Creek Loop from "lower" trailhead - 13.88 miles total
click on map for larger image

Elevation profile for Dry Creek/Shingle Creek loop in Boise foothills:  Shingle Creek first half of profile, Dry Creek second half of profile
Highest elevation near spur road that leads to Boise Ridge Road = 5,540'

Our hike
The Dry Creek/Shingle Creek loop is a unique trail close to Boise for so many reasons.  There's a surprising variety of vegetation as you climb 2,000 feet.  You get a beautiful creek ecosystem and a ridge ecosystem.  You make many stream crossings over Dry Creek Trail with bunch grasses, sagebrush and Woods Rose by your side as you begin, only to end up above this in a breezy forest of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir overlooking the Treasure Valley.  We did this hike in November and still heard the sounds of rushing water and boots sloshing through shallow crossings in the creek.

Dry Creek in December - Boise Foothills

We start at the trailhead just beyond MM 4 along N. Bogus Basin Road.  The trailhead sign illustrates the features and map of the Upper Dry Creek Watershed.  For the first 1.9 miles, the elevation gain is just under 300 feet.  After the intersection, the trail climbs another 1,780 feet to the highest point at which it intersects with the Boise Ridge Road.  The feature rock in this watershed is granite from the Atlanta Lobe of the Idaho Batholith; weathered outcrops stand along the Dry Creek Trail.  This intruded during Cretaceous time - 75 - 85 million years ago.  I've seen large pieces of muscovite along this trail.  

Autumn along Upper Dry Creek

Dry Creek Trail after intersection with Shingle Creek

At the Dry Creek/Shingle Creek intersection 1.9 miles from the trailhead, we hiked up Dry Creek Trail #78 (to the left) and came back on Shingle Creek Trail #79 to complete the loop.  The topography got steeper as we neared the ridge.  Most bridges across the creek are flat-topped logs especially helpful during elevated spring run-offs.  Numerous waterfalls and moss, a forest thick with trees and brush make this Boise foothills hike enjoyable.  Such a beautiful riparian environment so close to home!

Dry Creek

Heading down from Shingle Creek Trail and Dry Creek Trail intersection

After 2,000 feet of climbing, the ridge lies at ~ 5,600 feet in elevation, where the sound of water rushing over rocks is replaced by wind flowing through Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine branches.   At the trail junction sign, a short 0.4 mile spur continues to the southeast to join Boise Ridge Road.  To continue to Shingle Creek, head on Trail 79 to the west.  Soon the Treasure Valley is seen through the opening in the canyon.  

Many crossings over Dry Creek

Trail junction sign at top of Ridge 0.4 miles from Boise Ridge Road

Fun bikers near where Shingle Creek Trail starts to climb

After zig-zagging down Shingle Creek Trail #79 from the ridge, the trail finally meets up with Shingle Creek, a narrower creek compared to Dry Creek.  A couple of runners whizzed by us.  Shortly after that, we met up with 4 bikers (above) that weren't doing the whole loop but were having a great time.  This part of the trail seems a bit long as it returns to lower elevation ecosystem of perennial bunch grasses and rabbitbrush.

Last week, Boise was stuck in a nasty ​temperature inversion.  For those who don't know what that is, click on the preceding link, but if you are from the Treasure Valley, you definitely know what an "inversion" is!  The smart folks drive to Bogus Basin to get above it for warmer temps and blue skies.  On a separate hike during an inversion, we hiked far enough along Dry Creek to see blue skies.  We didn't hike the entire loop this time, but  seeing  blue when we looked up made us feel a little better - not to mention the beauty of snow on branches, and the feel of walking on soft snow.

Heading northeast up Dry Creek Trail 

References:
Boise State University - Watershed Description
Digital Geology of Idaho/Mesozoic Idaho Batholith