Boise is home to plentiful national forests and state parks, including the Boise National Forest, Hell's Canyon Recreation Area and Payette National Forest. With more than 40 percent of Idaho being preserved for outdoor adventurers, there are plenty of hiking opportunities for women who are looking to start a hiking club or join up with one already in full swing.
Membership
Membership rules for women's hiking clubs vary from group to group. However, the two basic requirements usually involve a small annual fee and the physical endurance necessary for all hikes. The Boise Trail Heads, for example, do not charge a membership fee but rather ask donations of their members and recruit advertising sponsors. In contrast, the Idaho Alpine Hiking Club requires an annual membership payment of $20 per person. Other groups ask for members to take turns carpooling, donating gas money or bringing lunch for the day's excursion.
Trails
Female Idaho hikers are familiar with marked and maintained trails, such as those found near the Upper Coeur d'Alene River or the Wood River Trail, which stretches for 20 miles. Being a female Boise hiker does not necessarily mean a club will plan trips only for the immediate area, and ladies' hiking clubs are more likely to have overnights and girls' nature getaways than their male counterparts. Exploring the trails near Boise are a great way to get exercise, team build and bond with other women as you form a climb-filled sisterhood with Mother Nature.
Clubs in Boise
Only a few hiking clubs in the Boise region are exclusively for women. The Boise Women's Hiking Network (WHN) is the online home to more than 800 active females. You will find group hikes, camping trips and other outdoor activities with this huge network of members, young and old. Not to be outdone by male hikers, the WHN also holds monthly potlucks to get to know one another as well as unique winter-weather hiking opportunities, such as snowshoeing.
The Boise Trail Heads is not exclusively for women, but the co-ed group is perfect for an active female who wants an edgier experience with nature instead of a exploring a novice trail with a group of girlfriends. Sporty ladies from all over the greater Boise area come to these hikes, which require each hiker to be physically fit enough to hike for several hours with few stops.
Connecting or Creating
Finding a hiking group is not always easy online. If you're looking exclusively for a women's club, but cannot find one that works well with your schedule through meet-ups and other activity websites, consider visiting your local sporting goods store. A nearby recreation center may also offer nature walks and intense hiking excursions. You may also want to search in unconventional places for a hiking club, such as a college activity center, bookstore or coffeehouse bulletin board or your local newspaper. If you don't see what you're looking for, consider starting your own group. Be sure to list level of experience and intensity of outings you expect of group members to find compatible people while still challenging yourself.
Conservation
Women with giving hearts will love to nurture nature while they hike by taking part in conservation efforts. Women's hiking groups will often organize clean-up projects to keep trails and campsites in top shape, while the Winter Wildlands Alliance maintains land access throughout the state of Idaho, with many hikers residing within Boise.
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