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Ridge to Rivers survey: nearly 2,700 responses, 85% use trails weekly; city highlights new trails and improved map
Summary
Superintendent Lisa DuPlessy told the commission that the fall 2025 Ridge to Rivers survey received almost 2,700 responses, found 85% of respondents use trails at least weekly, reported small increases in e‑bike interest and support, and listed recent and planned trail improvements including a new downhill trail and Cartwright Trailhead upgrades.
Lisa DuPlessy, superintendent of Open Space, presented the fall 2025 Ridge to Rivers user survey to the commission on Nov. 20, reporting nearly 2,700 responses and a set of management takeaways for Boise’s foothills trail system.
DuPlessy said the city manages 220 miles of trails in the Boise Foothills (on a mix of city, private and other agency lands) and noted that about 66 miles are managed directly by the Parks Department. The survey showed that 85% of respondents use the trail system at least once a week and that 25% of survey respondents have lived in the Treasure Valley for less than 10 years — a finding staff said affects trail education and outreach priorities.
The presentation highlighted user behavior and concerns: combined hiking and trail‑running remain the largest primary uses, mountain‑biking participation rose this year, and support for e‑bike use on the trails is up about 3 percentage points from last year. DuPlessy said the department intends to work with partner agencies to define how motorized and electric bicycle use is classified and managed on foothills trails.
DuPlessy also described recent and planned projects: a corrected name and a new purpose‑built downhill mountain‑bike trail (Sideshow), the Peru Loop Connection (a nearly 3‑mile link), and upcoming Cartwright Trailhead improvements on Bureau of Land Management property — funded in part by a grant from an Americans public‑lands fund — that will add a restroom, safer parking and equestrian parking. She emphasized improvements to the Ridge to Rivers website and interactive map, which staff said is the primary way users check trail conditions.
Commissioners asked how the survey defines “conflict” between user groups and whether location‑specific feedback could be collected; DuPlessy said future surveys will add examples and location data to make management responses more precise. She also confirmed that the department will continue using temporary trail closures in vulnerable sections to reduce damage from muddy conditions.
Next steps: staff plan to incorporate survey findings into trail management and outreach, refine future surveys to capture conflict types and locations, and pursue identified trailhead and all‑weather trail projects.
