Between State Street and Hill Road, Northwest Boise expands from the Boise River to the foothills. When I returned to Idaho from Washington, D.C. after 9/11, I built my first home in this area near Pierce Park, making this a community close to my heart. From 36th Street to Horseshoe Bend Road, there are miles of cycling, mountain biking and hiking, as well as golf courses, lovable local restaurants and more on the nearby Boise River.

History

Northwest Boise’s history is rooted in farmland. A large section of this community once belonged to Dr. George Collister, who cultivated orchards around what is now Collister Elementary School. Now, much of the farmland has been converted to residential spaces, but the spirit of this area remains tied to the land. When I lived in this area, I loved walking the neighborhood and seeing horses in their pastures. Now, as I drive through the neighborhoods between the river and foothills, I still feel like it’s a part of Boise that feels uniquely like Idaho.

Real Estate

The real estate of this area echoes its history of farmland, while also offering more low-maintenance modern homes and everything in between. There are one-acre lots in the Sycamore neighborhood where homeowners still keep horses, as well as in-fill developments near Pierce Park with small lawns. I love the elevated Quail Ridge subdivision, with views of the Boise Front and downtown, while the beachfront homes on Silver Lake and riverfront homes of Riverside Village are unbeatable in terms of location. Several neighborhoods built in the ‘80s, ‘90s and early ‘00s include family-friendly yards, contemporary designs and functional floor plans.

Lifestyle

The Northwest Boise lifestyle focuses on the great outdoors. Catalpa and Collister Parks are expansive green spaces, while Polecat Gulch and Seaman’s Gulch offer miles of foothills recreating. For road bikers, there’s the popular dump loop and several outlets for the Boise River Greenbelt. Golfers can enjoy Pierce Park Greens, The River Club and Quail Hollow. Those who need even more space can easily hop on I-55 towards McCall and Northern Idaho.

The neighborhood restaurants in Northwest Boise range from the health-focused Boise Juice Co. to the locally sourced Boise Fry Co. Vincenzo’s serves some of the best Italian food in town, while Madhuban Indian Cuisine is a personal favorite for our family. Their tikka masala and chicken vindaloo are must haves.

The schools in Northwest Boise feed into Boise Senior High,Capital High and West Ada’s Centennial High School. River Glen and Hillside Junior High are both excellent schools. The elementary school facilities boast similar accomplishments, with Gifted and Talented Education programs.

Things to Consider

For buyers who commute to the freeway towards Mountain Home or Caldwell, Northwest Boise can pose a problem. The neighborhood doesn’t have a great pathway to the freeway, forcing commuters to backtrack. However, almost all parts of Northwest Boise are biking distance to the Greenbelt. They’re a quick drive to downtown and I-55, with access to amenities on Eagle Road.