BOISE, Idaho — With the start of spring comes more people getting active in the Boise Foothills. Ridge to Rivers released a new and improved interactive map to plan a hike, run or ride before you hit the trails.
The easy-to-use and mobile friendly map is now live on the Ridge to Rivers website. Ada County, partnered with Ridge to Rivers, worked with the City of Boise over the past few months to incorporate feedback from users while the map was in the beta testing phase.
New features include:
- Faster load time
- Added "level of difficulty" ratings for trails throughout the foothills
- Improved navigation and search function
- Updates to the mobile interface to make the map easier to use on smartphones
“This new map allows the Ridge to Rivers partnership to better communicate and interact with all types of trail users,” said Doug Holloway, Boise Parks and Recreation director. “It’s a great way to discover new trails and reserves and the 3D feature allows you to better prepare for conditions along the way.”
The online map allows users to geo-locate themselves on trails in the Ridge to Rivers system. This was developed by Ada County Information Technology using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) equipment to create high resolution images that can be viewed on a desktop or cell phones.
“This map is such an asset to all trail users, no matter what their skill level,” said Stephen O’Meara, Ada County Information Technology Director. “Users can see the smallest detail, plan ahead based on their activity level and even find off-leash trails for their dogs.”
The Ridge to Rivers partnership was first formed in 1992 and consists of the City of Boise, Ada County, the Bureau of Land Management Four Rivers Field Office, the Boise National Forest and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The partnership exists under a Memorandum of Understanding, with the City of Boise serving as the lead agency.
