The Official Beer of Boise Trails

Five Mile Gulch

Fun
Tech
Views
Traffic
Shade
Usage
Biking, Hiking
Dogs Friendly?
Yes
Length
3.4 mimiles
ElvElevation
2172'
Rating
Last Report
AKA Hero Dirt. Yes, your ideal conditions that you want to hit up first before any of your friends find out. Sure you want to keep it low key, but be a good trail steward and let your buddies know its time to shred.

Five Mile Gulch is really two trails. Lower Five Mile Gulch is like a light touch massage at a fancy spa; upper Five Mile Gulch is like a deep tissue massage from a Ukrainian weightlifter. Lower Five Mile Gulch is popular as an entree to Watchman Trail, and is fun both up or down. It’s got a steady, moderate grade and it is remote enough that it’s rarely crowded. Upper Five Mile Gulch is a steep painfest that will test your fitness whether you’re mountain biking, hiking, or jogging. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you pop into the pine trees on the Ridge Road. We recommend Five Mile as one of the best hikes in Boise.

Recent Trail Reports

  • Maddog March 30, 2022 at 9:54 amRode the Rocky Cyn, 5-Mile, Watchman, 3 Bears, Shane's loop yesterday. Have we been time warped into June? Actual dusty trails! No mud or even dampness except for the 3 creek crossings on Watchman. Very windy though! Don't jump or the wind might blow you off the trail!
  • Kirk Cheney February 24, 2020 at 8:58 amSome ice patches but overall in pretty good condition and open for use.
  • Kirk Cheney April 22, 2019 at 4:04 pmLower Five Mile is great; Upper Five Mile has a few lingering snow patches that should be gone in the next week or so.
  • MELU477 April 2, 2019 at 4:13 pmMostly clear, the only real mud is before and after second creek crossing (the one without the bridge) This creek crossing is very deep, with a lot of debris. You will probably get your feet wet.
  • Kirk Cheney March 23, 2019 at 11:09 pmIn great shape except one or two little lingering ice spots (which should be gone any day), and one stagnant creek /mud bog that’s always there in the spring.
  • Bike Touring News March 11, 2019 at 12:07 pmMarch 10, 2019: Lower portion (up to split with Watchman) is rideable from the trailhead at Rocky Canyon Rd. Significant snow is on the trail after about a mile. Upper portion (after split with Watchman) is under deep snow after February's storms. Gonna be a slow start to the season for higher-elevation trails but the spring is going to be stellar when it arrives!
  • ramihz November 28, 2018 at 4:27 pmRunning nice today despite yesterday's rain.
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Trail Reports Five Mile Gulch

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  1. Maddog says:
    March 30, 2022 at 9:54 am

    Rode the Rocky Cyn, 5-Mile, Watchman, 3 Bears, Shane’s loop yesterday. Have we been time warped into June? Actual dusty trails! No mud or even dampness except for the 3 creek crossings on Watchman. Very windy though! Don’t jump or the wind might blow you off the trail!

  2. Kirk Cheney says:
    February 24, 2020 at 8:58 am

    Some ice patches but overall in pretty good condition and open for use.

  3. Kirk Cheney says:
    April 22, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Lower Five Mile is great; Upper Five Mile has a few lingering snow patches that should be gone in the next week or so.

  4. MELU477 says:
    April 2, 2019 at 4:13 pm

    Mostly clear, the only real mud is before and after second creek crossing (the one without the bridge) This creek crossing is very deep, with a lot of debris. You will probably get your feet wet.

  5. Kirk Cheney says:
    March 23, 2019 at 11:09 pm

    In great shape except one or two little lingering ice spots (which should be gone any day), and one stagnant creek /mud bog that’s always there in the spring.

  6. Bike Touring News says:
    March 11, 2019 at 12:07 pm

    March 10, 2019: Lower portion (up to split with Watchman) is rideable from the trailhead at Rocky Canyon Rd. Significant snow is on the trail after about a mile. Upper portion (after split with Watchman) is under deep snow after February’s storms. Gonna be a slow start to the season for higher-elevation trails but the spring is going to be stellar when it arrives!

  7. ramihz says:
    November 28, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    Running nice today despite yesterday’s rain.

  8. mikeb says:
    April 20, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    Clear all the way to the ridge road now. Riding well!

  9. Kirk Cheney says:
    March 29, 2018 at 1:26 pm

    Straight money, homie.

  10. ramihz says:
    March 13, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    lower Five Mile Gulch from rocky canyon to the connector with upper Five Mile is in great shape.

  11. teebee says:
    March 12, 2018 at 5:01 pm

    Orchard Gulch very wet and snow covered (a good part of it) this afternoon. Some hike-a-bike to get to the tree. RC Rd in great shape. Connector to 5 Mi Gulch also very wet and snow covered (a good part of it). 5 Mi Gulch somewhat wet with a little snow at beginning, but otherwise very good.

  12. jdelga says:
    February 20, 2018 at 8:26 pm

    Hard packed snow with minimal icy spots.

  13. MELU477 says:
    January 31, 2018 at 6:02 pm

    Five mile Gulch and Watchman still has a few packed/snow patches, a couple of puddles, lots of wet sand, very little mud.
    Definitely rideable.

  14. ramihz says:
    January 25, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    5 Mile Gulch had about 3 inches of new snow on it today. Was rideable at lunch, the snow was slightly wet.

  15. GWHID_Boise says:
    January 21, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    On 1/20/18 Lower Five Mile had some patches of snow that had not iced over yet; trail is otherwise sandy and relatively dry for hiking and biking. Upper Five Mile is snowed in, and by the mid-late afternoon descent, the trail was muddy in many places. Deep snow at the top w/soft pack trail.

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