Camel’s Back Park

Camel’s Back Park is the kind of place that quietly rewires your relationship with a city. I didn’t come here with a plan — just some leftover thoughts, a half-charged phone, and the vague need to breathe differently for a while. That turned out to be enough. What I love most is how effortlessly the park shifts moods. One moment you’re watching kids conquer the playground with absolute seriousness, the next you’re halfway up the hill, Boise stretching out below you like it’s proud to be seen. The climb isn’t hard, but it’s just challenging enough to feel earned — a small victory that somehow resets your head. People use the park in deeply personal ways: solo walkers pacing through decisions, couples lying in the grass not talking (the good kind), runners chasing something invisible. No one rushes you. No one tells you what this space is “for.” It simply exists, generous and calm. Camel’s Back isn’t flashy, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s a pause, a viewpoint, a quiet agreement between the city and the people living in it. I always leave feeling a little lighter — and that’s reason enough to keep coming back.

My visit to Camelback Park in Idaho was the perfect mix of relaxation, scenery, and unexpected fun. The park sits in a beautiful, open area surrounded by soft hills and wide stretches of grass that make it feel peaceful and inviting. When I arrived in the morning, the air was cool and fresh, and the sunlight was spilling through the trees in that perfect golden way that makes everything look like a postcard. Families were setting up picnics, joggers were making their rounds, and a few kids were flying kites near the playground. The park itself is super clean and well kept. The trails are smooth and easy to walk, and they wind through fields that give you amazing views of the surrounding hills. There’s also a nice open space for sports — I saw people tossing frisbees, playing soccer, and even someone practicing yoga near the edge of the trees. It’s one of those parks where everyone just seems happy to be outside. Just when I thought it couldn’t get more entertaining, I noticed a small crowd gathering near the picnic area. To my total surprise, MrBeast and his crew were there filming a challenge! He was shouting something like, “Last to Leave the Park Bench Wins $10,000!” and people were laughing, cheering, and trying to join in. Chandler immediately sat down like he planned to win, Karl was joking with some locals, and even a few curious joggers ended up in the background of the shoot. The atmosphere went from peaceful to hilariously competitive in seconds, and everyone was loving it. After things settled down, I took a short hike up one of the nearby hills where you can see the entire park laid out below. The view was gorgeous — trees swaying in the breeze, the sound of kids laughing in the distance, and that relaxed Idaho charm that makes you forget about everything else for a while. When I finally sat down on a bench with a cold drink, it felt like the perfect end to a simple but memorable day. Overall, Camelback Park is a fantastic spot for anyone who loves open spaces, easy trails, and a laid-back outdoor vibe. Whether you want to jog, picnic, play sports, or just sit and enjoy the sunshine, this park delivers. And if you’re really lucky, you might even stumble across a surprise event or filming that makes the day unforgettable.

Bring some good shoes for hiking. Beautiful park. Extremely clean & well appointed park. There's volleyball, tennis, a large open space & a children's play area. Parking can be difficult, depending on time of day or day. Well worth it & beautiful city views if you take the hike.

Camel's back park is a nice park that also has acces to the foothill trail system with lots of great paths for hiking and biking. the park is clean and has a nice playground with glued mulch so you dont have to worry much about your little ones getting splinters. The park also hosts the annual Hyde Park Street Fair which is a fun outdoor market type event with local vendors. Boise youth soccer also hosts kids soccer classes there starting at 2.5 years old, would definitely recommend those guys for some fun for your toddler.

One of the best parks in Boise, beautiful views of the city and good variety of trails to explore.

This as a gem of a park with trails you can hike. They have an older tennis area that is very nice for those that want to train to become a future tennis star. It is a pretty good size part in the small community just outside of Hyde park areas where there is all kinds of small restaurants and places you can get your alcohol drinks. As you will see in the pics there in the dirt area you must climb up to get to the steps that takes you to the hump of the camel. At my age I will just view it from here please.

Pretty decent climb with a great view of Boise and the north end. Other trails extend in different directions and all are well maintained.

The park is really nice, there's a big playground with toys for kids, a nice workout area. There's also a lot of trails that let's you feel like you're hiking in the hills, and you're not in a large metro area. The hill and stairs are pretty steep, just be aware if you're new to the park (like me) they'll get your heart pumping.

The stairs may look a bit intimidating at first, but the hike was actually short and pretty easy. There was a little boy, maybe 3 or 4 years old, climbing beside me with his dad and despite all the whining, he made it to the top too! The sunset view at the top was absolutely stunning, we came on a clear day and could see the entire city blanketed in trees. Such a breathtaking sight and definitely a must-see when visiting Boise. The parking lot was easy to find with plenty of space, making the whole experience even better.

This is one of the MOST EPIC parks I've ever been to. It was filled to brim with life, adventure and just wholesome fun. I came here on a Saturday afternoon and there were kids soccer games, folks playing tennis, families working out, and all ages hiking the hills. Behind the park is even tons of winding trails for both hiking and biking. While the climb up to the top of the main hill wasn't all that long, it was definitely steep. With the sun beaming down, it felt rather invigorating and provided a nice feeling of accomplishment making it to the top. This park definitely is a special part of town and it's clear that local residents definitely cherish and appreciate it!

I so love this park!! It's always busy, but it's large enough to accommodate everyone who wants to enjoy it. It has large hills to hike (hence the "camel back" up and around, but some parts are fairly steep, and there are steep stairs at the front of the hill. Getting up to them may require a walking stick, as it is quite the incline. The view from up top is gorgeous! It feels like you can see all of Boise from up there, and you're not even that high up, so it's a short hike to the top, and you're reward is a hilltop view of the trees and city, and the beauty around you. If you prefer something easier, the backside has flat trails through the trees that is just lovely to walk through. They allow dogs on leash, so you can bring your pups with you on your walk or hike. There are also picnic tables, outdoor exercise equipment, restrooms, playground, pickle ball courts, and I think there's even volleyball? I think having all this in one place is why the park is so popular. I highly recommend a visit if you haven't been there yet!!!

Okay WOW! Such a great park with so many things to do. The playground is nice and half of it is shaded. All the grass areas surrounding the park are well shaded there are families that come to picnic and it's honestly perfect for sitting and watching older kids play on their own. It has play sets for all ages. Benches underneath the trees where you can watch your kids or if you're like me, sitting to nurse your LO. beside the park there is a restroom and a gym! Seriously gym equipment for the adults to work out. Behind you have an amazing view of a hill. Oh yes! This hill is followed by stairs to continue climbing up. Perfect place for working out the adults and kids! I wish we had a park like this back home! So perfect and amazing! A must!

Camel's Back Park is a great park to start a hike from or just bring the kids to play. They have a large parking lot with plenty of parking. Access to many hiking trails within steps of the parking lot. The most challenging would be to go directly up the hill to the steps and the reward is not only physical fitness, but an amazing view of the whole city. Highly recommend that you hike from any point and there's so many choose your own adventure twists and turns that will take you to other trailheads and parking lots depending on how far you go. A great point of reference on where you are will be the various trailheads with maps, doggy bags, and trash cans. This park is just a quick few minutes to the wonderful shops and eateries in Hyde Park or downtown. Super fun place to meet up with friends, exercise, and then grab a bite to eat.

I met a group here to take a little walk through the park-there is a trail that winds around a bit but it's relatively flat. If you want a bit more of a workout, you can walk to the top of the hill which has a magnificent view of the city below. During my walk, I also saw this neat sand hill where children were rolling down and giggling happily. It looks like a lot of fun, for people who's bodies wouldn't revolt after such charades. Unfortunately, my time for that kind of fun has passed. I'll keep to the trails and nature hikes around the beautiful park.

Took my friend that is from out of town on a hike here yesterday (8/27/24) and she loved it! It was challenging but not too challenging, the hardest part is definitely the very beginning of the hike climbing up the steep incline, but there are many other paths to take as well. Some of the paths get pretty narrow so be aware of that. Please pay attention to whether to keep your dog on a leash or not, some trails are leash only.

With a strong sense of community and just a short walk to Hyde Park--home to diverse shops, delicious restaurants, and the beloved Goodies candy and ice cream shop--Camels Back Park is the perfect destination for families, outdoor gatherings, and scenic hikes, offering something for everyone!

We found this place on yelp and decided to come on a Friday morning. It's a hiking trail and a park. Parking was great right on the side. On the right hand side you can go on little trails for hiking. It is dog friendly. In the middle there's a large grass area. Then a work out area and playground. There were bathrooms on the side. Plenty of trees and a lot of shade. This place was extremely clean. Definitely a 5 star .

Great park, with a short hike up a mountain. The park is always clean and spacious. It has lots of trails, walks to coffee shops and bakeries. There are plenty of things for kids to do at this park. Slides/Zip Lines and Swings! We love packing a lunch and eating our lunch in the big grass field.

Great location if you want to take in the city view and get in a little workout of a hike A plus is it is not far from city center when you are ready for a bite!

A great park in Boise's north end. There is a nice grassy area, kid play area, tennis courts and bathrooms. And places to park for access to the foothill trails (which is what I'm interested in). The city has helped to develop a lot of trails in the area, hiking and mountain biking, which is great. There are well defined paths and official access points Trust me if you try to access trails on Warm Springs Mesa you will appreciate a defined trail head. There is now a path with rock stairs and a cool cable handrail for the trail that goes up the face of the hill. From the top of the (small) hill you get great city views. Definitely should be on the to-do list for Boise visitors.

Great park, very clean, and spacious. Easy trail/hill to hike. People are very friendly in this area and plenty to do with you have kids or pets.

Holy cow this park is POPIN'!! There is so much space to do activities and there were a lot of friendly people there!! The only downside was that literally no one was wearing their masks but that was to the fault of no body who maintains the park so all-in-all, 10/10 park!

This is a really nice park, lots of space for activities, work out area, playground, open area and nice access to the trails. Just really a pretty area and thankful they have open bathrooms that are clean and convenient.

Great park! We went here to hike up the hill and catch the great views of Boise. Easy quick hike. Perfect for when friends are in town. The views were spectacular.

I adore this park! Where I grew up, I do not recall people going to the park and hanging out for the heck of it. So when I came to Boise and found out that people's Saturday afternoon plans often include hanging around at a park playing frisbee/volleyball/slacklining, I was pleasantly surprised! This park tucked away in the North End, is perfect for gathering a big group of people together, hosting a BBQ, or just posting up a hammock to relax and read under a tree. Camel's Back also has a massive hill (which I am assuming is how it received its quirky name) that sits as a backdrop for the park. Behind this hill is a slew of trails where runners and hikers can roam around. As far as the nitty-gritty details of the park: Playground- Yes Volleyball Court- Yes Tennis Court- Yes Bathroom- Yes Parking lot- Yes BBQ's- Yes Lots and lots and lots of pretty trees- Yes, yes, yes! Other bonus: Location--Camel's Back is just a few minutes away from the Hyde Park district, making a cup of coffee or some dollar tacos from Parilla (on a Thursday) just a hop, skip, and a jump away!

Camel's Back Park is a great place to take your family with small kids to play in the park. They have a huge playground that is great for the kids to have fun in and on. They have swings and even a workout area with machines to exercise and lift on! Great place to take your dog for some exercise as well. There is plenty of hiking to do on and behind the hill (Camel back) in the park...you can take a leisurely stroll or do some serious hiking, mountain biking on trails, or running in the foothills behind the park. Over and above the available activities, there are some great little places to get a bite and/or a beer after your adventures within walking/riding distance from the park.

We hiked around Camel's Back Park. You have the option of traversing the hill or scaling it.  If you scale it, then the first bit is sand and gravel.  The second half is stone steps.  We elected to scale it.  I was surprised by how challenging it was.  The sand and gravel were slippery.  I watched a few girls slide on the way down.  After you summit the sand and gravel, then you have over 150 steps to climb.  There's a chain to assist on your assent.  The view on top is noteworthy.  Instead of descending the way we ascended, we chose to go down the backside.  The return was a graded dirt path.  It connected to other trails on the Ridge to Rivers Trail System.  Overall, I recommend Camel's Back Park.

This is great park and has a HUGE hill that can be a great workout! There is a playground for the kids as well as a few stationary workout equipment pieces donated by bodybuilding.com The hiking area isn't much of a hike. It's more of a stroll but the area is beautiful nonetheless.

This is a great place to get out and get a little exercise. The trails are from easy to difficult but the view is beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone.

We love this park. We have two little ones under 6 so playground is still their go to anywhere we go but during pandemic time, the playground is not the biggest attraction here for us. It's always! Full with kids and parents not wearing masks at all. So, we avoid this part. We loving coming for picnics on the grass, playing with frisbees, ball and just even running. Trying to help kiddos get used to hiking and walking for longer periods without being carried. They LOVE going up the hill and hiking at vantage point looking down at the ant people. Ample space to keep safe distance and still people watch and enjoy.

Fun park with a great big hill to go up and get your cardio on. My dogs loved it. It also provides a nice view.

I absolutely l-o-v-e this park. Like others have said, it's large, has a great swing set/jungle gym/play area for the kiddos, lots of benches and picnic tables, TONS of trails, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, bathrooms (hey...kinda important depending on the length of stay!), and fields of grass galore. In fine weather, you will come to find activities of all kinds. There will be the usual and somewhat expected firsbee throwers. There may be a game of football underway. You will also undoubtedly see a few groups of slack liners (if you're thinking, slack lining? huh? think of a circus tightrope--only not so tight--strung between two trees with a dread locked, hemp wearing, peace loving darling traversing it). This never fails to conjure up visions of the circus and therefore add a lovely bit of a quirkiness to the goings on (it IS the Northend). And, of course, there will be a steady trickle of climbers up the "camel's back". My favorite activity is to bench sit with a book and a cup of Java purchased coffee (conveniently located a couple of blocks from here) on a particularly magnificent autumn day. In regards to the "camel's back", the last 20 feet or so are much steeper than can be perceived from below. As you climb, and at the point in which it becomes what seems like impossibly steep, you may find you're only wearing slick bottomed walking shoes, and you may be tempted to give up the endeavor and head back down. You'll then do what you, on all accounts, ought not do--you'll look down. You will may be gripped by lung constricting anxiety because from that particular vantage point it appears as though the hill descends straight down cliff-like. You may then picture yourself in a humiliating roll--a*# over tea kettle style--down the hill. By all means continue upwards. You can do it. It's really is quite doable. In all likelihood you won't even stumble. Or, you can join myself and countless other fraidy cats walking up the winding path that takes you to the same gorgeous overlook with none of the terror. It's your choice. Choose wisely.

A great place to do a birthday party for your kid! No need to reserve, which can be good and bad. But there are a few places with picnic tables where you can set up your party while kids play on the playground. I love how big the playground is. They have 4 bucket swings for little kiddos and 4 flat swings for older kids. There are a few big playsets to accommodate many children and plenty of benches around to sit and "try" to relax while watching your kiddos burning their energy. They also have some work-out equipments. So if you feel guilty about just sitting there and not working out, this is a good chance! OR you can always run or walk up to the hill, which can be fun, but also can be challenging. For somehow, I see little kids going up more than once! Overall, I love this park and feel pretty safe to take my kiddos here. More importantly, my 6-year old boy and 3-year girl love playing here.

Great place to bring pets for a good wonder about. We love the hikes, streams, and hills! Lots of other pets for your pet to meet and play with, lots of wonderful pet owners to talk to as well. Highly recommend. You can off leash your pet, if it's friendly with others, and no one seems to mind. Love this place!

Great local place for a hike, picnic or nap under a tree! I love all of our parks!

I was expecting a park that happened to have some hiking trails and may be a bit overcrowded. Um, not only was I wrong, I was VERY wrong. The parking lot was only about 3/4 full and there was still plenty of street parking. My two anxious dogs were pulling us up the a lot of up-hill portions of the trail and only really only saw two other people on the trail! That could be because we went around 6:00 on a weekday but it was still awesome! The trails were typical Boise trails with some benches here and there but the park itself has beautiful, green grass! Great for my dog's plentiful rolling...the park has bathrooms near the parking lot, the body building stations are super interesting, and plenty of picnic benches. I have not gotten to adventure in the body building park but I intend to in the near future! This park would be an awesome destination for a picnic, day outdoors with the kids or a long hike. The possibilities are endless!! Park-on, my friend!

This is a great family park with plenty of shade and awesome trails in the background. The trails are well taken care of and there is the iconic camel hill which is steeper than it looks, if that is possible. The view from the top is pretty rad though. So far, this is one of my favorite parks in the Boise area and for a number of reasons. 1) There is plenty to do for little kids and big ones alike. 2) The park itself is well maintained. 3) Open space and room to run around. 4) Plenty of parking, even on busy nights. 5) Dog friendly :D

My favorite, must see for outdoor lovers. Outdoor gym is a bonus, the Hyde park neighborhood has some great food spots as well!

Camel's Back is my favorite park in Boise! I've spent hours here with family, friends, and my pup. The park is huge and clean, and has so much green space for frisbee, yard games, or relaxing. There are also volleyball and tennis courts, a workout cycle station, a playground for kids, and basic bathrooms. The park's access to foothills trails is super convenient, and we especially love the off-leash areas.

I consider this park to be the best park in Boise! Year round you will see families playing and people just enjoying the park and trails. An absolute gem, a must for anyone visiting Boise and or people living in the North end. Go pack some food, water, the dogs, kids, toys, kitchen sink, and get out of the house! Don't miss out. Tip: enjoy the sun set from the top. A short hike but the views of Boise is well worth it.

Best park in the world if you love being chased by wasps for an hour! Swarms of wasps everywhere, in the grass, at the picnic tables, at the playground. They will find you and claim your food and drinks for themselves.

This is a great place to go mountain biking! It has quite a few different trail options with varying difficulty. The trails get quite packed during holidays though so take it into account when planning your ride.

The paths on the trails around the park were paved very clearly and there weren't many bugs. Just be conscious of people riding their bikes as some parts of the trail get just slightly narrower. There are big fields of grass, some tennis courts and a sand volleyball court. Great park to go to for a trail run, hike, or just to chill on a sunny day.

Camels Back added a rockin outdoor gym area!! People come at all times of the day and night to work out. I'll post pics! This park just gets better and better!:)

Wonderful community park, a must-see if you're visiting Boise. Climb to the top and enjoy the scenery of the foothills and the North end all at once. Just a little ways down 13th st from the cozy Hyde Park district. The only downside I have seen is that it gets pretty hard to find parking on a busy day.

Beautiful park! Hike up for the view and bring your pup.

THis was a great park, with a great network of trails. We were driving through town, and we were all really grateful for this lovely gem. I noticed a few of the other reviewers mentioned mountain bikers, but all the signs we saw prohibited mountain biking-so that may be worth looking into.

Always fun and very awesome. There is stuff for adults and kids to keep busy all day, if you have enough energy. We enjoy this park every time we go.

This place is awesome. I'm an avid mountain biker and from here I can access several of my favorite single track trails. The hike to the top of camel back hill is a nice work out and gives you a rewarding overlook of downtown Boise. When the weather is nice people love to come here to just lay in the park, play frisbee, tennis, BBQ, take their kids to the playground, and/or relax.

Camel's Back Park is right up the street from Hyde Park. It is a great place to go all seasons of the year. There is a playground for children and trails that go way back into the foothills. There a a couple big ponds behind the hill, and a creek. Not to forget a big sandy hill you can carve into. My name stayed up there all summer when i did it. In the winter the front of the foothill makes a great sledding spot! There are always all kinds of people and dogs there. Plus runners, and cyclist. But trust me its big enough. In the summer fesivals are held there all the time. Food venders, bands and art to buy. Best park in all of Boise and surrounding cities.

Boise's backyard starts here! Great park and start of many trails for hiking and biking - amazing city views and great spot for sunsets. Easy access and few blocks from shops and bars in Hyde Park.

This has been on my Bucket List since moving to the Valley two years ago. Today was the day I crossed it off! What a great place! We did the stairs and loops a couple times to get our daily cardio in. It was about 93 out when we did it, so we were dripping when we were done. Afterward, we cooled down in the shade by the playground while the kids played. The park is very clean and well maintained. Tons of green space for your four legged children. A great place for a picnic and to just roll a blanket out and read a great book. You could easily spend your entire day at this massive park. It is definitely worth the visit. After you've spent some time here, walk down to Hyde Park and enjoy some pizza or coffee!

Looks like a great park. i rode my bike there when visiting. Hoping I get a chance to hike up the hill before I leave...if not, I'll be back!

It's rain season and the park still has people enjoying the large grassy areas. I'm excited for the upgrades and hiking this summer.

Best park in Boise! On a nice day, it is hard to find much space, but the park is huge. I think the busiest time is around 4:30 pm on a Friday night. I think all the families come out for Happy Hour at Camel's Back Park.

Even in the midst of winter (or perhaps because of it), with hard, frozen, snow-covered trails, this place is a magnificent escape from the concrete jungle...adjacent to the North End, and just minutes from downtown Boise, this park not only offers city-park amenities (e.g., sand volleyball, tennis courts, playground), but has an impressive trail system (segregated for hiking, mountain biking, off-leash dogs, and motorized vehicles), from which one can go for dozens of miles into the backcountry. Great views of downtown to the south, and the mountains to the north.

Great park to play in and REALLY fun place to go sledding!