04 – Old Fort Boise Marker
From the FortWIki.com website:
Originally built as fur trading post in 1834 by Thomas McKay as a private venture with an understanding of support from the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). It became an HBC post by 1836. The decline of the fur trade caused the post to turn to the salmon fishery as a primary income producer. When the Oregon trail opened in 1841, the post was a major stop for the wagon trains crossing the Snake River into Oregon. The hospitality of the post’s managers to the Oregon Trail travelers was legendary.
Fort Boise was severely damaged in 1853 in a major flood and was just partially rebuilt. Increasing Indian hostilities made it impossible to operate the fort in that location and the post was abandoned in 1854. The U.S. Army established a second Fort Boise (1) in 1863 at what is now the City of Boise, Idaho.
For more information, be sure to check out https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=21992 and http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Boise_%282%29
Coordinates: 43.82360, -117.02040
Elevation: 2196 ft
Difficulty: 1-2
What to expect: Well maintained gravel road
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I’d rate this a 1.5. It was paved all the way till the final quarter mile or so, which was easy dirt/gravel.
nice late summer ride.
Easy after work rude. All slab to the wma and maybe 1/2 mile of packed dirt.
Easy ride and a nice spot by the river with a short walk to the marker.
Cool site
Today is supposed to get to 107 degrees, so I headed out early to beat the heat. The skies are a little hazy from wildfires. It was a nice drive, and I passed a historical marker sign at a replica of Fort Boise in Parma. When I got to the gravel/dirt road, I parked my cruiser (sheepish grin…) and walked the quarter mile to see the marker. I probably could have ridden the whole way, but since Mr. Dunn wasn’t with me, I didn’t want to chance it.
Strange little spot. If it weren’t for the gps point I would never have found it. Very grown in. Fascinating statue though. Folk art.
Nice ride through the farmland and hop fields to get there. Yeah short gravel entrance to the parking lot. Walk 100yds or so to the (not really sure what that thing on the monument is).
Perfect temps and a nice low wind day. Made for a quick and comfortable spin out to Old Fort Boise site.
Nice day for a ride
Interesting marker
The wind made riding all the way out here brutal! The ride home was easy with a stiff tailwind.
Nice little nature walk past the statue. Easy ride there, road turns to dirt for the last few hundred feet then you park in a lot by the gate to the marmot thing.
As described, a short walk from the gate.
The gate was closed, but the marker is maybe a 100 foot walk from the gate. I visited a few years ago and someone was camped ten feet away from it, and it was becoming overgrown by the trees. They have been clearing the trees away from it and now you can see it from the parking/restroom facilities.
We took backroads from Jump Creek through Homedale, Parma, then on to the Old Fort Boise marker. Stopped once to let a bee out of my helmet. The dairy was quite fragrant today. Roads were dry the whole trip although it looked like it had some nice mud puddles a few weeks ago. The gate was closed so we walked to the monument. I lost count of how many baby cows we startled as we rode by their fields on the way home. Round trip today was a whooping 86 miles, just a few miles until my tiny little gas tank would have needed to be refilled.
I realized I forgot my flag when I was half way there, but I did indeed go. Turns out I gave my flag to another person who had just signed up. If anyone objects we can dual over it. With wooden swords.
The road out there is a 1 until the last quarter mile, where it switches to a 2. There are a few potholes, but even a street bike can manage this location. The Statue is pretty much right on the money for the coordinates.
My guess is a prairie dog, but then again, there are no prairie dogs in Idaho that I know of.
Nice ride outside of Parma. My first time here. River is flowing high at the moment. Good time to check fort Boise.
River running high
Interesting monument. Fortunately for me the road in was dry. Saw a turtle trying to cross the road on the way in.
Last time I was here, I was able to ride right up to the statue of the… Beaver?, Otter?, Dog?, really ugly man?… it was super messy and trashed up back then, so it’s good that they have blocked the path/road to it I suppose to better preserve the area.
Well worth the mud puddles to see this majestic creature.
Well not sure this one counts as I didn’t actually walk over to the marker. I didn’t realize that was there until it was too late lol
Dodging mud puddles to this. I am still not sure what it is, but can say I have seen it.
Never been to the actual site marker, pretty cool.
Accidently added the wrong photo. Not sure how to fix that. Anyway. This was neet to see. Not sure what animal this is supposed to be. It’s a little north of the boat ramp and has had the brush cleared away. We also met another club member that that joined us for the rest of our ride.
It was taller than I expected.
Park at the boat ramp, walk the final 100 yards north, and find the monument on the east bank Snake River.