New to backpacking? We have some awesome ways coming up for you to learn the basics! This year we are excited to kick off our Backpacking 101 series. We'll be hosting webinars, in-person events, and trail projects to teach you how to feel comfortable, be safe, and respect the land while backpacking. Click on each event below to learn more information and sign up. There is limited space ... Read More

On February 8, 2022, we were shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of John Platt. John was one of the leaders of the Idaho Trails Association. He served on our Board of Directors, volunteered to lead many of our trail crews, was a valued teacher, and became a cherished friend. John made everyone feel a part of "the crew", sharing his skills and love for the ... Read More

About Tom Tom’s been fortunate to hike and climb in some of the most beautiful places in the world, especially right here in Idaho. To help others enjoy outdoor adventures, he’s led hundreds of hiking and climbing trips and served as an instructor for classes in rock, snow, and ice climbing, wilderness first aid, leadership, backpacking, wilderness survival, and avalanche avoidance. Tom has served as an officer or ... Read More

By Jeff Halligan Clem Pope passed away on February 2, 2022.  He led a life of true adventures, friendship, laughter and love and was a great and caring friend, brother, father, and partner to Diane. Clem leaves behind a huge number of friends and acquaintances throughout the world and will be missed by so many.     Clem’s legacy He dedicated his life to the preservation of Wilderness, the bigger the ... Read More

Did you miss our webinar about reducing waste in the backcountry? You can watch the recorded presentation here! We welcomed Ana Lucía, a thru-hiker who completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021, to share her zero waste journey with us. Her presentation included a lot of awesome recommendations for brands and resources she found helpful and she generously shared her list of links with us below! Huge thanks to ... Read More

John serves as Treasurer on ITA's Board of Directors. He is originally from rural northern Idaho and appreciates the region’s dark forests, abundant water and fluid weather. Since moving to Boise 26 years ago, he has enjoyed southern Idaho’s blue skies and year round outdoor recreational opportunities. If he is not hiking, floating or skiing, he is on one of his mountain bikes riding in the Boise foothills or neighboring ... Read More

We are excited to introduce to you Alex Cravener, the newest member of our staff joining us as ITA’s Trail Projects Director! Alex will soon be working with volunteers and coordinating all things related to our trail projects. Alex grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and has been living in Boise the last 5 years. Her love for everything outdoors started in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she went to Northern Arizona University ... Read More

Today I am thankful for you- our volunteers and members. I can see snow outside my window and, since trail folks are always thinking about trails, my mind wanders to my favorite wild places and how most Idaho trails must be blanketed in white by now. Here at ITA, if we aren't working on trails we are planning to work on them, and that's what November through March is all ... Read More

By Hobie Swan, ITA communications and trail crew volunteer The holiday season is upon us, and among the many things we at ITA are thankful for is our volunteers! We’d like to introduce you to two of them—one of our oldest, and one of our youngest.  Meet Bruce Shaffer. Bruce is 83 years old and has been working on ITA trail crews since our organization was founded back in 2010. ... Read More

By Liz Bridges, ITA Advisory Board Member and Youth Trail Program Cook Wilding, grubbing in the dirt, trail crew, fun…however you want to describe them, ITA’s Youth Trail Crews are all that and more. The first Youth Trail Crew took place along the banks of Big Creek in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in the summer of 2019, combining teens from Council – familiar with ranching, hunting, fishing and the best ... Read More