Eagle Island State Park in Idaho

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Eagle Island State Park is one of our favorite places to hang out in the the summer, and if you are looking for a great place in Eagle, Idaho to have a good time, this is it! The park is nestled along the Boise River just 8 miles outside of Idaho’s capital city, Boise, Idaho.

Eagle Island State Park in Idaho

Day-use state parks are a great way to fit in some time in the great outdoors without the planning and packing that you need for camping, plus they are perfect for little staycation getaways when you can’t fit in a “real” vacation. This day-use recreational park offers something for the entire family including a popular swimming beach, a grassy picnic area, miles of trails, a fabulous winter tubing hill, zip lines and a lot more!

Hanging Out at Eagle Island State Park

Even better, entrance to Eagle Island State Park is just $5.00 per vehicle; however, Idaho now offers Idaho residents the opportunity to purchase an Idaho State Parks Passport. This passport can be purchased at the time of vehicle registration and costs $10. It is a sticker that goes on your vehicle windshield and allows for unlimited day-use access to every Idaho State Park.

That little pass has saved us so much money and means that we can stop by Eagle Island State Park for free, anytime we want and we have definitely taken advantage of that this summer!

We enjoy meeting up with friends for playdates and outings and because the park offers wonderful restrooms and eating facilities, it’s truly a great getaway for all ages and oh-my-goodness just look at this view:

With just a small entrance fee (or a State Park passport as mentioned above) Eagle Island State Park is the perfect day destination for families with kids of all ages. Easy access in summer and winter months makes this 545-acre park the perfect place to spend time recreating with family, friends, sports teams or a youth group – as there is so much to do!

Let me tell you – this place is pretty fancy, even for a State Park! The restrooms are large and very well kept. The nice and very clean amenities make it so easy to change clothing and take bathroom breaks, which the beautiful and well tended picnic areas are perfect for enjoying a packed picnic or snacks.

Our favorite thing to do is to find an area on the beach and make that our home base for the day, and then everyone kind of enjoys all of the different things that the park has to offer. I also love that you can easily get out of the direct sun as there are plenty of trees for shade and coverage.

The little kids love to play in the sand and wade in the water. You can bring your own non-motorized boats and floats or paddle boards and I appreciate the fact that they have a barrier set up to keep anyone from venturing out too far. They even have air hoses for filling up your inflatables, which makes it really easy if you are bringing water toys. If you don’t have you own, they also offer paddle board rentals as well.

The Eagle Island park staff is super friendly and helpful too.

Even though this is a very popular hangout, it never feels crazy like a Florida beach to me. Maybe it’s just the laid back nature of Idahoans or maybe it’s because there is so much room, but even when the parking lot is full, it still feels like there is enough room for everyone to enjoy their own piece of property.

This day was probably less crowded than most, and I think that was due to the fact that the water slide wasn’t running yet, but even when it is, I haven’t found it to be too crowded, especially during the weekdays.

 

Another nice feature of this park is that they offer life jackets for free use and they have a very nice selection of sizes. It is these types of well thought out amenities that make this park so enjoyable, as they really have thought of everything.

 

One of our favorite things about Eagle Island State Park is that we can meet up with the cousins on a moment’s notice for some good old fashioned fun in the sun. It sure beats watching television or playing video games and nothing is better for the soul than some time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors!

When the kids need a break from the water, they can spend some time on the playground equipment, walk the trails and they also love to go down the water slide. Another perk to the park is that a day pass for the water slide (unlimited rides) is only $12.00 per day (other options are $1.00 for one ride and $8.00 for ten rides).

 

Eagle Island State Park also offers a 9-hole disc golf course. My son and I love to challenge each other and again, it’s a fun and free activity that gives us quality time together.

For even more adventures types, Eagle Island State Park also has a zip line. It is only open at certain times, but it’s a hit with those that enjoy a thrill and from what I’m told, the view along the zip line is really fantastic. Prices for the zip line adventures start at just $34 per person.

A Sportsman’s Access area along the river offers excellent fishing opportunities and as an Idaho fisherwoman myself, I can tell you, there is nothing better than an afternoon spent throwing a line into the beautiful Boise River.

I sure do love my Idaho and as you can see, this State Park is one that is definitely one worth putting on your bucket list for any travels through Idaho!

 

Idaho is home to thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, lakes for swimming and fishing, mountains and dunes to climb, 18 ski areas for winter and summer fun and more whitewater than any other state in the lower 48. Our state parks are in the center of it all, offering a variety of terrain, activities, camping options and scenic beauty. So take a break and come out to play.

Visit www.visitidaho.org for more information and vacation ideas.

Visit Park Ranger John for more State Park information including a wonderful guide to Custer State Park. And make sure to check out my other travel adventures for more travel inspiration including information about Hell’s Canyon White Water Rafting excursions and more!