Outdoor Recreation and Gardening in Caldwell, ID (Boise, Nampa: ski resort, camping)

[Skyblues]

My family may be moving to Caldwell, ID for business. Currently, we live live in Logan, UT. We LOVE the outdoor recreation here in Cache Valley (hiking, camping, etc.). We also love to garden. I don't know much about Caldwell. From pictures, it looks pretty flat and desert-like. Is that true? I'm from Utah, so I understand that we aren't in Seattle. However, I'd like to be where there are trees and mountains. Are there mountains and recreational opportunities nearby (20 minute drive)? Also, Logan's growing season is not great. I know that Caldwell is warmer, so I'd assume at least 150-160 days of gardening. Can anyone enlighten me on gardening in Caldwell? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[benchfan]

Gardening in Caldwell is going to be like anywhere else in the valley (Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Eagle). We are Zone 6 (maps show a little pocket of zone 7 around Nampa) which is similar to Logan--looks like we're a tiny bit warmer here. I think Caldwell is technically a little colder than Boise, but still in Zone 6. We have cold winters, hot summers, and a growing season that goes from around May to September.

As for outdoor recreation, Caldwell is not situated to take advantage of the outdoors like Boise or Eagle. In our valley, the mountains are to the north/northeast. Access to skiing is through Boise up Bogus Basin Road to the Bogus Basin ski resort about 30 minutes from town. It would take about 45 EXTRA minutes to get there from Caldwell. Same for accessing highway 55 to go to Garden Valley, Cascade/Tamarack, McCall, etc. or to get out highway 21 to boating at Lucky Peak/Spring Shores. Caldwell is about as far from outdoor recreation in our valley as you can get.

If you can live with a commute to Caldwell, I'd recommend living in Boise or Eagle or north Meridian. You'll have a reverse commute so traffic won't be as bad as if you were commuting from Caldwell to Boise. There are some great areas in north Meridian that would allow you to take Chinden Blvd. instead of the freeway into Caldwell, about a 20 minute commute. You'd still have a drive to get into Boise or to the mountains (about 20 minutes), but it would be better than having to drive to those areas from Caldwell.