If the "B" in Boise stands for anything, it's "bike."

As in mountain bike.

We are beyond blessed to be surrounded by so much of nature's wonder. And it's all so diverse, both beautiful and rugged, making Boise an ideal spot for incredible mountain biking.

The Foothills are a haven of routes for riders of all levels, and the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and Boise National Forest are great destinations.

There are lots of websites and apps out there dedicated to finding mountain bike trails in Boise. (You have to hit up Boise Trails.) We've put together a list of our favorites. Just be mindful many of them are multiuse trails so watch out for hikers, horses and dogs.

Table Rock

Quarry Rock View Park

There are a few reasons this is one of the most heavily trafficked areas for hikers and bikers near Boise. In springtime, it's flush with wildflowers, you can get up to a great view of the city and there are dozens of connector trails where you can find more technical riding. The Table Rock Trail is a 3.7-mile trek that’s a fairly simple down and back route.

Red Cliffs Nature Center Trail

Boise National Forest

Love the view from the top of Red Cliffs! It's pretty much a straight uphill but it isn't ridiculously difficult. The 3-mile loop can be extended by connecting to Hulls or Sidewinder. You really want to try this trail near sunset on an open-sky day. The colors will blow your mind.

Shane's Loop

Military Reserve

This is a fairly easy 3.2-mile ride with not a lot of technical spots and some nice, rolling up-downs. It's a great trail for beginners to try a few berms and turns. It links to Three Bears, Central Ridge, Bucktail and Rocky Canyon Road if you want to get out for a little longer.

Harrison Hollow Loop

Hillside to the Hollow Reserve

There's 59 acres and over 10 miles of trails on the entire reserve and quick ride along the Harrison Hollow will connect you to them. It's an easy ride up to the ridge but this is a super popular area. Watch out for off-leash dogs. Make sure you connect to Who Now, Kempers Ridge and Hippy Shake for a longer ride. Enjoy the wild sunflowers in the summer!

Crestline-Sidewinder

Military Reserve

Let's start looking at some longer rides, shall we? This one is 9.6 miles and starts off in the woods before breaking into an expanse of desert. There are some nice slopes and a few winding spots to test your handling. You can pick up some speed once you hit Sidewinder but be careful not to turn runners and hikers into speed bumps.

Crane Creek-Corrals Loop

Bogus Basin

We're getting to a bit more technical riding now. This 12.7-mile trail starts with some steep sections and plateaus for great views of downtown and the Foothills. It drops into the canyon to this Crane Creek and you'll find some trees for a few cool, shady spots.

Around the Mountain

Bogus Basin

Based on the name, can you figure out where this loop takes you? Ah, you smart cookie, of course it's a loop around Shafer Butte. This is a great 10-mile trek for riders looking for a bit of a challenge. It's a great blend of climbs and drops with a stretch dedicated only to bikes. Morningstar is a treat with no hikers or horseback riders.  There's lots of fun berms and  the views are amazing.

Lucky Peak Loop

Oregon Trail Reserve

This trail is a grind. The first 6 miles are straight uphill for an elevation gain of almost 3,200 feet, and it's made somewhat tougher by the loose dirt on the old mining road. You'll feel like a champ when you're on top of Shaw Mountain looking down on Boise, Bogus Basin, the Boise River and much much more.

The Big Potato

Ridge to Rivers

Here we go. This one is for the serious long-distance rider who wants to stay in the saddle for 41 miles and 6,500 feet of up and down. The Big Potato is a massive loop through the Foothills with lots of technical riding. You'll hit a number of shorter trails, starting on Hard Guy and climbing Mahalo and then making your way all the way to Stack Rock and down Sweet Sweet Coonie. The Big Potato is an amazing way to spend a day. Pack lots of snacks and water because the only place to stop for supplies is Simplot Lodge at Bogus Basin.

Are you tackling the mountain bike trails in Boise?

Did we miss your favorite? Where do you like to grind your tires? Hit us up on our Facebook page and tell us where you like to ride!