Boise Whitewater Park

Idaho might be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean surfers can’t hang ten at a city park. Kayakers and surfers have been flocking to Boise’s Whitewater Park since it opened in 2012.

Here, the city rebuilt an irrigation dam with technology that creates a surfable wave. Powered by a system of pneumatics and hydraulics, the wave is fully adjustable, depending on the river flows.

The dam’s primary purpose is to provide irrigation water, but the recreation component makes this park so popular. Whitewater enthusiasts worldwide come every year to surf this inland wave.

Accessible via the Boise Greenbelt, it is common to see SUP surfers and kayakers practicing their moves on the waves. The Boise Whitewater Park will expand in the coming years to allow for more whitewater features and events.