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Outdoor Recreation
SWAN FALLS
Swan Falls is on the Snake River about 19 miles from Kuna and 40 miles south of Boise. It was built in 1901 to provide electricity to nearby mines. Swan Falls is the oldest hydroelectric generating site on the Snake River. Idaho Power built a new power plant in the mid-1990s and the old plant is not a museum.
Swan Falls area is a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts offering fishing, rafting, boating, mountain biking, upland game bird and waterfowl hunting, geocaching, camping, and picnicking.
INDIAN CREEK
One of the most favorite things for people to do in the summer is to float Indian Creek in Kuna. If you've never been down it, you are definitely in for a ride! Don't let the work "creek" fool you...although there is some fun relaxing floating, there are also quite a few rapids that will get your adrenal going. The water can get deep in some areas so if you fall off your tube, be prepared to swim. Many people float it from Strobel Road to one of many destinations.
DEDICATION POINT OVERLOOK
Crags and crevices, the deep canyon of the Snake River, thermal updrafts, and a broad plateau rich in small wildlife provide habitat for one of the greatest concentrations of nesting raptors in the US. Experience a place where water, rock, and wind together produce a place like no other for wildlife. Protection of this area recognizes its outstanding values and acknowledges that nature's well-being and the future of humans are inextricably linked. Dedication Point provides opportunities for visitors to see this remarkable landscape up close. Dedication Point overlook provides a great spot to view the area's famous birds of prey. From the canyon rim overlook, 400 feet above the Snake River, watch for seasonal raptors, canyon and rock wrens, Say's phoebe, cliff swallows, white-throated swifts, common ravens and rock doves. Sage, Lark, and Brewer's sparrows and western meadowlarks can also be seen in the shrubs along the trail. Facilities at Dedication Point include: a graveled vehicle parking, two pit toilets, a covered cabana for education programs, and a 1/4 mile gravel trail with interpretive signs leading to the overlook. For more information, visit the Bureau of Land Management page.
BLACK'S CREEK PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE
Black's Creek Public Shooting Range, located East of Kuna, is the largest and most visited range in Idaho, providing a safe place to shoot for more than 7,000 hunters and sport shooters each year. With 46 shooting benches, the main range accommodates shooting distances from 25 to 200 yards. There are no restrictions on the number of firearms a person may use on the range during a shooting session. BCR does not provide gun rentals or ammunition sales. Both the range and the on-site restrooms are accessible to physically-challenged shooters. See an aerial view of the facilities at Black's Creek.
FALCON CREST GOLF COURSE
Falcon Crest Golf Club features twenty seven holes of championship golf and a nine hole executive course. We have Idaho's premier practice facility and three different courses to test your skills and expand your game. Come enjoy our stunning views and inspiring landscapes. Only 7 miles south of the Eagle/Overland Exit off of Cloverdale Road This massive 36 hole golf complex is sure to make it to the top of your list.
Fun Fact:
Falcon Crest is one of the top 5 courses in the State of Idaho.
WESTERN HERITAGE HISTORIC BYWAY
Offering a panoramic, breathtaking view of the Owyhee Mountains, the Western Heritage Historic Byway encompasses vast sagebrush lands and canyon rims of the Snake River. Birds of prey are often spotted in this area, but the best time to spot them soaring through the skies is March to late June. Attractions include the Kuna Visitor Center; Silver Trail at Indian Creek; Pioneer Cemetery; Initial Point; Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area; Dedication Point; Snake River Canyon Rim, Swan Falls Dam Historic Powerhouse and Museum, Celebration Park, Owyhee County Museum.
Fun Fact:
The Western Heritage Historic Byway is only one of four byways in the state that has been recognized as a national scenic byway.
WILLOWS EDGE FARMS
Willows Edge Farm is a diversified, micro farm in Kuna, Idaho. The priority of the farm is based in education. If you are looking to buy a Norwegian Fjord horse or if you are looking into local, sustainable farming or an educational camp for your kids for the summer, then Willows Edge is for you. They are a small farm that loves to educate others in what they do. While you are there, you will certainly fall in love with the majesty of the Norwegian Fjord horses at Willows Edge Farm. If you've never met Norwegian Fjord horses before, be warned....they can become very addictive! Their warm, sweet personalities will charm you & their big, soft, puppy dog eyes will melt your heart.
SNAKE RIVER CANYON OVERLOOK
The Snake River begins its thousand mile journey to the Columbia River in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Volcanic activity dating back about 17 million years ago created the canyon. About 15,000 years ago a natural dam on Lake Bonneville, a glacial lake larger in size than today's Lake Michigan, failed releasing a torrent of water that reshaped the entire canyon. The Canyon River Trail, a 12-mile hiking trail between Swan Falls Dam and Celebration Park follows the Snake River.
CELEBRATION PARK
Celebration Park is Idaho's first archeological park. Ancient peoples along with recent Native and Euro-Americans created petroglyphs that date between 100 and 10,000 years old. The park's trails weave among large boulders deposited by the Bonneville flood, the second largest flood in geologic history. The historic Guffey Railroad Bridge, built in 1897, has been revamped into a walking bridge providing access to the south side of the Snake River. While the bridge is undoubtedly the most striking feature of the Guffey Railroad Bridge Trail, the natural surface path continues east along the Snake River to a trailhead near Celebration Park's Visitor Center. Three fishing access points can be found along this stretch. Back at park headquarters, visitors may want to hike the Petroglyphs Trail, which explores the park's ancient rock engravings. The park has a visitor center, campground, and boat launch. View the trail map.
Fun Fact:
The Guffey Bridge was initially built to aide mining operations. Native-American petroglyphs are scratched into river rock.
INITIAL POINT
Initial Point is a small volcanic remnant that rises roughly 350 feet out of the Snake River Plain eight miles south of Kuna, Idaho. The butte is famous because it was the starting point for the first government survey of Idaho, thus, the name "Initial Point." The first survey was under the direction of Lafayette Cartee. While this volcanic butte is not very impressive today, geologist believe that 1.3 million years ago lava pouring from it was sufficient to dam up the Snake River and change its course.
Follow Swan Falls Road south from Kuna for roughly 7.8 miles until you see the BLM sign pointing you to the very obvious butte. A gravel and then 4WD road leads to its summit where you will find an observation deck and survey marker. To make the ascent a little more sporting, park and ride your mountain bike 1.25 miles to the top!
Fun Fact:
Initial Point served as the starting point for mapping out Idaho's boundaries. Every point in Idaho is referenced back to Initial Point.
KUNA CAVES
Did you know that there used to be volcanic action around this area, long ago? It's true, and Kuna Caves are still here to prove it. Some say that in the past, this cave, along with other caves along a lava tube, used to run underground from a little South of Kuna Cave Road, all the way to the Snake River. Some even believe that old nomadic Indian tribes may have used these lava tubes to get to the Snake River underground, but no one has been able to verify this claim. The Kuna Caves are a large part of Kuna's heritage.
SNAKE RIVER BIRDS OF PREY NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA) was established by Congress in 1993 to protect a unique desert environment that supports North America's highest density of nesting raptors. More than 700 pairs of raptors nest each spring along 81 miles of the Snake River Canyon, including 150-200 pairs of Prairie Falcons (highest breeding density in the world). Year-round species include Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Chukar, California Quail, Northern Bobwhite, Common Nighthawk, gulls, and terns.
In addition to outstanding bird and wildlife viewing, visitors may ride on horseback, hike, hunt, mountain bike, picnic and camp. The 485,000-acre Birds of Prey area also encompasses these great recreation sites:
- Celebration Park Visitor Center
- Cove Camping
- Dedication Point Overlook
- Halverson Bar Trail System
- Swan Falls Picnic Area
- You can find a map of the entire Conservation Area in the Morley Nelson Visitor Guide. There is even an auto tour map of the Conservation Area on page 28 so you can plan your route.
Raptors are in the Snake River Canyon year-round, but the best time to see them is mid-March through June, when birds are on the nest and the young are learning to fly. For more information, go to the Bureau of Land Management website.
KUNA BUTTE
Kuna Butte is a large volcanic formation located just south of Kuna, Idaho on the west side of the Swan Falls Dam Road. The views from the butte are expansive. This area can see heavy use by dirt bikes and off road vehicles on weekends. As a result, there is an extensive road system on the butte which makes for easy access to the summit area. The roads make good trails for mountain biking and hiking as well.
KUNA GREENBELT AND PARKS
The City of Kuna offers a variety of activities for everyone in the community to enjoy. Some of the activities include a community garden, fishing, picnicking, bike paths and trails, and relaxing. We also have a few places you can rent for anything from birthday parties to weddings. We currently maintain 11 parks, along with some other little areas, that add up to approximately 53 acres.