Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: walk (13) great (12) time (10) nature (9) sturgeon (8) nice (8) Boise (7) kids (7) fish (6) center (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Daisy C. 9 months ago on Google • 38 reviews
    This was my second visit, and I was once again so happy to have gone! This time, I brought my family from out of town, and everyone of all ages had a great time exploring the place- seeing the fish, crawdads, and especially the giant sturgeon! 😊 It was the perfect trail for our family with toddlers. Be aware that if you do the trail after the visitor center has closes, you have to walk a ways to the nearby park for a restroom!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christl C. 7 months ago on Google • 171 reviews
    It's such a pretty slice of nature in downtown Boise. Great place to get to know our flora and fauna.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda F. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is an Idahome staple. Its a great place to see all kind of wild life. We saw a mama with her two babies this evening. So sweet. The trails and information along the way make it fun for the kiddos.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sara Beth W. 9 months ago on Google • 1019 reviews
    I incorporated this into my morning walk on the greenbelt - and it's such a surprise! There's a boardwalk across a pond and dam, plus paths down "underwater" for some natural viewing tanks. Really cool and a lot more here than I realized! I even came upon a young deer - very close! He wasn't too bothered though.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 BB R. 6 months ago on Google • 72 reviews
    This place is so beautiful! What a slice of heaven, my kids will love this botanical/animal/nature walk. And it's free!!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Adam N. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful walking area, filled with well-kept paths and wildlife zones. It's perfect for an afternoon stroll and would be enjoyable for both kids and adults. Signage next to the animal areas is written in a fun and informative way. If you're in the area and looking for a pleasant walk within the city, this is a great choice.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Angelina R. 3 months ago on Google • 22 reviews New
    I've been going here since I was a kid and always loved it; so when I came back to Idaho for a visit I just had to take my son and show him the beauty that I always loved seeing. My husband and I both being native to Boise and the MK Nature Center were quite disappointed to see how much of the actual nature observatory had been taken over by a parking lot and other man made conveniences to put it politely; this is the only reason I didnt give it 5 stars. We still enjoyed the experience. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very nice place to go and experience the beauty that's there. I recommend going and experiencing it for yourself.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Krystal S. 1 year ago on Google
    My favorite place in Boise! Beautiful area to walk, learn and explore with the kids or by yourself for a peaceful connection with nature.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hailey M. 1 year ago on Google
    Awesome place! I'm so glad someone told us about it so we could stop by while we were visiting Boise. We loved seeing the bees, birds, chipmunks and all the informative displays. We will be back when we are in Boise again!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eve M. 1 year ago on Google
    Always a nice get away from the chaos of daily living... Love the deer, heron, and other wildlife. Staff is top notch 🥰
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nathan D. 1 year ago on Google
    This was a great experience for elementary age kids. There were so many spots to see local wildlife! Would highly recommend for a morning excursion.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jessica D. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this nature walk! I have a two year old and we get so cooped up inside in the winter but bundling up and walking around to check out the fish and birds is great!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa G. 1 year ago on Google • 209 reviews
    We love coming to this place any time of year!!! Donations are welcome. If you never been inside the little building it's worth going in once. But you can just walk outside without checking in and see all the cool fish!!! Even the stergon are so cool when they swim about!! We got to see 5 deer last time!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cris M. 7 months ago on Google • 511 reviews
    Beautiful, well kept nature center. Definitely worth the time. There is also a nice big park here with a playground and outdoor bbq, so bring something to grill. Nice family day out for no cost.

  • 5/5 Brad H. 1 year ago on Google
    The grounds are well kept, even got within a few feet of a doe, while she grazed. Cool place!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rachel L. 2 years ago on Google
    The MK Nature Center was such a fun experience for my daughter and niece. I couldn’t believe it was nestled between a construction site and an apartment complex. It’s a nice little FREE outing for littles❤️
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jamie G. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful little nature center! Lots to explore with easy to walk trails. Stroller friendly for the most part! Backs up to the green belt with easy access to the park outside.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeanette R. 1 year ago on Google • 367 reviews
    The weather was warm but not hot and so the walk was very pleasant and, for the most part, shaded by the mature trees. Interesting to search for the sturgeon and the trout. Educational while being fun. Very nicely arranged with places to stop and look at information, or underwater, or at a beautiful mosaic.

  • 5/5 Mark C. 4 months ago on Google • 360 reviews
    Free of admission. Very educational, the MK NC helps children closer to the nature.

  • 5/5 Mark G. 2 months ago on Google • 140 reviews New
    Very helpful and informative. Great place to visit.

  • 5/5 John W. 1 month ago on Google • 64 reviews New
    Great everyday, once in awhile, it doesn't matter. If you live in Boise, you are just drawn to it. Its the most peaceful place in the area.

  • 5/5 Mike B. 1 month ago on Google • 55 reviews New
    A slice of the great outdoors practically downtown Boise. Interesting exhibits, wildlife, Sturgeon!. Always a fun and relaxing experience.

  • 5/5 Natasha M. 6 months ago on Google • 50 reviews
    Love it never been here before very nice my girls just loved walking around and seeing some of the animals like the fish. All my kiddo kept talking about is wanting to see a sturgeon lol not sure if they have them there or not. Nice outing for family . As always remember what you pack in you pack out.

  • 5/5 Jessica C. 9 months ago on Google
    I didn't realize how big this place was! There is a very interesting indoor center with taxidermy native animals, and lots of information on local wildlife and plants. The outdoor walk about is very informative and fun for all ages. Very peaceful and well-maintained. We went for my child's field trip and they all loved it.

  • 5/5 Ben S. 9 months ago on Google
    I'm an avid outdoors person. This education center was one of the better ones I've visited. Highly recommend for kids.

  • 5/5 Rob H. 10 months ago on Google
    Great free experience, especially for children. My daughter loves walking through here when we are riding by on the Greenbelt.

  • 5/5 Michael T. 11 months ago on Google
    Where can you take and entertain a group of 100 12 year-olds for an hour? Why, the MK Nature center of course! Set them on a scavenger hunt to find and document many of the unique offerings you might find within its boundaries. Everyone will leave more knowledgeable and satisfied than when they arrived!

  • 5/5 Terri H. 1 year ago on Google
    This was the first time we visited this park there wasn't a lot of animals to see I'm assuming that's because of the time of year however it was nice just to walk through and look at things the big eagles nest the kids really enjoyed they have waterfalls butterfly trails lots of interesting things to look at.

  • 5/5 Heidi G. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a cool place! I remember coming here when I was a kid, and it's even better than it used to be. Take time to watch for the sturgeon on the sturgeon pond! We saw two. It's a great place to bring the whole family!

  • 5/5 Johnny M. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is great and I mean that literally I love this place I never get tired of it seeing that 200 lb 30 year old sturgeon never gets old he is a big boy they always have nice exhibits this time they had a beaver end Falcon exhibits I take Syler (Service Dog) with me which is great he luvs it and has a ball looking at the fish through the glass oh, he tries to get them LOL which is a treat to watch. The people that volunteer quote" or work there more than Isis helpful considerate people that you'll ever meet. Thanks to whoever helps keep this place kept up.

  • 5/5 David H. 6 months ago on Google
    We just went on the nautre trail and it is great place to go for an afternoon stroll, has a ton of shade if it's a hot/warmer day. The sturgeon pond is really cool and there is a few view areas for salmon and crayfish. The trails are very kid friendly and one of them goes over the sturgeon pond which is pretty cool. Walking at a slow pace with a few stops here and there to look at stuff I would say it took about 2 hrs total to go through everything, but we were definitely taking our time. Over all I would definitely recommend it if you want to get a decent nature walk in or want something fun and outdoors to do with your kid/kids for a bit.

  • 5/5 Joe M. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place for pictures and a stroll, many ducks and squirrels plus birds

  • 5/5 puppy n. 2 years ago on Google
    A very great place to go for a walk. Great park, a little shaggy, but the natural beauty of it is so nice. Also a little loud right now due to construction. Home to some great animals and fish.


Call (208) 334-2225 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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