10 Best Locations in Boise, Idaho for Your Fall Family Photo Shoot

Boise, Idaho has some of the best fall photo shoot locations in the US! After all, Boise is know as the “City of Trees”. In this post you will find my 10 best locations in Boise, Idaho for your fall family photo shoot.

As a family, couple, and wedding photographer in Boise, Idaho, I have explored A LOT of different locations around the Boise, Idaho area. I love finding new places to photograph and I feel like I’m always adding to my list of location ideas.

I love to photograph families and couples in the fall. The weather is cooler and the leaves are showing off their colors! This post can give you ideas of what locations near Boise, Idaho you would like to choose for your fall family photo shoot.

Why Choosing a Fall Location is so Important

Next to your wardrobe choices, the location of your fall photoshoot session will greatly influence the look and feel of your photos. Not sure about what to wear to your photo shoot? Please read my blog post here on how to choose your outfits and prep for your session.

FAQ: When is the best time in fall to book a photo shoot session?

Timing of the Leaves

The timing of leaf color changes really depends on the weather and the moisture we receive. As the days get shorter and the cool nights grow longer, the biochemical processes in the trees begin to change the landscape into nature’s autumn palette of red, yellow, and orange hues.

Continuous warm, sunny days and cool nights (but not freezing) seems to bring out the best colors in the leaves. Some years we can have a cold snap that happens early on that causes the leaves to turn colors earlier in October. Other years, it can be the total opposite! Last year (2022) was a late fall. We enjoyed lots of warmer days so the leaves didn’t turn till late October. No two autumns can be exactly the same. You can read more here about the science of it all!

My Recommendation

I recommend mid to late October or early November is the best time to see the beautiful fall foliage around the Boise area. Just keep in mind that fall time is a gamble! We can have nice warm days (high in the 70’s) or very cold and windy days. Rest assured, I always try to scout out the locations ahead of time and help pick the best one for your family and situation.

If you have small children please read: The later your book your session in fall, the colder the overall temperature will get. If you have a baby or small children, please consider booking your session in early fall (Sept or early Oct) so you will have warmer temperatures. Little ones do not last very long in temperatures colder than 50 degrees (especially if they are wearing their cute fall outfits instead of warm jackets and gloves).

Time of the Day for Your Photo Shoot to Start

Generally all photo shoots will be scheduled for the late afternoon or evening, about 1-2 hours before the sun sets. If your photo shoot session has cloud cover, or natural shade (tree cover), then it will be scheduled around 2 hours before sunset. If it’s a bright sunny day and your session is in the Boise foothills, it will be scheduled about 1 hour before sunset.

September sunset: 8 (early Sept) to 7:30 PM (late Sept). Sessions start around 6 PM.

October sunset: 7:25 PM (early Oct) to 6:30 PM (late Oct). Sessions start around 5 PM.

November sunset: (Before daylight savings ends) 6:30 PM. Sessions starts around 5 PM.

After daylight savings ends the sunsets an hours earlier at 5:30 PM: Sessions start around 4 PM.

You can schedule your session at sunrise, which is a great option for those that have young children that get cranky in the evening. AM sessions will be scheduled about 30 min before sunrise or at sunrise, depending on the cloud cover.

FAQ: Do I choose the location? Or does the photographer?

Both of us will come to an agreement on the location. I usually have a pretty good idea of what the location is currently looking like and will help you choose the best location for your photo shoot.

This blog post of my 10 best locations for fall are just suggestions! The choice of location is not limited to these examples. I always have an ongoing list of location ideas, some of which I’ve always wanted to try that are not listed here. If you are open to suggestions and/or an adventure, please let me know!

1. Military Reserve

The Military Reserve is located close to downtown Boise. This is definitely one of my “go-to” places! The Reserve is a very popular and crowded place come fall- for good reason! It has so many great spots for fall foliage.

2. Boise Foothills

The Boise Foothills is a great option the the fall if you want long grass and the sunset in the background.

I love the foothills because 1) it is always beautiful no matter what time of year 2) It is not crowded! We will probably have the whole place to ourselves! This is a great option if you have children that might need a more quiet spot for the photo shoot.

3. Reid Merrill Park, Eagle

Reid Merrill Park might be one of my top favorite places for fall photo shoots! I love the trees, bridge, and a beautiful river in the background. What more can you ask for? But you guessed right…it will also be very crowded during the fall. So be prepared to see a LOT of other photographers working their magic in practically every corner of the park. 😉

4. Boise River in Eagle

The Boise River in Eagle is another “go-to” favorite spot of mine. The exposed rocks act as a natural reflector, which makes the changing leaves in the background pop with fall colors! This spot is also very easy to get to from the parking lot.

5. Boise River in Eagle- Trees

The Boise river in Eagle has two great spots, this one being in the trees. The best time of the day for this location is in the evening. If you love trees and water- this would make the perfect spot for your family photo shoot session!

6. Hulls Gulch

Hulls Gulch is located near downtown Boise. If you have small children, I highly recommend considering a sunrise morning session at Hulls Gulch! There are two great spots at this location. The first one shown in the example below is in the trees. The other spot is down the road and features long grass and some fall leaves in the background.

7. Bogus Basin

Bogus Basin is a great location for earlier in the fall, unless you want to play in the snow! My favorite things about Bogus Basin are the rocks and the pine trees in the background.

Majority of these examples are locations that are at the top of Bogus Basin (near the main lodge). The road up there is known to have lots of turns, and is quite a winding drive, so it is not recommended for anyone that is prone to car-sickness.

8. Eagle Island State Park

If you don’t have an Idaho State Parks Pass (it’s just $10 per car, per year), there is a fee to enter Eagle Island State Park. The background of the old buildings and trees makes this a really cool, unique location.

9. Idaho State Capitol

Idaho State Capitol is a great spot for an urban vibe!

10. Downtown Boise Rooftop

Fall foliage not your thing this year? This is another great spot for an urban vibe in your photos! Best for “mini” sessions (30 min or less) since this is an active parking lot. Additional parking fees do apply.

I hope you enjoyed these 10 best locations in Boise for your fall family photo shoot! Book your session today here!