Nampa: Lakes, Trails and City History

Nampa combines waterscapes, extensive trails and a diverse history. Lakeview Park is Nampa’s oldest park and covers more than 44 acres. It includes the man-made Lake Ethel, which was originally built to store irrigation water from Mason Creek. At Lakeview Water Park, a beach-style entry, water-spray areas and a two-story slide give the water theme a distinctive character.

Water, Nature and Trails for Active Days

Nampa’s municipal park system includes 27 parks and 14 miles of walking paths. Wilson Creek Park has a walking path and access to the Wilson Creek Greenway Trail. Travelers who want to combine nature and exercise in their itinerary will find a range of additional landscapes at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge: The refuge includes the Lake Lowell Unit and the Snake River Islands Unit, a lake of nearly 9,000 acres and more than 10 miles of trails.

Fishing, boating and swimming are possible at Lake Lowell. In the uplands of the refuge, you can hike, watch birds, picnic or admire sunsets; hunting is also one of the listed activities. The Kingfisher Trail follows the wooded shore of Lake Lowell and passes through uplands covered with sagebrush. The dog-friendly Observation Hill Trail is a loop with a viewing platform on Observation Hill. Wildlife observation also includes breeding colonies of Western and Clark’s grebes, as well as gatherings of migrating and wintering mallards and Canada geese.

History and Culture in the City

Historic Downtown Nampa is a well-preserved, highly walkable district centered around Library Square. Seasonal festivals, street fairs, art walks, historic tours, Christmas markets and cultural events take place there. The Nampa Historic District is a commercial historic district and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Its ten buildings represent a brief period of significant commercial development between 1905 and 1920. The Old Nampa Neighborhood Historic District comprises 243 homes; its listing in the National Register of Historic Places was approved by the National Park Service on March 21, 2007.

Nampa also offers opportunities to discover the history of individual institutions. A new passenger depot was completed in September 1903 and now houses the Canyon County Historical Society Museum. The Nampa History Collection features historic photographs, oral history interviews and curated exhibitions about the people, businesses and development of the community. The Warhawk Air Museum was founded to preserve history and educate visitors about American veterans and their contributions to civil liberties. Group, club and educational tours must be arranged there at least two weeks before the scheduled visit.

Shared Experiences for Different Daily Itineraries

Nampa has two StoryWalk® trails: one in Lakeview Park and one in the park at the Harward Recreation Center. StoryWalk® offers reading stations along a walking path approximately half a mile long. The Harward Recreation Center also features a 140,000-square-foot indoor facility with numerous recreational activities open to the public. During the Downtown Nampa Art Walk, the murals in Wall Street Alley feature a scavenger hunt for the whole family.

Depending on when you travel, events can also shape the character of your stay. Approximately 200 artisans participate in the Nampa Festival of the Arts. The Snake River Stampede is the rodeo component of the former Harvest Festival and continues to be held today; the event takes place at Ford Idaho Horse Park. Products at the Nampa Farmer’s Market come from within a 100-mile radius and add a regional perspective to the city and landscape experiences.

The Right Base for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Nampa, you can first decide on your preferred focus. Those who want to combine trails, lakes and nature experiences can include Lakeview Park, Wilson Creek Park or Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in their daily itinerary. For culture-focused days, consider accommodation whose location suits your plans around Historic Downtown, the historic districts and the museums. Families who want to combine short walks with playful discoveries can consider StoryWalk® and the scavenger hunt at the Downtown Nampa Art Walk.

For further trip planning, you can also explore Caldwell and Parma.

For the overarching travel overview: Canyon.