Official Government Website
Eagle Island State Park
PARK UPDATE
2025 Season:
Campground Update
- Construction is still on-going.
- Reservations cannot be made yet.
- Visitors must be careful, follow the signage, and obey the speed limit.
Sign up for Construction Updates here!
Horse Trailer Access
- The shop road/horse trailer access road is closed and will reopen when construction allows.
- Horse trailers should use the overflow gravel parking lot for now.
Historic Building Renovations
- The park will work on renovating historic buildings.
- Please be mindful of workers in the area.
Dogs Off-Leash Policy
- In mid-2022, Eagle Island State Park enacted a new policy for dogs off-leash.
- There are designated trails and areas for off-leash dogs.
- Dogs must remain under their owner’s demonstrated control.
- Click Here for details.
Park Reservations
Additional Links
A 19-hole disc golf course provides a challenge for players. Check out Eagle Island’s Disc Golf Club, click here!
Construction Began on Eagle Island Campground and Related Park Improvements in Fall 2023. Learn More.
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Contact the Park
Address:
Eagle, ID 83616
Phone:
Hours of Operation:
Upcoming Events
Eagle Island State Park is a 545-acre park west of Boise. Bordered on the north and south by the Boise River, Eagle Island features a swimming beach, grassy picnic area and more than five miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking or walking your dog.
The park is open to only non-motorized boats.
Eagle Island State Park was first purchased by the State in 1929. Prior to that, it was used for agricultural purposes, primarily as grazing land for cattle and hogs. Other agricultural crops have included grain, hay and various vegetable crops. The site was operated as a penitentiary farm until 1977. In 1983, the State developed the site as a park to include a water slide, picnic areas, restrooms, concessions, swimming areas and trails.
Today, the 545-acre park is still predominantly rural in character. Located in the southwest corner of Idaho, it is bordered on the north and south by the Boise River with agricultural land to the east and west. Urban and suburban uses have also developed around the park in recent years with residential neighborhoods north and south across the two channels of the Boise River. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game operates a fish hatchery to the southwest of Eagle Island State Park.
The park is heavily used in the summers by visitors swimming in the lake and using the water slide, picnicking, playing disc golf, walking on the many trails, and engaging in other types of passive, informal recreation. There are also a number of scheduled events at the park, drawing large numbers of visitors to the site. Many groups use the east shelter for weddings, receptions, birthdays and other family events. The rest of the year, the park is currently used for fishing, hiking, and horseback riding.
History Timeline
1929 – State Board of Prisons purchases Eagle Island property for use as a prison honor farm.
1930 – Eagle Island Prison Farm begins operations with 40 trustees. Dairy barns and milking parlor built. Original bunkhouse and dining hall/kitchen is completed.
1949 – Dormitory built by prison labor.
1965 – Idaho State Legislature enacted enabling legislation creating the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR). Slaughter house is built at Eagle Island Prison Farm.
1977 – Idaho Department of Corrections discontinues operation of Eagle Island Honor Farm and turns over the property to the Idaho Department of Lands. Idaho Department of Lands Board votes to set aside Eagle Island property for development as a State Park.
1980 – IDPR Board approves Eagle Island State Park General Development Plan and hires first manager.
June 25, 1983 – Eagle Island State Park is dedicated. Approximately 26 acres developed with waterslide, picnic areas, restrooms, concession building and swimming area.
- Hike
- Bike
- Horse
- ADA Restroom
- Air Compressor
- Charcoal Grills
- Group Picnic Shelter
- Indoor Restrooms
- Life Jacket Loaner Station
- Paddleboard Rental
- Picnic Areas
- Water Fountains
General Accomodations
No accomodations listed.
General Information
There’s so much to do at Eagle Island State Park, including:
- Hike or Bike a Trail. The park has over 5 miles of trails for you to explore. Our trails border part of the South Channel and North Channel of the Boise River or you can explore our trails that run between our farm fields! A map is available for download that shows trails within Eagle Island State Park.
- Bird Watching. Listed as an important bird area by the National Audubon Society, you can potentially see a variety of birds at Eagle Island State Park! The Boise River flows through the park and provides habitat for Wood Ducks, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Blue Heron. Some of the other birds recorded in the park include Osprey, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Swainson’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Black-necked Stilt, Wilson’s Phalarope, Wilson’s Snipe, Killdeer, Great Egret, Sora, Western Kingbird, Black-billed Magpie, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Loggerhead Shrike, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, and Cliff Swallow.
- Paddling/Non-Motorized Water Craft. Enjoy our man-made lake with your non-motorized watercraft. Don’t have one of your own? You can rent one with our concessionaire on site (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- Disc Golf. Eagle Island has a 19-hole disc golf course. Bring your own discs to enjoy this intermediate challenge golf course. Wanna join our club? Club web page found here!
- Horseback Riding. Own horses? Enjoy most of our park by horseback riding! Horses are allowed on over 5 miles of trails except our recreational area. Park at our trailhead parking lot made specifically for horse trailers. We offer tie offs and a mounting ramp for your convenience.
- Fishing. Our man-made lake is stocked with fish throughout the year. You could catch rainbow trout, bass, bluegill or perch. Don’t own a fishing pole or tackle box? Come borrow one from our visitor center with our loaner fishing program! Fishing rules and regulations apply, loaner fishing pole and tackle boxes available during visitor center open hours.
- History. The 546 acres which comprise the total park area were first developed in 1930 to function as an honor farm for 30 to 40 state prison inmates. Various crops and livestock produced on the farm were used for the prison operation. Many of the original farm structures remain, including the dairy barns, slaughterhouse and dormitory building. The farm property was turned over to the Idaho Department of Lands in 1977, and in 1978 the property was transferred to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for a state park. While unable to explore inside the farm structures, you are able to come and walk around the original farm structures and see what they look like!
- Learning. Help your children discover more about the outdoors while learning about our park and making connections to the natural world! Stop by our visitor center to grab a Junior Ranger booklet and complete four of the activities to receive one of our Eagle Island badges! We also offer Gootium backpacks that contain all that you need for a self-guided trek through the park. With binoculars, magnifiers, field guides, and other equipment to enrich your exploration and understanding of nature. Backpacks are only available to loan out during visitor center hours.
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Shelter reservation fee ($25) is non-refundable and included in the cost.
- Credit card payments will be subject to a 3% processing fee.
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Any group exceeding the reservation area or any group needing special considerations must apply for a group use permit (GUP)
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If you are requesting to have more than 100 people you may be denied or required to reserve both the Kestrel and Osprey shelters and apply for a group use permit (GUP).
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All motor vehicles entering the park must pay the $7.00 entrance fee or display a valid Idaho State Parks Passport.
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Amplified music must be contained within the shelter to not disturb other users. Park staff reserves the right to have music turned down and/or off.
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The park closes at sunset.
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Pets must be on a leash at all times and owners are responsible for pet clean up.
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Cleanup of tables and shelter area is the responsibility of the reserving party.
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The person making this reservation is responsible for informing all group members, caterers and rental companies of the above information.
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Parking is on a first come, first served basis. There are no guaranteed parking spots associated with a shelter reservation.
No additional seasonal information provided.
**Current Trail Closures**
Click here to download a map of current trail closures. These are due to construction in the area and will reopen once construction is completed.