About Us

SWIMBA was formed in 1992 to promote the responsible, shared-use of trails, maintain and grow the trail system in the Boise front, and encourage the purchase of open space and trail easements to expand the trails system.

Over the last 19 years, SWIMBA has accomplished those goals and taken mountain biking advocacy to the next level by:

  • Investing funds for new trail construction. Money talks! SWIMBA recently provided over $18,000 in direct funding for trail construction in the Boise Foothills, including Watchman, Fat Tire Connector, Seaman’s Gulch, Rock Island and Shafer Butte trails.
  • Educating riders about proper trail etiquette. This work is crucial to our future! We work with Ridge to Rivers and other agencies to develop signage and other printed materials for promoting proper trail etiquette. Educational materials are publicized through the SWIMBA web site, Public Service Announcements, media appearances and direct contact with riders and hikers in the foothills. SWIMBA has provided more than $3,000 for trail signs and literature promoting responsible trail use. You can see the signs on the edge of popular trails.
  • Building new trails. SWIMBA’s trail crew rocks! Volunteers have donated more than 6,000 hours of time to build and maintain trails in the Ridge to Rivers system. The latest trail projects include the new Mahalo Trail on the Boise Ridge near Bogus Basin, several trails in Avimor next to Idaho Highway 55, and the Eastside Trail in the Shafer Butte trails system.
  • Mountain bike instruction. Working with Boise Parks & Recreation, the SWIMBA Bike School (formerly Sprockids) has graduated more than 1,000 children and adults.
  • Hosting super-cool events like Tour de Fat, the Fat Tire Festival and the Bike Bash to raise funds for trails and provide social gatherings for the mountain bike community
  • Leading low-key, no-drop mountain bike rides to show new mountain bikers some of our favorite trails and inform folks about the many ways they can participate in SWIMBA activities.
  • Playing a key leadership role in the Boise Foothills Open Space Campaign in 2000-2001. The Boise community voted yes to raising $10 million for the preservation of open space, wildlife habitat and recreation trails. SWIMBA put its heart and soul into the campaign, knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Many miles of new trails have resulted from open space acquisition.
  • Continued investing in open space by providing $20,000 to the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley Land Trust to purchase a key piece of property in Harrison Hallow that preserves open space and trail access to the Harrison Hallow to Hillside Junior High trail system.

Current SWIMBA Board Members

SWIMBA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization