A BOISE RUNNING RACES EVENT | 2027 DATE COMING SOON | MILITARY RESERVE, BOISE
Foothills XC12K
12K ★ 5K
It’s a small cross-country race on the Military Reserve trails, with downtown Boise behind you on the climb and a raffle waiting at the finish, and you can RUN or HIKE either distance.
WHY WE LOVE THIS MORNING
Cross-country in the Foothills.
The Bogus Basin Nordic Team founded this race, and we’ve been proud to carry it forward with them since it joined Boise Running in 2024. It’s a small, neighborly morning on the Military Reserve trails, where ski team juniors line up beside parents running with their kids and the hikers in the back are in no hurry at all. In 2025, one runner did the whole course in a navy suit and tie, which tells you most of what you need to know about the mood out there. Every entry goes to the Bogus Basin Nordic Team, and the morning ends with awards and a raffle that everyone sticks around for.
DATE
We’ll share the 2027 date here soon. The 2026 race was Saturday, August 22.
START AND FINISH
Fort Boise Park, Military Reserve Trail System, for both distances
START TIME
8:00 AM for the 12K and 5K in 2026
RUN OR HIKE
Both distances welcome hikers.
CUTOFF
11:00 AM for both distances
WHERE IT GOES
Race proceeds go to the Bogus Basin Nordic Team.
The skyline shows up on the climb.
When you crest the big hill and look back, downtown Boise is sitting right there in the August haze. It’s the view this race is known for, and it’s worth the climb.
Hikers have always been part of this race.
You can HIKE either distance, and plenty of people do. Bring a pack, take your time, and finish with your arms up.
Your entry goes to the Bogus Basin Nordic Team.
The team that started the XC12K still gets every dollar of race proceeds. That money supports the development of Nordic skiing in the Treasure Valley.
THE COURSES
Gold grass, singletrack, and the city over your shoulder.
Both races start and finish at the same spot in Fort Boise Park and head out onto the Military Reserve trail system. By race morning the cheatgrass on both sides of the trail has dried to gold, and the climb gives you a long look back at downtown. Then the trail brings you back to where you started, which is exactly where the awards and the raffle happen. We love these trails, so if they’re wet, we may change the course or the race date to protect them.
12K
Starts at 8:00 AM. View the 12K map.
5K
Starts at 8:00 AM. View the 5K map.
These are the 2026 course maps, and you can also see both maps on one page. We’ll share the 2027 maps here as soon as the courses are final.
RACE WEEK
From packet pickup to the raffle.
The XC12K starts a few days early at our Fleet Feet stores and ends with a raffle at the trailhead. Here is what race week looked like in 2026, and we’ll confirm every 2027 time in race week emails.
Race week packet pickup
We STRONGLY encourage you to grab your packet before race day. In 2026, we were at Fleet Feet Meridian on Tuesday, Fleet Feet Boise on Wednesday, and Fleet Feet Nampa on Thursday, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM each day.
Race morning parking
The start area gets crowded, so we recommend parking near the Fort Boise Community Center and walking over.
Race morning
6:30 AM: Limited race day packet pickup opens and runs until 7:30 AM for anyone who couldn’t make it to a store.
8:00 AM: The 12K and 5K head out together.
9:45 AM: We hand out the cash awards, including King of the Mountain, at the finish.
10:00 AM: The raffle starts, and it’s drawn by bib number, so every finisher has a shot. This is our favorite part of the morning, and it’s a good reason to stay and cheer in the hikers.
11:00 AM: The course closes for both distances.
BOGUS BASIN NORDIC TEAM
This race started with the ski team.
The Bogus Basin Nordic Team is a nonprofit that inspires, engages, and develops cross-country skiers and biathletes of all ages and abilities. They founded the XC12K, and when the race moved to Boise Running in 2024, we kept them at the center of it. Race proceeds are donated to BBNT to support the development of Nordic skiing in the Treasure Valley.
AWARDS AND RAFFLE
Cash for the fast ones, and a raffle for everyone. In 2026, the 12K paid $50 to the first-place finisher in each division (male, female, and non-binary), and another $50 to the King of the Mountain in each division. We don’t give official age group awards. Instead, we put that energy into a generous raffle after the race, and because it’s drawn by bib number, the hiker in the back has the same odds as the winner.
VOLUNTEER
The race doesn’t happen without volunteers.
We need help at the start line, out on the trails, and at the finish, and we would love to have you out there with us. If you’re part of an organization or a cause you care about, our Boise Running GIVEBACK program donates $25 per volunteer back to the organization of your choice. Sign up to volunteer, or email info@boiserunning.com to learn more.
QUESTIONS
What people ask us before the XC12K.
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Yes. You can RUN or HIKE either race, and the cutoff is 11:00 AM for both distances.
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We’re setting the 2027 date now, and we’ll post it here as soon as it’s final. Join the Early Access List and you’ll be the first to know when registration opens.
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If the trails are wet, we may change the course or the race date to protect them. If that happens, we’ll email every registered runner.
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We don’t give official age group awards. The 12K pays cash to the top finisher and the King of the Mountain in each division, and everyone else gets a shot at the raffle by bib number.
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The start area can get congested, so we recommend parking near the Fort Boise Community Center and walking to the start and finish.
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Visit our FAQ page or email info@boiserunning.com.
2027 DATE COMING SOON | MILITARY RESERVE
We’ll see you in the Foothills.
Spots are limited every year, and the Early Access List is the best way to make sure you’re on the start line. Join it and you’ll hear the moment 2027 registration opens on RunSignup, and early signups always get the best price. We can’t wait to look back at that skyline with you again.
PARTNERS
The Foothills XC12K is produced with the Bogus Basin Nordic Team and supported by Fleet Feet Treasure Valley. We’ll share our 2027 sponsors here as they come on board.