Boise metro, ID relocation guide
Moving to Garden Valley, ID
About Garden Valley
Garden Valley is a mountain recreation community of roughly 350–400 residents (2020 census CDP population 377) in the heart of the Boise National Forest, about an hour north of Boise along SH-55 and the Banks–Lowman corridor. A former logging, mining, and ranching area, it's now a vacation-home and outdoor-recreation town: fishing the Middle Fork Payette River, ATV trails, hot springs (Kirkham, Silver Creek Plunge, Pine Flats), and the Garden Valley golf and airport community. It shares services with neighboring Crouch and draws buyers from Boise who want year-round mountain life, accepting seasonal wildfire smoke and winter driving as the cost of admission.
Home prices in Garden Valley
The median listing price in Garden Valley is $820,000.
Top places in Garden Valley
- Middle Fork Payette River — fishing and rafting.
- Kirkham Hot Springs, Silver Creek Plunge, and Pine Flats Hot Springs — nearby soaking.
- Terrace Lakes Resort and golf.
- Starlight Mountain Theater.
- ATV/UTV and snowmobile trail networks.
- Boise National Forest — year-round hiking, hunting, and backcountry access.
Commuting from Garden Valley
- No rail transit in the Boise metro — commutes are by car; no transit service this far out.
- Garden Valley is about 60 miles northeast of Boise via SH-55 through Banks and the Banks–Lowman Road; the drive to downtown Boise is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes in good conditions.
Schools in Garden Valley
Public schools: Garden Valley School District. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Garden Valley FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Garden Valley, ID?
The median listing price in Garden Valley is $820,000. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot) - How is the commute from Garden Valley, ID?
No rail transit in the Boise metro — commutes are by car; no transit service this far out. - Which school district serves Garden Valley, ID?
Garden Valley is served by Garden Valley School District. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.