Boise, Idaho Sunrise & Sunset Times

Boise, the capital of Idaho, sits in the broad Treasure Valley along the banks of the Boise River, sheltered by the rolling foothills of the northern Rocky Mountains. The city's famous Boise River Greenbelt — a 25-mile tree-lined path along the riverbank — and the vast sagebrush-covered foothills that rise directly from the city's north edge give Boise a distinctive blend of urban life and wild landscape. The high desert climate brings dry air, abundant sunshine, and four clearly defined seasons.

Around the summer solstice, the sun rises at 06:02 and sets at 21:31, delivering 15 hours 29 minutes of daylight — long, dry days when the foothills turn golden brown and locals float the Boise River in inner tubes or hike to Table Rock for panoramic valley views. During the winter solstice, sunrise shifts to 08:13 and sunset arrives at 17:12, with about 8 hours 59 minutes of daylight. Boise's winters bring temperature inversions that can trap fog and cold air in the valley for days, making the short daylight feel even more precious, though clear days reveal the snow-capped Owyhee Mountains to the south.

Between summer and winter, the difference in sunrise times spans 131 minutes, a significant seasonal swing at Boise's northern latitude. The morning blue hour (05:27 – 06:02) and golden hour (06:02 – 07:02) are perfect for photographing the illuminated Table Rock Cross against a pre-dawn sky, or the Boise River reflecting autumn cottonwoods in warm early light. During the evening golden hour (20:31 – 21:31) through blue hour (21:31 – 22:05), the view from Camel's Back Park looking south across the city toward the Boise Front reveals a wide valley sunset — the sky shifting from gold to deep indigo over the Capitol dome and the old Boise Depot perched on its bluff.