BOISE'S ONLY PADDLE + RUN DUATHLON RETURNS AUGUST 22 TO BENEFIT WILD HEARTS IDAHO

BOISE, ID. (July 9, 2026) — Wild Hearts Idaho is gearing up for the Sixth Annual Wild River Dash on Saturday, August 22, at Esther Simplot Park. The event is the Treasure Valley's only paddle and run duathlon, combining two of Boise's favorite summer activities into one race: paddling across Quinn's Pond and running along the Boise River Greenbelt.
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For Boise families looking for a way to spend a Saturday morning outdoors, the Wild River Dash is an entry point into the world of multisport racing without the intimidation factor. The kid course is short enough that young participants can finish feeling proud, and the relay option means friends, siblings, or parents and kids can split the work and share the fun. 

Adults and teens tackle a half-mile paddle across Quinn's Pond followed by a two-mile run on the Greenbelt. Kids ages 5 to 11 take on a shorter course with a quarter-mile paddle and a one-mile loop around the end of the pond. 

All proceeds from the Wild River Dash go directly to Wild Hearts Idaho, a Boise-based nonprofit that provides free outdoor adventures to girls ages 12 to 18 across the Treasure Valley. Since its founding in 2016, the organization has more than seven hundred girls hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, rafting, and snowshoeing through Idaho's wild spaces. Every adventure is free of cost to participants, with all gear, meals, and transportation provided.

“We started the Wild River Dash because we wanted to bring the whole community together around things Boise does so well: getting on the water, getting out on the Greenbelt, and supporting young people in the outdoors,” said Serena Rasmussen, Executive Director of Wild Hearts Idaho. “There's nothing else like this in the Treasure Valley. Every year participants leave with a big smile on their faces, whether they pushed themselves competitively or participated just for fun.” 

Wild Hearts Idaho is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To register for the Wild River Dash, visit runsignup.com/Race/ID/Boise/WildRiverDash. For questions, contact [email protected].

About Wild Hearts Idaho
Wild Hearts Idaho builds community, confidence, and leadership skills in girls ages 12 to 18 through free outdoor adventures across Idaho. Founded in 2016, the organization runs year-round programming including hiking, backpacking, rafting, rock climbing in the name of building confidence, community, and resilience among the next generation. All adventures are free to participants, removing financial barriers so every girl can access the outdoors. Learn more at wildheartsidaho.org.

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