Homer's Nipple And Table Rock

BOU AVENUE
Homer's Nipple And Table Rock

Table Rock is arguably the most popular hike in Boise, Idaho. Located within the state capital’s city limits, the striking mesa is easy to access via a network of signed trails which makes it appealing to a wide spectrum of people including families, dog walkers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and even rock climbers. The flat top is covered with multiple telecommunications structures, but the most striking feature is a huge white cross which has been the centre of much controversy in the past. While most visitors stop at a viewpoint beside the cross, the true high point of Table Rock is actually about two hundred metres to the east atop a north-facing bluff. Interestingly, none of the entries in peakbagger.com appear to acknowledge this true high point even though there are clearly extra contour lines there on the accompanying topographical maps. Zosia Zgolak and I paid a visit to Table Rock on 27 December 2025, and we would also tag unofficially-named "Homer's Nipple" which is an outlier to the southeast. There are several different access points for Table Rock, but probably the most popular one is the trailhead (43.60365, -116.162398) beside the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Right off the bat, the trail splits with the left branch (#15 Table Rock Trail) gaining elevation immediately while the right branch (#15A Old Pen Trail) climbs more gradually through a coulee. Indifferent about the two trails (not surprisingly, Robert Frost came to mind), we took the right branch, but both trails merge together roughly a kilometre from the trailhead. From there, we hiked up for another kilometre to reach the plateau on Table Rock, but instead of turning left to the viewpoint with the cross, we turned right and headed southward along the western edge of the mesa. A rock quarry occupies most of the southeast quadrant of Table Rock and is strictly off-limits to the public, but fortunately, there are trails that skirt around its periphery. At the southeast corner of Table Rock, we took a branching trail which descends briefly to a dip before rising up the north ridge of the outlier known as Homer's Nipple. Several boulders crowd the top of Homer's Nipple, and getting on top of the highest one requires a bit of hands-on scrambling. The boulders provided excellent shelter from a chilly wind, and we stopped for a break here to examine the contents of a geocache.

Most of the signs here aren't very encouraging! Table Rock is visible in the distance as Zosia starts hiking from the trailhead beside the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

This is the less popular trail to Table Rock. Zosia follows #15A Old Pen Trail on the ascent.

Taking the road less traveled! Upon reaching the plateau atop Table Rock, Zosia heads southward to hike along the western edge of the mesa.

Bouldering paradise! Zosia scrambles onto some rocks that have flaked off the "table top".

Rock climbing paradise!
There are some big cliffs at the south end of Table Rock.

It's okay; we're still legal here! Zosia hikes along the rock quarry boundary with "Homer's Nipple" visible in the distance.

Not too many people from Table Rock bother to come here. Zosia heads up the north ridge of Homer's Nipple.

Guess where we're going tomorrow!

Lucky Peak (Shaw Mountain) dominates the view to the east.

A little bit of Class 3 scrambling required!

Zosia stands on the high point of Homer's Nipple (1106 metres).

I wonder how worried the homeowners are of rocks tumbling down from the rock quarry...

Here is a look back at Table Rock from Homer's Nipple.

When we resumed hiking, Zosia and I backtracked to the southeast corner of Table Rock and continued northward along the eastern edge of the mesa. Near the north end of the plateau, we went off-trail to tag the aforementioned true high point before making our way to the viewpoint with the cross. Seeing the cross in person, I find it hard to believe that it could cause so much anguish and grief to some people. It reminded me of some of the Polish summits we climbed a couple years ago like Tarnica and Babia Góra. Frankly, I would prefer seeing the cross than all the ugly antennas on Table Rock.

Leaving the cross, Zosia and I completed our loop of the plateau and descended the same trail we came up. Near the bottom, we took the section of #15 Table Rock Trail that we had skipped at the beginning. It is only slightly longer but maybe a little more scenic than #15A Old Pen Trail.

Too bad it's not the true summit! An impressive gendarme guards the southeast corner of Table Rock.

We snuck a peek into the rock quarry near here--it's a big hole! With the rock quarry to her left, Zosia hikes along the eastern edge of the mesa.

Probably very few people bother to come to this spot! Zosia and Sonny stand on the true high point of Table Rock (1117 metres).

Pie Jesu Zosia approaches the controversial cross on Table Rock.

This is what most people come for when they climb Table Rock.

The viewpoint near the cross grants a comprehensive view of Boise.

Total Distance: 8.1 kilometres
Round-Trip Time: 3 hours 39 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 282 metres

GPX Data

	Table Rock is visible in the distance as Zosia starts hiking from the trailhead beside the Old Idaho Penitentiary.
	Zosia follows #15A Old Pen Trail on the ascent.
	Upon reaching the plateau atop Table Rock, Zosia heads southward to hike along the western edge of the mesa.
	Zosia scrambles onto some rocks that have flaked off the "table top".
	There are some big cliffs at the south end of Table Rock.
	Zosia hikes along the rock quarry boundary with "Homer's Nipple" visible in the distance.
	Zosia heads up the north ridge of Homer's Nipple.

	An impressive gendarme guards the southeast corner of Table Rock.
	With the rock quarry to her left, Zosia hikes along the eastern edge of the mesa.
	Zosia and Sonny stand on the true high point of Table Rock (1117 metres).
	Zosia approaches the controversial cross on Table Rock.