Table Rock:
Table Rock is a large plateau sitting approximately 1000 feet above the Boise skyline. The area is heavily used by outdoor enthusiast for hiking, biking, rock climbing and sightseeing. The plateau offers stunning views of the Treasure Valley…catching a sunset there can be especially rewarding. From the top, you can easily spot Boise landmarks such as the Idaho State Capitol, Downtown Boise, Boise State University, the Train Depot and the Boise Airport. Looking Northwest, you will see the antenna towers at Bogus Basin, Boise's local ski area. On clear days, you can see as far as the Owyhee Mountains, bordering Oregon.
The Cross:
Table Rock's most notable feature is the towering 60-foot illuminated Cross that can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, especially at night. The Cross was installed in 1956 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) at a build cost of $880. The steel Cross weighs over 4,000 lbs. and originally used 2,100 watts to light up. In 2011, the lights were updated to LED reducing the monthly lighting cost nearly 70%.
Due to several land ownership and use issues, the Cross has had a volatile history. Most issues were settled in 1972 when the Jaycees purchased the four-foot square patch of land that the Cross stands on for $100. Although the sale of the land has been challenged, the Cross remains on private property, owned by the Jaycees, and has become a beloved Boise landmark to both religious and non-religious alike.
In 1999, an atheist human rights activist threatened civil action to bring the Cross down. The debate resulted in over 10,000 Boiseans participating in a march from the Train Depot to the Capitol to save the Cross. To this day, Table Rock Cross remains to inspire those who see it to better citizenship, higher ideals, and happier living.
Getting to Table Rock:
Hiking is best from March to November. Most Table Rock trails can be accessed from the Old Idaho Penitentiary parking lot, where there is a kiosk and directional signage. The Table Rock trail is a 3.8 mile heavily trafficked loop. There are multiple routes to the top and back, the average hiker will take 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the summit. There is little to no shade and no water provided so please come prepared. Please avoid the hike during extreme heat or cold and after heavy rain. Cell phone service is available the entire hike.
Driving to the summit parking lot is available from June to October, 8am – 9pm. From the Downtown St. Luke’s Hospital area, the drive is 4.2 miles and will take less than 15 minutes. The road is paved almost the entire way with the last half mile being gravel. From the summit parking lot, there is a 0.2 mile walk on a relatively straight and flat gravel road to the Cross. If driving we recommend the following route: Reserve Street, Shaw Mountain Road, Table Rock Road.
Virtual Cache Logging Requirements:
To log this Virtual Cache, please upload INTO YOUR LOG a photo of yourself and/or your GPS device at the posted coordinates with the Cross included in the photo. For privacy purposes, it is not necessary to include your face in the photo.
EXTRA LOG AND PHOTO CLARIFICATION TO SATISFY LOGGING REQUIREMENTS:
1) Photo uploads should be INCLUDED in your log. Each log should contain the requested photo.
2) Photo should include yourself and/or your GPS device at the posted coordinates with the Cross included in the photo. For privacy purposes, it is not necessary to include your face in the photo.
3) Photos of the Cross alone and vague photos will not satisfy the logging requirements and will likely be deleted.
4) No need to send your photos to CO via message center, including your photo in your log is adequate for the logging requirement.
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Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.
