experiences

Idaho City’s Boot Hill

By Keri Anderson | July 26, 2016

If visiting Idaho City, a trip to the Pioneer Cemetery, aka Boot Hill, is a must.

Idaho City Pioneer Cemetery Boot Hill path

Pioneer Cemetery in Idaho City

One of my family traditions while growing up was to visit cemeteries wherever we traveled, reading the inscriptions and speculating on what life was like. This is a habit I’ve continued with my travels.

And most of those have been neatly mown or perhaps slightly weedy squares set off the side of the road. The Pioneer Cemetery was breathtakingly different. Over 3,000 people are buried there as early as the 1860s (from what I could see), though most of the markers are missing due to fires and age.

Idaho City Pioneer Cemetery Boot Hill entrance

Entrance to the Pioneer Cemetery

Idaho City Pioneer Cemetery Boot Hill wooden map

Wooden map of the cemetery

A mix of old and newer graves set among towering pines with nature having taken over almost everything.

Idaho City Pioneer Cemetery Boot Hill trails

Pioneer Cemetery trails

What I thought were hiking trails (though it seemed strange) wound up being paths to various sections where graves had been identified, though their markers were long since broken or destroyed by time and fire.