City lights are electrifying in the clear, crisp winter air during the holiday season.

Hike one of the Foothills trails at dusk and Treasure Valley’s cities pop out in a festive way.

Each December I try to get up above the valley and take in the city and holiday lights, combining a hike with photography. I’ve written about other city-light viewing spots in past years.

Bogus Basin Road, Camel’s Back Park and other areas from Eagle to Boise make great solstice hikes on the longest night of the year.

This year I scouted the service road at Military Reserve in Boise earlier in December. Each curve in the road offered a different view of Idaho’s Capitol and surrounding buildings. It is reached by taking Reserve Street to Mountain Cove Road and parking near the dog park. From there walk the road northwest of the dog park to the road that goes up the hill to the transmission tower building.

If you’re going to take visiting relatives on a walk in the evening and want to really “wow” them, this is the spot.

Bring along a headlamp for coming back down in the dark. The reserve is dog friendly with on-leash and off-leash areas. You might want to attach a doggie light to your buddy’s collar.

Take in the views from this beautiful area.