Smoky Sunrise over the Snake River Canyon

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Dierkes Lake, near Shoshone Falls a few miles east of Twin Falls, is a popular recreation area and often a bustling, noisy public park. However, I tend to explore places in early dawn and so I arrive before sunrise when there is no one around. There is a loop trail around the lake that many trail runners and others use for exercise, and in early August 2026 I walked this loop looking for unique views and lighting as the sun rose through the haze from many wildfires around our area. To the naked eye, the sun and moon both appeared completely red, although they rarely appear that way in photos. As I reached the highest point along the trail, I stepped away from the lake loop trail to get a view of the Snake River where it approaches Shoshone Falls. The Canyon walls are steep along this part of the river, making a beautiful view. Typically, the river is very low this late in the summer, but for the last week or so it has been a little higher, which inspired me to visit the falls and the nearby lake. The views of the Snake River on one side of the trail, and the lake on the other, made for a fantastic photo excursion!