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Swimming. There are a couple of small lakes at the Bruneau Sand Dunes. It isn't the clearest water but is suitable for swimming. On a hot day, it is a good place to escape the heat at the Bruneau Dunes.

This is also home of the Bruneau Dunes Observatory, with its 25-inch reflector telescope and avid support from local amateur astronomers. We enjoyed their midnight stargazing program, complemented by a hunt for scorpions that glow in the dark when shined in ultraviolet light.

The park has a fascinating wealth of wildlife for you to enjoy. The marsh areas have water- fowl, shorebirds, muskrats, and frogs. Look for teal, mallards, buffleheads, grebes, scaups, and herons on the lakes. You may see coyotes, jackrabbits, cottontails, lizards or go- pher snakes.

It's best to bring clothes and shoes you don't mind filling with sand. Once you climb to the top of the highest dune, you'll be amazed at the views. From the vantage point you can see the lake below, the Snake River canyon, and the snow-capped mountains off in the distance.May 5, 2016

The state park includes desert, dune, prairie, lake and marsh habitat with opportunities to observe nocturnal species. Activities include fishing, birdwatching, camping, hiking, swimming and viewing the stars at one of only two public observatories in Idaho. Feel free to climb but no vehicles are allowed on the dunes.

The dunes may have started with sands from the Bonneville Flood about 15,000 years ago.

There is a wide variety of land and water recreation and activities, a nature store, a 5 mile hiking trail that will present visitors with stunning views, interpretive programs, and star/space viewing at Idaho's only public observatory. Dogs of all sizes are allowed for no additional fee.

Bring your float tubes, paddleboards or canoes, but only electric motors are permitted on the lakes. Try your hand at fishing in one of the lakes at the dunes. Photo Credit: Steve Graepel.Jul 30, 2019

Scorpions primarily occur in the sagebrush desert of the southern half of Idaho, but one species – the northern scorpion (Paruroctonus boreus)– occurs as far north as Lewiston, along the Snake River canyon of north-central Idaho.