Photograph McGowan Peak & Stanley Lake at Sunrise

McGowan Peak in the Sawtooths is breathtaking and the Stanley Lake Overlook is by far one of the best locations to photograph it at sunrise in the summer. 

The Stanley Lake Overlook is located inside the Stanley Lake Campground. There is a separate parking lot (with bathrooms) at the overlook and two sets of stairs that lead you down to the beach where you can get a clear view of McGowan Peak across the lake. 

We arrived early during blue hour to set up for sunrise and had the place to ourselves. The lake was still then, giving us clear reflections of the peak and the surrounding landscape. Just before sunrise the lake came alive, with birds flying just above the water and a small current setting in but as the sun came up, the stillness returned, and we were able to get a clean reflection shot again. 

If you're ever in Stanley, ID this is a must see!