KUNA, Idaho (KLIX) – It is still light outside long into the evening, and so if you happen to visit Swan Falls Dam this summer be sure to keep an eye on the clock.

Sure, it might be a ways from your home in the Magic Valley, but anglers, hikers and photographers like to visit the site. If you’re one of them, be aware that public access at Swan Falls Dam is now from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, according to Idaho Power Co., which manages a power plant at the site.

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This is different than years past. The site used to be accessible 24 hours a day, but new safety guidelines have prompted the installation of a gate that locks promptly at 9 p.m.

Don’t worry, if you don’t make it out before the gate locks you can still exit, but you won’t be able to get back in. The gate will open only in one direction between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Propping or holding the gate open will set off an alarm.

Here’s some trivia for you: Do you know how Swan Falls received its name?

Some believe it came from a man named Swan who operated a placer mine in the area in the 1800s, according to information from Idaho Power. But it also might very well be named for the trumpeter swans that stop here during their annual migration.

The snow-white fowl are just some of the reasons you might want to bring a camera when visiting the site, located on the Snake River near Kuna.

Amenities include whitewater and boating access, hiking and biking trails, and portable and vault toilets. There is no potable water at the site, however, so make sure you bring your own drinking water.

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