Tucson, Arizona, is home to the nation’s largest cacti. The universal symbol of the American west, these majestic plants are found only in a small portion of the United States and protected by Saguaro National Park. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. Photo by Debbie Angel (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Spreading across Long Valley in California, the Volcanic Tablelands are a vast and unique landscape formed 700,000 years ago. Small canyons and bluffs dot the mostly flat area, offering amazing night sky views. Carved into the gray, red and pink rocks are extraordinary petroglyphs, mysterious symbols created by Native Americans centuries ago. Archaeologists can only speculate on their meaning. Photo of Bureau of Land Management site by Brandon Yoshizawa (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

This time of year, Denali National Park in Alaska gets less than 6 hours of sunlight each day. The sun comes up around 10:30 a.m. and sets at 4:00 p.m. In the dark and cold, you quickly come to appreciate every streak of light across the sky and every moment of warmth on your skin. Still, there is beauty and spring is coming. Photo by Tim Rains, National Park Service.

Fresh snow blankets the floodplain forests at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. Established for the protection of migratory birds along the Mississippi River Flyway, the refuge occupies over 8,300 acres across four unique districts. Some of the most recognizable winter residents are wild turkeys, northern cardinals, great horned owls and bald eagles. Watch out for their color and movement in this winter wonderland. Photo by Cathy Nigg, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Peek-a-boo! Can you spot the deer at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico? Best known for its fantastic cave system, the park also boasts above ground wonders like rocky canyons, a cactus-covered desert and wonderful wildlife. Take your time and see it all. Photo by Charlie Reed, National Park Service.

Snow covers the sand at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Indiana. Winter wind kicks up waves from Lake Michigan, rolling chunks of ice and snow onto the beach. Under a colorful sunrise sky with the Chicago skyline visible in the distance, the wonder of this special park is undeniable. Photo by National Park Service.

Want to escape the winter cold? South Florida offers some amazing public lands getaways. Don’t miss sunrise at Big Cypress National Preserve. The orange light shimmers on the wetlands as a terrific variety of wildlife greets the morning. You’ll forget all about the snow at home. Photo by National Park Service.

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington offers amazing rewards for visitors willing to brave the cold. Epic views of mountains and valleys glimmer in snow white and subtle blue combine with the crunch of ice under your boots and the welcome warmth of daylight. The park is open, but vehicle access is limited, so bring your snowshoes and skis. Photo by Jared Pratt (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

If you like snow, Glacier National Park in Montana is the perfect place for you! Mother Nature drapes the landscape in white. As the snow accumulates in Glacier, snowshoeing and skiing are the favorite recreational activities in the park. Even the wildlife come out to play. Photo by Bill Hayden, National Park Service.  

Here’s an amazing pic of the first supermoon of 2018 from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This photo of the full moon over Mauna Loa was taken 400mm telephoto lens from Volcano House shortly after sunrise. Did you see the supermoon? Photo by Volunteer Janice Wei, National Park Service.