Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona protects spectacular wilderness in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. The park is the only place in the United States where visitors can see large stands of organ pipe cacti, which can live to be more than 150 years old. Explore this Southwest gem with activities like hiking, camping, wildflower walks, scenic drives and night sky gazing. Sunset photo by Jim Dunham (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Incredible sunsets are one of the many rewards of hiking along the Appalachian Trail, a national scenic trail that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Native to the Appalachian Mountains, rhododendrons bloom in this gorgeous photo that was taken along the trail near the Roan Highlands on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. With so many great vistas to choose from, this scenic area is a favorite with day hikers and backpackers alike. Photo courtesy of Serge Skiba.

Red rocks and curving, swirling bluffs rise up out of the desert, creating a surreal landscape at Stud Horse Point. Part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Stud Horse Point is a remote area near the Utah-Arizona border that’s worth the visit. On a tour of the Southwest with his buddies, Aron Cooperman drove through rain, wind and even some snow, made some wrong turns but they eventually found their way to the this spot. They stuck it out, rain clouds cleared and eventually, the sky started to have this incredible color explosion at sunset. Photo courtesy of Aron Cooperman.