Bring skis, snowshoes or sleds to enjoy snowy winters at Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. From January through April, ranger-led snowshoe walks are a great way to explore this volcanic landscape. Over 75 percent of the park is designated as wilderness, offering unparalleled opportunities for solitude and adventure. Photo by National Park Service.

Moonlight brightens snowy dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Experience the park after dark by stargazing, listening for owls along the foothills or going for a full moon walk on the dunes. Cold temperatures are the norm in winter, so bundle up with warm clothing and sturdy footwear for an unforgettable nighttime adventure. Photo by Patrick Myers, National Park Service.  

Happy New Year! Just like this gorgeous sunrise at Canyonlands National
Park in Utah, we hope your new year is filled with beauty and adventure.
Photo by Greg Sager (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

americasgreatoutdoors:

Mother Nature shows her power with this dramatic lightning storm over the Needles District at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Photo from last summer courtesy of Claudia Castillo. ⚡

Ending the year with our most popular post on Tumblr in 2016: This dramatic shot of a lightning storm over Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

From all of us at the Interior Department, have a safe and happy new year. And here’s to amazing adventures and exploring America’s great outdoors in 2017!

You see some amazing things on America’s public lands, like this cute little bobcat hanging out within the snow-covered trees in eastern Oregon. Can you spot it? While common, bobcats are rarely seen. Sometimes called wildcats, bobcats are roughly twice as big as the average house cat. They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears, and gets its name for its tail, which appears to be cut or “bobbed.” Photo by Kevin Eldredge, @mypubliclands.