In the Avalanche Lake area of Glacier National Park, abundant rainfall, prehistoric glaciers and rushing streams have combined to create a landscape of striking beauty and rich diversity. So much water allows nature to display vibrant colors –  from sparkling blue lakes to rich green forests. A hike on the Trail of Cedars is a great way to experience this gorgeous Montana landscape. Photo courtesy of Steven Bumgardner.

Photographer Jose Torres took advantage of a cross country move to take pictures in national parks along the way. One of his favorite stops was Badlands National Park in South Dakota where he captured this amazing scene of the unique rock formations glowing in the light of the moon and the Milky Way. What a shot! Photo courtesy of Jose Torres.

Go 🐢 go! Watch these cute sea turtle hatchlings race to the ocean at Padre Island National Seashore in Texas. Padre Island – the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world – protects 70 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies and wind tidal flats. It’s a safe nesting ground for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of five types of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico that use the park and its surrounding waters. Video Patrick Gamman, by National Park Service.

Hi, Christina Adele Warburg here! I’m a park ranger at Yosemite National Park, and I will be taking over @USInterior on Instagram today. Even after a long day of work, nothing beats exploring this California park that happens to be my backyard, and I’m going to share some of my favorite Yosemite spots with you.

Stormy days in Yosemite are my favorite, and there’s no better place to watch a storm clearing than from Tunnel View. Unfortunately, most park guests know that, too. Taking a quick hike up Inspiration Point trail will lead you to a similar view – but without the crowds. This is where I watch most of my sunsets, which I usually only share with mosquitoes and deer. 
-Ranger Christina Adele Warburg.

Head over to http://ift.tt/18D22bU to see more great places in Yosemite to explore.

Green cottonwoods flourish by Medano Creek at the edge of the dunefield in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in Colorado. The tallest dunes in North America spread across 30 square miles, creating a unique high-altitude desert environment and a place of extremes. The sand surface can reach 150 degrees on a summer afternoon, or drop to minus 20 degrees on a winter night. Surfing the dunes is a fun summer activity. Photo by Patrick Myers, National Park Service.

The giant saguaro is a symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park in Arizona. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. Photo by Eileen Mattil (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Interior! 🎆  We hope you have a happy and safe holiday. Photo of the 4th of July fireworks display over the National Mall in Washington, DC, by Tom Hamilton (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl). 🇺🇸

A trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming isn’t complete without viewing the majestic Lower Falls. When visiting the park in 2012, Stuart Burnett and his wife Patti captured this shot of Lower Falls legendary rainbow thanks to detailed research and planning. Of the experience, Stuart says, “You could hear the gasp from the other viewers as the rainbow formed. It was just magnificent!! It lasted for about 10 minutes … 10 minutes that I will never forget!!” Photo courtesy of Stuart Burnett. 🌈

Last week’s summer solstice marked the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, but Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska hasn’t noticed much change. The last time the sun set in Bettles was on June 2, when it dipped below the horizon for a little over 20 minutes. The next time it sets will be on July 10, when it will once again drop below the horizon briefly before rising again. No wonder it’s called the land of the midnight sun. Photo by National Park Service.

Fought over the first three days of July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania was one of the most crucial battles of the Civil War. On those hills and fields, over 160,000 soldiers struggled to survive. Preserved as Gettysburg National Military Park, visitors can hear their stories and walk in their footsteps. Sunset photo by Doug Shearer (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).