Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park
Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway in Zion National Park
Natchez Trace Parkway
Looking for a road trip this summer? Some of the best views are along these outstanding scenic roads in national parks across the country. So buckle up and let the journey begin with 8 of America’s best drives: http://on.doi.gov/drives 🚙💨
The incredible beauty of Yosemite Valley in California has deeply affected millions of people over time. Thanks to the foresight of a few of them, this stunning place was protected for public use and recreation for future generations. On this day in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln formally set aside the land that would later become Yosemite National Park and visitors have been enjoying it ever since. Photo by Kristopher Schoenleber (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Check out these adorable bobcat kittens! Rangers found these cute brothers denning in a woodrat nest at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California. Rangers took samples and measurements and placed ear tags on the kittens before returning them to their den and setting up a camera to monitor for mom’s appearance. Video by National Park Service.
Red Cloud Peak Wilderness Study Area in Colorado is a hiker’s dream, featuring 30 mountain peaks over 13,000 feet tall and two peaks over 14,000 feet: Red Cloud Peak and Sunshine Peak. Alpine tundra and vast scenic vistas offer solitude and spaces to backpack, mountain climb, horseback ride and more. Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands
Sometimes, it’s the little things in life that inspire us, like this tiny desert horned lizard that’s small enough to fit into the palm of a scientist’s hand! You’ll find these cute critters near rocks and sandy soil in the Great Basin, including Oregon, where this photo was taken. Desert horned lizards eat ants and beetles, and hiss when threatened by larger predators like snakes and hawks. As cute as this little lizard is, remember to keep wildlife wild when you see it and enjoy from a distance. Photo by Joel Herzberg, @mypubliclands
Here’s your daily dose of cute: Four baby foxes 🐺 snuggling on the beach at Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts. The seashore protects 40 miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds and uplands support diverse species, including these cute little red foxes. Photo by National Park Service.
Bison calves born this spring are growing quickly, building relationships and learning survival skills. Sometimes called “red dogs” because of their orange coats, bison calves are slowly becoming dark brown like their parents. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa has a small herd of bison in a 700-acre enclosure and visitors can safely observe them from the visitor center or the auto route tour. Photo by Joanna Gilkeson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Traffic in Denali National Park in Alaska can sometimes look like this – a bear ambling along a winding road surrounded by incredible vistas of mountains and wildflowers. The park’s one ribbon of road runs through low-elevation taiga forest to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America’s tallest peak – Denali – at 20,310 feet. Photo courtesy of Jacob Frank.
The variety of natural features and ecosystems found within Great Basin National Park in Nevada is surprising to many first time visitors. The Great Basin has often been called barren and uninteresting, but it doesn’t take long to discover that this rugged landscape – with its desert valleys and snow covered peaks – is more than meets the eye. Don’t forget to catch a sunset and see the ancient bristlecone pines. Photo by Thomas Sikora (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Spectacular sunrises are a fantastic way to start an adventure in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Photographer Elliott Cliborne captured this brilliant photo at the top of Mary’s Rock, where a 3.7-round trip hike along the Appalachian Trail leads to expansive views. Of the experience, says Cliborne: “It was by far the best sunrise I experienced in over 400 miles of hiking last summer.” Photo courtesy of Elliott Cliborne.
Sig Nordal 