Here’s some serious cute to get you through the day! It’s afternoon playtime for this bear at Denali National Park in Alaska. Photo by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.

Capitol Reef National Park in Utah got its name from the white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble capitol building domes and the rocky cliffs – which act as a reef, creating a barrier to travel. The park is one of the best geological classrooms in the world. Rock layers in Capitol Reef reveal ancient environments as varied as rivers and swamps, Sahara-like deserts and shallow oceans, each marking an era through almost 200 million years of Earth’s history. Photo by David Long (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

A fall visit to North Cascades National Park in Washington is a great chance to see the larches in their gorgeous fall colors. Photographer Meghan Young captured this beautiful scene. “We went on an overnight hike and woke to a fresh dusting of snow, the perfect complement to the fiery orange of the trees. We watched the clouds dance over the distant hills while taking in the views, dumbstruck by the beauty of the moment!” Photo courtesy of Meghan Young.

A stroll through the Monterey cypress tunnel is one of many ways to enjoy serenity and scenery at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. From rocky headlands and sand beaches that seem to stretch forever to open grasslands and forested ridges, the park’s unique landscapes captivate visitors and provide a home for over 1,500 species of plants and animals. Photo courtesy of Brian Chan.

A visit to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is an experience to cherish for a lifetime. Photographer Tiffany Mark described what she felt when she took this stunner as “the kind of moment where you’re completely thankful that we have places to partake in such beauty.” Storm clouds were rolling in, which added some drama to the already captivating landscape. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Mark.

One of the most famous and recognizable landmarks for the pioneer travelers on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails, Chimney Rock is still an icon on Nebraska’s landscape. Today, Chimney Rock and its surrounding environs look much as they did when the first settlers passed through in the mid 1800s. Photo of the Milky Way erupting over Chimney Rock courtesy of Jesse Attanasio.

Happy Manatee Awareness Month! These gentle giants – nicknamed “sea cows” for their diet of seagrass and other aquatic plants – can reach lengths of over 14 feet and weigh more than 3,000 pounds! Early explorers once mistook manatees, which have large, spoon-shaped tails, for young women, fueling legends of mermaids. Photo at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida by Keith Ramos, USFWS.

Happy Manatee Awareness Month! These gentle giants – nicknamed “sea cows” for their diet of seagrass and other aquatic plants – can reach lengths of over 14 feet and weigh more than 3,000 pounds! Early explorers once mistook manatees, which have large, spoon-shaped tails, for young women, fueling legends of mermaids. Video at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida by Nick Aumen, U.S. Geological Survey.

Happy Halloween! We love Badlands National Park in South Dakota, but this shot of a lightning bolt in a purple sky over jagged rock formations looks a little spooky. Photo courtesy of Jake Woll.

Watching the weather at Yosemite National Park in California can yield some amazing views, like sun rays bursting unexpectedly from clouds. Of this moment, photographer Beth Young says, “The rising sun briefly broke through the clouds and illuminated the low-lying mist on the valley floor.” Sunrise photo courtesy of Beth Young.