Beyond its spectacular natural beauty, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah offers 1.9 million acres of cliffs, terraces, trails and views for your needed nature fix. Established 20 years ago today, the monument is an adventurer’s dream and a fantastic scientific resource for geologists, paleontologists, archaeologists and biologists. Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management (@mypubliclands).

It’s that time of year in Alaska when the gorgeous fall colors come out at Serpentine Hot Springs in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Gone are the shockingly bright pinks, yellows and purples of summer, replaced by deeper and darker reds, yellows, greens and the beginnings of brown, all of equal vibrancy and beauty. 🍃🍁🍂 Enjoy the change of seasons wherever you may be! Photo by Katie Cullen, National Park Service.

Imagine how small you might feel in the presence of a huge iceberg like this chunk from the McBride Glacier. At Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve – one of the 24 national park sites in Alaska – you can explore the Alaskan wilderness from sea to summit. True to its name, much of the park is water, meaning kayaks and boats are the main ways to see rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers and wild coastlines. Photo by Sean Neilson, National Park Service.