Hey everyone, my name is Jacob W. Frank, aka Ranger Jake, and I am lucky enough to work as the visual information specialist at Glacier National Park in Montana. Interior thought it might be cool for me to take over its Instagram account today and share ranger tips on how to make a trip to Glacier memorable. Let’s get started:

Tip: Get into the Backcountry
Some places are too hard to reach during those golden hours without having to hike in the dark. The better solution is to backcountry camp. Yes it’s slower, heavier, and more of a challenge logistically with permits and planning, but sticking your head out of a tent with a view like this from Cracker Lake or any one of the other 60+ backcountry sites makes everything worthwhile. Backcountry camping also allows you to see some places that might be too far to hike in a single day. 🏃 

Check out more tips today on @USInterior’s Instagram: http://ift.tt/1lMi3Jl

 -Ranger Jake

Established in a high valley tucked into the Allegheny Mountains, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia preserves almost 17,000 acres of forest and wetlands. The Blackwater River meanders through this rugged and gorgeous landscape, supporting an impressive variety of wildlife. The refuge is a great place for fishing, hiking and, as you can see, photography. Photo by Frank Ceravalo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Happy 100th birthday to Lassen Volcanic National Park! Underneath this California park’s serene surface lies magma, which creates volcanoes and hydrothermal features like boiling pools, gurgling mudpots and steaming ground. Lassen Volcanic is one of the only places in the world where you can see all four types of volcanoes – you can even hike each type! Sunset photo courtesy of Beth Young.

Stretching from the Maine coast to inland forests and dotted with lakes and marshes, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge welcomes 300,000 nature enthusiasts a year. Exploring miles of trails from dawn to dusk, visitors can observe wildlife and take in the beauty of nature all while honoring the memory of world-renowned marine biologist, author and environmentalist Rachel Carson. Photo by Judy Grabowicz (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).