The colors at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon will make you do a doubletake. The yellows, golds, blacks, greens and reds of the Painted Hills are beautiful at all times of the day, but are best lit for photography in the late afternoon. Changing light and moisture levels can drastically affect the tones and hues visible in the hills. It’s easy to become immersed in the views, but please remember to stay on the trails. Photo by Bill Vollmer (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Vulture Peak’s jagged profile glowing in the sunset light is a dramatic sight rising above the Arizona desert. Walking up the eroded remains of an ancient volcano, hikers are treated to stunning views and curious rock formations along the trail. If you’re thinking of conquering the summit this summer, park in the Bureau of Land Management lot and take plenty of water! Photo by Raymond Lee (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl). @mypubliclands

Shenandoah National Park in Virginia has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint; others penetrate deep into the forest and wilderness. With such an abundance of trail options and the famous Skyline Drive, it’s easy to find an adventure to fit your interest and ability. Sunrise photo by N. Lewis, National Park Service.

Loggerhead Key – located almost 70 miles west of Key West, Florida – is the largest island of Dry Tortugas National Park. Covering about 49 acres, it is home to a 160-year-old lighthouse and some truly excellent sites for snorkeling and diving. Along with amazing coral formations, divers can find a variety of colorful reef fish, including parrotfish, angel fish, triggerfish and damselfish. Just remember, look but don’t touch. Not only will an accidental brush up against the coral probably kill it, you may be bumping into any number of potentially dangerous animals, include fire coral, jellyfish, sea urchins or the exotic venomous lionfish. Photo by Bryan Goff (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Whether you delight in the challenge of a strenuous hike to spectacular views, the thrill of rafting through a twisting canyon, getting up close to famous dinosaur fossils, or sitting quietly and watching the sunset, Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah offers endless opportunities for adventure. The hardest part may be choosing what to do first. Sunset from Wagon Wheel Point courtesy of Louis Kamler.

Walking through among the tallest trees in the world is an unforgettable experience. Sounds are reduced to the musical gurgle of water trickling amongst ferns and mossy rocks. Light streams through the mist while stillness and peace weave their spells upon the respectful traveler. More than 200 miles of trails weave through old-growth redwood forests, open meadows and stunning beaches at Redwood National and State Parks in California. Aren’t you ready for a walk? Photo by Daniel Moore (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Here’s some serious cute for your Friday. This red fox was spotted at San Juan Islands National Monument. Situated in the northern reaches of Washington State’s Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands are a beautiful archipelago of over 450 islands, rocks and pinnacles. This landscape draws visitors from around the world to explore forests that seem to spring from gray rocks, and the distant, snow-capped peaks provide the backdrop for sandy beaches. If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the islands’ foxes. Photo courtesy of Matt Ferguson via Bureau of Land Management-Oregon, @mypubliclands

There’s nothing quite like a wetlands sunrise. The morning colors sparkle across miles of still water while tall grasses wave in the breeze. Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida protects 729,000 acres of unique freshwater swamp, offering refuge to a wide variety of plants and animals. From hardwood hammocks hiding rare Florida panthers to tidal estuaries teeming with birds and fish, there is so much to see in this wonderful place. Photo by National Park Service.

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is beyond beautiful. No place else on earth combines picturesque islands with a pure blue lake surrounded by cliffs almost 2,000 feet high. Witnessing sunrise at this spectacular park as the sun’s golden light warms the lake’s sloping sides is a moment that’ll stick with you for a lifetime. Photo by Kevan Corella (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Summer at Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska is short but sweet. Vibrant colors radiate during long days and caribou, bears, wolves, muskox and fox roam the landscape past mountains and rivers yet to be named. With no roads or trails, the remote park demands visitors to be self-sufficient. The beauty and solitude is their reward. Photo by National Park Service.