Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska offers visitors a chance to explore a gorgeous and largely untouched landscape. Whether you float the mighty Yukon River or paddle the Charley River’s whitewater, your memories will last a lifetime. Geology, cultural history, gold rush remnants, wildlife and vast scenery will be a part of your experience. Photo by Sean Tevebaugh, National Park Service.

Here’s a photo to get your heart racing. The massive stone column at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming – known as “Bear’s Lodge” or “Bear’s Tipi” to local tribes – rises 867 feet from its base. Hundreds of parallel cracks divide Devils Tower into large hexagonal columns, making it one of the finest traditional crack climbing areas in North America. Approximately 5,000 climbers a year test their skills on this amazing natural tower. Photo by National Park Service.

On land or lake, there’s so much to see and do at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. Along its 42 miles of Lake Superior shoreline are over 15 miles of towering sandstone cliffs, 12 miles of beautiful beaches and 5 miles of sand dunes. You can climb to the top of a lighthouse, hike through forests, kayak past waterfalls or just lay on a beach. It’s a perfect summer getaway! Photo by Betty Greene (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Whether you have an hour, a day or a week, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is a great place to explore. Meander along Skyline Drive, picnic with the family or walk through the forested hillsides, where oak trees, birches and poplars stretch to the sky. Photo from Low Gap (mile 8) by N. Lewis, National Park Service.

The weather at the Grand Canyon can be as varied as the landscape. Dramatic elevation changes influence air temperature and circulation. Incredible heat is common at the canyon floor in the summer and unexpected thunderstorms can pop up quickly. With such sweeping vistas, storm watching can be a thrilling experience. Photo by Scott Keelin (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on Sanibel Island in south Florida. Part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States, the refuge is famous for its spectacular migratory birds. One of the most recognizable is the roseate spoonbill, a large pink bird that uses its long, curiously shaped bills to catch prey as it wades in shallow water. Photo courtesy of Harold Wagle.

There are so many ways to explore the unbelievable beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Take a boat tour or kayak in a remote fjord to be surrounded by pristine scenery and abundant wildlife. Hike to the top of the Harding Icefield Trail or book a scenic overflight to get a sense of the park’s vastness. Cast a line into the icy cold waters for some outstanding fishing. Pictured here is one of the small islands in Aialik Bay. Photo by David Breslauer (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Propelled by relentless ocean waves and strong onshore winds, small grains of sand accumulated to form the impressive dunes of Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in California. Stretching inland from the Pacific Ocean, the migrating dunes are home to a unique ecosystem of plants and animals, like the northern elephant seal, the western snowy plover and the California red-legged frog. Two remote hiking areas offer visitors a chance to explore this dynamic landscape in peace and solitude. Photo by Ian Shive, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Happy Independence Day! If you want to celebrate America’s history, culture or natural beauty, there’s no better place than public lands. From sea to shining sea, we hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July. Photo of fireworks at the Washington Monument on the National Mall by Nathaniel Gonzales (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

An eagle flies through a rainbow as a storm clears one of the many small islands on Lake Vermilion. The fifth largest lake in Minnesota, Lake Vermilion contains over 75 small public land islands covered with birch, pine and spruce. Some of the islands have boat-in campsites, and many are only large enough for one site, ensuring that you can have an entire island to yourself!    The Bureau of Land Management works with the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe (also referred to as Chippewa) to protect traditional-use areas and cultural sites on the islands. The lake is popular for fishing and contains a diversity of species including largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike and perch. Photo by Bob Wick, (@mypubliclands) Bureau of Land Management.