Public lands are all about flexibility. There’s so much to see and do. Exploring nature and watching wildlife are just a few of the many recreational activities waiting for you. It looks like this young moose at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming is giving outdoor yoga a try. Photo by Tom Koerner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

June is Great Outdoors Month and the perfect time to explore public lands and waters. Take a walk on a national seashore, go birdwatching in a wildlife refuge, paddle a wild and scenic river, find peace in a wilderness area and marvel at the natural beauty of national parks. Every outdoor experience is unique and helps strengthen our connection to nature. Even the most simple moments can have a powerful impact. In the dark and quiet forest of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, photographer Radim Schreiber found himself surrounded by blinking lightning bugs (or fireflies) and captured this amazing shot. Photo by Radim Schreiber (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges are home to towering mountains, active volcanoes, broad valleys, fjords, tundra and glacially formed lakes, which provide habitat for more than 260 species of resident and migratory wildlife. Portions of the peninsula contain some of the highest densities of brown bear in Alaska that feed on the five different species of Pacific salmon. Pictured here is the 4,835-foot tall Mt. Peulik, an active volcano that is cone-shaped and capped with snow even in the summer. Photo courtesy of Bob Dreeszen.

Happy birthday, Everglades National Park. Established in 1947, the park protects 1.5 million acres of world-famous south Florida wetlands. Although the captivation with the Everglades has mostly stemmed from its unique ecosystem, an alluring human story is deeply interwoven with its endless marshes, dense mangroves, towering palms, alligator holes and tropical fauna. Visiting this vast and wild park, it’s easy to recognize its importance. Photo courtesy of Jacob W. Frank.

On Memorial Day, the nation pauses to honor all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for their country. From local Revolutionary War battlefields to World War II cemeteries around the globe, the memory of those heroes is enshrined forever. They will never be forgotten. Photo of the United States Marine Corps Memorial at George Washington Memorial Parkway by Bobby Blevins (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Here’s a feast for the eyes: An underwater view of National Park of American Samoa. Located some 2,600 miles southwest of Hawai’i, this is one of the most remote national parks in the United States. It includes sections of three islands – Tutuila, Ta’ū, and Ofu – and about 4,000 acres is underwater, offshore from all three islands. This photo was taken at the Ofu unit, which has a shallow protected reef with a great diversity of coral cover fish. Photo by National Park Service.

Happy 80th birthday to the Golden Gate Bridge. On this day in 1973, this iconic bridge first opened. With towers extending 700 feet into the sky and over 100 feet beneath the San Francisco Bay, the bridge is an engineering marvel. In addition to driving, you can walk or bike the entire length of its 1.2-mile expanse, bounded on either side by spectacular scenery. Photo from Golden Gate National Recreation Area courtesy of Bruce Getty.

Take the road less traveled to Capitol Reef National Park. For Michelle Olmstead, Capitol Reef is her favorite Utah national park because it’s possible to solitude that can sometimes be lacking in other parks. “After hiking all day we were rewarded with this beautiful golden-hour light hitting the red rock as we were leaving. I feel very grateful to be able to experience these beautiful public lands with the ones I love.“ Photo courtesy of Michelle Olmstead. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park in California is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while roaring steam, thumping mud pots and boiling pools continue to shape the land. Photo of a starry night over Lake Manzanita by Kedar Datta (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

The natural beauty of Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is undeniable.The colorful landscape, open skies and unique formations make for excellent hiking and photography. But that beauty is all a bonus on top of the important scientific mission of the park. The fossil record at the Petrified Forest preserves everything from fossil pollen to some of the earliest dinosaurs, and allows for the reconstruction of several ancient environments through time. Photo by Hallie Larsen, National Park Service.