Accessible only by boat, Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana encompasses over 4,000 acres of the Mississippi River Delta. These wetlands are home to a fascinating array of wildlife, including signature species like the American alligator and bald eagle. Among the outstanding recreation opportunities, we recommend a relaxing float among the cypress trees. Photo by John Corso (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Traveling north out of Las Vegas, Nevada, it won’t take you long to escape into a colorful desert landscape. The scenery varies from dramatic geological formations to sedate desert dry washes. The views go on for miles, begging to be explored. If you get lucky, you might even see a rare desert rainbow. Photo by Glenn Appell (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Happy birthday, Glacier National Park! On May 11, 1910, President William Taft signed a bill into law establishing the country’s 10th national park. Montana’s Glacier protects glacier-carved peaks and valleys, pristine turquoise lakes and streams, and dense ancient forests for all to enjoy. Learn more about the Crown of the Continent as we celebrate this iconic national park: https://on.doi.gov/glacier.
Photo by Shan Lin (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
The rocky terrain of Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma is an oasis of natural grassland among developed farms. Almost 60,000 acres are now home to reintroduced species including bison, elk, prairie dogs, river otters and burrowing owls. Visitors can enjoy wildlife watching, fishing, climbing, hunting and walking among wildflower blooms. Photo by Daniel Suh (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Photographer Erik Fremsted loves capturing sunrise at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Minneapolis. “The fog begins to burn and glow while the clouds dance in the sky. I breathe in the scene for as long as possible while the unofficial state bird, the mosquito, eats me alive. A price I am very willing to pay to witness mornings like this.” Photo by Erik Fremsted (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It’s almost 370 feet in diameter and 121 feet deep. Its vibrant color is the result of thermophilic (heat loving) organisms living along the edges of the steaming pool. This unique ecosystem is delicate and dangerous. To protect it and yourself, stay on the boardwalks when visiting and take the #YellowstonePledge: http://ift.tt/2j70UN7. Photo by Manish Mamtani (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Amateur photographer Matthew Hanna won the Share The Experience photo contest night sky category for this beautiful pic of the Milky Way stretching above the seastacks at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Spanning the Oregon coast, the wilderness islands and windswept headlands of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge are celebrated for their abundant wildlife, rugged grandeur and amazing night skies. Submit your pics from public lands to this year’s Share The Experience photo contest now: http://ift.tt/2qDvotm!
Photo by Matthew Hanna (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
This awesome shot of Fantasy Canyon in Utah took the scenic landscape prize in the 2016 Share the Experience Photo Contest. The intricate sandstone formations and terrific light make this unique area a photographer’s dream. If you have outstanding pictures from public lands, sign up and share them at http://ift.tt/18oFfjl for your chance to have your photo on the America the Beautiful public lands pass! Photo by John D’Onofrio (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl). @mypubliclands
And the winner of the 2016 Share the Experience photo contest is… Craig McIntyre for this stunning glimpse into the natural world. This photo of a small green tree frog clinging to a plant at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas will appear on the 2018 Annual Federal Recreation Lands Pass and earn Craig $10,000. It’s a great reminder of the fragility and importance of wildlife on public lands. We’ll post other category winners in the coming days. Photo by Craig McIntyre (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Sig Nordal 