Two spectacular western landscapes are now permanently protected as our nation’s newest national monuments – Bears Ears in Utah and Gold Butte in Nevada. Today, President Obama designated these monuments that preserve sacred land for Native American tribes, gorgeous red rock scenery, and important cultural sites such as rock art and ancient cliff dwellings. Bears Ears National Monument protects the history of hundreds of generations of native peoples who have lived in the surrounding sandstone canyons, desert mesas and meadow mountaintops – it’s also one of the densest and most significant cultural landscapes in the U.S. Gold Butte National Monument – a rugged desert adorned with dramatic red sandstone and twisting canyons – protects significant cultural resources, important geological formations, rare fossils and vital plant and wildlife habitat. https://on.doi.gov/monuments 

Photos by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.

As bright as freshly fallen snow, the gypsum sands at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico are a mesmerizing sight. And just like snow, you can even go sledding on the dunes – while you may not need a winter coat, it can still get chilly. Be sure to stay for sunset and the cotton-candy colors that shine on the dunes and mountains. Photo by Amy Proctor (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

The solitude and beauty of a winter sunrise at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is unmatched. The park protects the United States’ deepest lake, which rarely freezes even in cold temperatures. Make the most of the season by strapping on snowshoes or skies to explore this volcanic landscape of scenic views and old-growth forests. Photo courtesy of Jordan McFall.

Nothing compares to staying up all night, watching the stars twinkle overhead. Derek Culver captured this amazing pic at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. The lights on the mountain: A few climbers getting an early start to the summit under the Milky Way.  Photo courtesy of Derek Culver.