More national park Instagram photos of @USInterior

Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more.

No matter how far it is to the summit, hiking a peak is great exercise, and the stunning views of the area below are hard to pass up! Case in point, the hike to Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park in California. It overlooks the Yosemite Valley below, offering views of Half Dome.

Sunrise after a snowfall paints Yosemite National Park in glowing white and subtle purple.

For a short time in February -- if the conditions are perfect -- Horsetail Fall at Yosemite National Park in California looks like lava falling down the side of El Capitan. Visitors flock to the park with the hopes of seeing this phenomenon, which happens when sunset hits the waterfall at just the right angle, illuminating the water in brilliant reds and oranges. It’s a spectacular sight reminiscent of Yosemite’s historic Firefall. Photo from 2012.

If you could wish upon a star and be transported anywhere, we recommend Yosemite National Park. In Yosemite Valley or the backcountry, at sunset or under a starry sky, Yosemite can make your dreams come true. Photo of Nevada Falls at night.

Yosemite National Park is home to countless waterfalls. Spring is the best time to enjoy waterfalls, when snowmelt sends water raging down the mountain walls. Peak runoff typically occurs in May or June, with some waterfalls (including Yosemite Falls seen here) often only a trickle or completely dry by August. Storms in late fall rejuvenate some of the waterfalls before winter’s frost coats the valley.

Half Dome catches the golden sunset light in the winter wonderland of Yosemite National Park. It’s a gorgeous winter scene.

When sunlight and water combine at just the right time at Yosemite National Park, it’s magical.

One of the busiest trails in Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows area is Cathedral Lakes. The trail climbs steadily and takes you to Upper Cathedral Lake and this dramatic view.

Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is a Yosemite National Park icon.

Only one word can describe this pic from Tunnel View at Yosemite: Epic!

Sunlight plays amazing tricks at Yosemite National Park, illuminating the park’s towering granite rock formations and making them appear on fire. Pictured here, El Capitan glows at sunset. This effect is known as alpenglow, and it commonly occurs at Yosemite during the winter months.

From Toroweap Overlook on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, the Colorado River shines in the sunset light at the bottom of the massive canyon. Put this view on your bucket list.

What could make the incredible beauty of Grand Canyon even more impressive? The answer is rainbows! Two shimmering streaks of color glow over the iconic landscape of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona in this lucky picture.

It doesn’t get much better than the views found at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. With seemingly unlimited vistas to the east and west, it is popular for both sunrise and sunset. This sunrise looks even better with some snow catching the light.

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is probably even bigger than you think. As the crow flies, Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim and the lodge on the North Rim are only about 10 miles apart. However, to drive between them through the park, over the Colorado River and loop around the canyon, you have to travel 212 miles. That’s just one small way to understand the immensity of this incredible place.

It’s hard to sit at the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park and imagine how all of this incredible landscape was created. Watching the waters of the Colorado River still working against the towering stone walls, you realize the only answer is time. The forces of erosion took around 6 million years to carve this masterpiece.

WOW! A lightning strike illuminates Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. This photo was taken a few years ago from the South Rim of the canyon by the Watchtower.

On February 26, 1919, this Arizona icon became a national park. Before it was a park, the Grand Canyon was first protected in 1893 as part of Grand Canyon Forest Reserve, helping to spread the word about the area’s awe-inspiring beauty.

Sunsets are amazing at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Randy Langstraat captured this pic from Cape Royal -- a point that provides a panorama up, down, and across the canyon. With seemingly unlimited vistas to the east and west, it is popular for both sunrise and sunset. Cape Royal is on the North Rim of the park, which will open for summer in May.

Sunset from one of the most beautiful places in the world: Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon’s immense size is hard to comprehend. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long and up to 18 miles wide.

A storm blankets Grand Canyon National Park in a layer of snow, creating this picturesque winter scene. While it often snows on the North and South Rims of the canyon during winter, the New Year's Storm that hit Arizona in 2015 brought snow all the way to the bottom of the canyon (a rare occurrence for the park).

Sunrise from one of the most beautiful places on the east coast: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Santosh Kanthety snapped this photo of the park’s rolling mountains as first light illuminated the gorgeous fall colors.

Spring is an amazing time to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pictured here is part of Roaring Fork, which offers rushing mountain streams, glimpses of old-growth forest, and a number of well-preserved log cabins, grist mills and other historic buildings.

Sunrise at Great Smoky Mountains National Park: It's just gorgeous. As the sun peeks over the clouds, the fog begins to lift off the mountains.

A perfect winter morning at Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Sparks Lane in Cades Cove.

The views of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's stunning vistas are breathtaking, like this sunrise photo from Newfound Gap.

Nothing compares to experiencing the start of a new day at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A bear cub hanging out in a tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Black bears give birth during hibernation, and the female bears and their cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March and early April.

Located in the Cades Cove part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the trail to Abram Falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. At the end, you’re rewarded with stunning views of Abrams Falls that are pretty special in the autumn.

The observation tower at Clingmans Dome looms like a flying saucer against startrails in a purple night. Offering amazing views of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, the tower rests on the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi.

At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point -- offering spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond.

In the mid-1800s, painters of the Hudson River School flocked to Mount Desert Island in Maine and glorified its natural beauty with their brushstrokes -- inspiring patrons and friends to explore the area. As more people came to savor the fresh salt air, beautiful scenery and relaxed pace, the fame and popularity of this gorgeous coastline grew. After years of preservation efforts, this lovely landscape became Acadia National Park in 1929.

Bass Harbor Head Light is the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park. Currently a private residence for the commander of the local Coast Guard unit, the lighthouse dates back to 1858. Short trails lead to the shoreline on either side and provide spectacular views, especially at sunset.

With a record of 338 bird species encountered, Acadia National Park is considered one of the premier bird-watching areas in the country. In the forest or along the water, listen for calls and look for movement. If you get lucky, you could even spot a bald eagle.

The Milky Way shines above Sand Beach at Acadia National Park in Maine. From the water’s edge to the top of a Cadillac Mountain, you can get some amazing views of the night sky.

If you want to be the first person to see the sunrise in the continental U.S., you’ll need to take an early hike up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. As the sun peeks above the horizon and lights the Maine coastline, you’ll be treated to this gorgeous scene. Consider it a daily dose of nature’s love.

It’s another stunning sunrise over Acadia in Maine. People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast.

Tall trees and rolling mountains reflect in the still waters of Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park in Maine. Lakes and ponds add shimmering contrast to Acadia's forested and rocky landscape. Within or adjacent to the park, you can explore 14 great ponds and 10 smaller ponds.

Sunrise announces its approach with blazing orange light, igniting the sky in a burst of bold color. It’s just another morning at Acadia National Park in Maine.

Visitors flock to Acadia National Park to catch its famous sunrises. This one was captured along the rocky shores near Otter Cliffs.

Cute Alert! These two cuddly fox kits were spotted at Acadia National Park.

Pastel sunrise colors paint the sky over an ocean of clouds. Sunrises at Acadia National Park are the best!

Zion National Park preserves 229 square miles of red rock landscape that’s so stunning it looks surreal.

A gorgeous photo of the changing fall colors in Zion National Park. Kevin Roland captured this shot at one of the park's most popular areas -- the Narrows, a gorge with wall a thousand feet tall!

A gorgeous sunset over the Watchman in Zion National Park.

Zion National Park is home to massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink and red that soar into the sky above. Even during a passing rain storm, the iconic cliffs stand out.

Take a trip on Zion National Park’s The Subway. This popular backcountry hike through Utah’s breathtaking canyons requires a permit. Without any trails on the hike, be prepared for route finding, rappelling and even swimming.

The easiest way to explore Zion National Park is driving through the park on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. This 25 mile road winds through spectacular mountains, gorgeous canyons and stunning valleys. Blending in with the natural scenery, it’s a terrific feat of engineering.

On November 19, 1919, Zion National Park was established -- making it the first national park in Utah. Today, Zion's spectacular network of colorful canyons, forested mesas and striking deserts draw visitors from all over the world.

Some serious cute: Baby gray foxes at Zion National Park. In early summer, gray fox kits emerge and begin to explore their home in Zion Canyon.

This little ball of fluff is a Mexican spotted owlet. Mexican spotted owls have been listed as federally threatened and endangered since 1993 because of deforestation and habitat degradation. However, this skillful hunter has found sanctuary among Zion's canyons.

Far from urban sprawl, Zion National Park in Utah gets little light pollution and allows visitors to see bright stars in an exceptionally dark sky. The Milky Way glowing over the sandstone formations will have you gasping at the beauty above and below.

Sunlight streams through a grove of giant sequoias at Sequoia National Park in California. These massive trees are only found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and can live for 3,000 years. Their impressive size and unique beauty never fail to amaze.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks contain some 3,200 lakes and ponds, including Pear Lake, shown here. Dotting valley floors and hidden in forests, each is a unique treasure to be explored.

Breathtaking mountain views and 2,600 miles of rivers and streams make Sequoia National Park an adventurer’s paradise. Immerse yourself in the wild echoes of coyotes, or the exhilarating rumble of a summer storm; plunge your feet into the icy blue cold of an alpine lake; let your lungs breathe heavy and deep; soak your skin in the clear, close light of the sun.

Finding wonder and peace at Sequoia National Park is easy. Wandering among the titanic trees, catching a glimpse of wildlife and looking up at a spectacular night sky are all special moments to experience in the park.

Sequoia National Park in California is the perfect place for hanging out. Just ask this cute black bear cub!

Two young deer walk through the morning mist at Sequoia National Park in California.

In the heart of California’s Sierra Nevada is one of the most awe-inspiring sights: The giant sequoia groves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. These towering trees are some of the world’s largest (by volume). They are as tall as an average 26-story building, and they’re bases can exceed the width of many city streets.

Summer has arrived at Sequoia National Park in California, and it's stunning, especially at Aster Lake.

America's most famous naturalist and conservationist -- John Muir -- fought to protect America's wild places, and his writings convinced the government to conserve special sites like Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in California. pictured here is Sequoia National Park along the iconic John Muir Trail.

A fresh coat of snow has turned Sequoia National Park into a winter wonderland. Since 1925, community members have gathered every December to celebrate the General Grant Tree -- which is known as the nation's Christmas Tree.

As autumn arrives each year, acorn woodpeckers in the foothills begin harvesting acorns. The birds create holes in trees to store their bounty. Trees used by woodpeckers for storage are called granary trees, and may have up to 50,000 holes, each filled with an acorn, like this one at Sequoia National Park.

Visit Arches National Park in Utah and discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures unlike any other in the world. This red rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.

The massive sandstone monoliths along Park Avenue Trail at Arches National Park have imaginative and descriptive names. You won’t regret this easy one-mile hike. Where else can you walk in the shadows of the Tower of Babel, the Organ, the Three Gossips and Sheep Rock?

Along with cacti and sand dunes, reptiles are icons of the desert. If you visit Arches National Park during the summer, you are sure to see lots of lizards. After birds, reptiles are the most active animals once daytime temperatures go above 90 degrees. They are usually visible sunbathing on rocks or chasing insects with their lightning-quick reflexes. Pictured here is a colorful western collared lizard.

The Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park is a natural labyrinth of narrow passages between towering sandstone walls. Because of the challenging terrain of the Fiery Furnace, visitors must accompany a ranger-guided tour or obtain a hiking permit at the visitor center. While it may be a difficult hike, the amazing scenery is well worth the effort.

Standing 65 feet tall, Delicate Arch is the most famous sandstone formation in Arches National Park. Referred to simply as "the arch" by many newly arriving visitors, Delicate has an allure that is hard to explain but impossible to deny.

Double Arch is a striking sandstone formation at Arches National Park. Scrambling over boulders from shade to sun to shade is the perfect Utah adventure.

The breathtaking landscape of Arches National Park contains the greatest density of natural arches in the world. Throughout the park, rock layers tell a story of millions of years of deposition, erosion and other geologic events.

Mule deer are among the largest animals in Arches National Park. To find food and water, they are almost constantly on the move, but if you get lucky, they might stop to pose for a picture.

Purple skies and a rainbow make for a stunning shot of Arches National Park.

Red rocks frame a moonrise against dreamy blue skies at Arches National Park. Soaring pinnacles, massive fins and more than 2,000 natural stone arches create a geologic wonderland where inspiration and the imagination reign.

Stargazing is out of this world at Arches National Park. Photo of the Milky Way over one of the park's many rock formations.

When winter's snow arrives in Arches National Park's backyard. It's like icing on the cake!

A thundercloud floats over the endless marshes of Everglades National Park in Florida.

Although the captivation of the Everglades National Park has mostly stemmed from its unique ecosystem, an alluring human story is deeply interwoven with its endless marshes, dense mangroves, towering palms and tropical fauna. Various groups and people navigated through the watery landscape to make it home. Today, the most common human interactions are taking pictures and making memories.

Once common throughout the southeastern United States, fewer than 100 Florida panthers are estimated to live in Everglades National Park today. Perceived as a threat to humans, livestock and game animals, the species was nearly extinct by the mid-1950s. Today, the primary threats to the remaining panther population are habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation.

There are many reasons to visit Everglades National Park in Florida, but here is the cutest: baby owlets!

Everglades National Park has always been associated with birds. The warm, shallow and vast “River of Grass” has attracted all types of birds to this region for thousands of years. More than 360 different species of birds have been sighted. Here, an egret rests in a stand of cypress trees.

The most intrepid visitors to Everglades National Park can travel the 99 mile Wilderness Waterway. It’s an 8 day adventure you’ll never forget.

Everglades National Park spans across 1.5 million acres. These vast marshes and pinelands are an international environmental treasure. The amazing natural scenery will leave you stunned.

A gorgeous shot of first light over Long Pine Key Lake at the Everglades National Park in Florida. The largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., the Everglades is known for its unique mangrove forests.

Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for rare and endangered species -- like the manatee and American crocodile. The Everglades’ mangrove forests serve as a valuable habitat for marine species. During the dry months, wading birds congregate here to feed and nest, and in the summer, the mangrove forests provide the first line of defense against the howling winds and storms.

Alligators move three different ways on land. They high walk, belly walk and belly run. Alligators, like this one at Everglades, high walk when they aren't in a hurry.

There's no place in the world like Everglades National Park. Unlike early national parks established to protect majestic scenery, Everglades was established to preserve a portion of the unique Everglades ecosystem as wildlife habitat -- spanning across 1.5 million acres. The winter dry season, which lasts from December to April, is the best time for wildlife viewing in the park.

Most people think of desert heat at Joshua Tree National Park, but winter can often bring a dusting of snow.

Beside unique natural scenery and amazing night skies, Joshua Tree National Park is home to fascinating, but sometimes elusive wildlife. Can you spot the desert bighorn sheep in this picture?

Surrounded by twisted, spiky trees straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, you might begin to question your map. Where are we anyway? Don’t worry, you’re in Joshua Tree National Park and about to have a wonderful adventure.

The night sky is a glittering dome peppered with stars, planets, and passing meteors -- but most people no longer get to see it. In urban and suburban settings, artificial lighting and atmospheric pollutants wash out the light of the stars. Boasting some of the darkest nights in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park offers many visitors the chance to admire the Milky Way for the first time in their lives.

It’s rare enough to see one bighorn sheep, let alone five posing against the perfect backdrop of a dreamy pastel sunset! This amazing photo of Joshua Tree National Park in California by Koustubh Kulkarni won second place in the Share the Experience photo contest. Of the experience, Kulkarni says: “My wife first spotted the bighorn sheep in distance. The magnificent backdrop was just perfect and in this picture it almost looks like the sheep stopped to pose for us.”

At Joshua Tree National Park, nearly 800,000 acres were set aside to protect the unique assembly of natural resources. It is an important place for environmental study and an excellent place for nature photography.

Joshua Tree National Park is known for its exposed granite monoliths, rugged canyons and extensive stands of the Joshua tree -- the peculiar looking plant that is the park’s namesake. Sunsets are pretty spectacular here too.

Located just a few hours outside Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix, Joshua Tree National Park is a true desert wilderness. Two distinct environments -- the Mojave and the Colorado deserts -- come together in Joshua Tree.

Spectacular views of the night sky are one of the many reasons to visit Joshua Tree National Park in California.