Photo credits
The photographers and sources whose work appears on this site.
Photos credited to Unsplash photographers are used under the Unsplash License. Unsplash photos are free to use but are not public domain; copyright stays with each photographer. Photos credited to the National Park Service are U.S. government works in the public domain, found through Wikimedia Commons.
Original photos and videos
All other photos and videos on this site, including every park video, are original works © Volt Grid Media, LLC. They are not public domain and may not be copied, downloaded for reuse, or republished without written permission.
Yellowstone
| Grand Prismatic Spring, the park's largest hot spring. | Photo by Iryna Marienko on Unsplash |
| The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. | Photo by Judi Smith on Unsplash |
| A river valley in the park interior. | Photo by Austin Farrington on Unsplash |
| The Yellowstone River running high. | Photo by Dustin Commer on Unsplash |
| Lamar Valley, the best wildlife viewing in the park. | Photo by Sterling Lanier on Unsplash |
Yosemite
| El Capitan from the Valley floor. | Photo by Adam Kool on Unsplash |
| Yosemite Valley in winter. | Photo by Aniket Deole on Unsplash |
| Sunset on Half Dome. | Photo by Yang🙋♂️🙏❤️ Song on Unsplash |
| Fall color in Yosemite Valley. | Photo by Rakshith Hatwar on Unsplash |
| Yosemite Valley reflected in still water. | Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash |
| Yosemite Falls over a flooded meadow. | Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash |
Grand Canyon
| Twilight on the South Rim. | Photo by Barth Bailey on Unsplash |
| The canyon at sunset. | Photo by Jad Limcaco on Unsplash |
| A South Rim overlook. | Photo by Christine Roy on Unsplash |
| An early morning hike below the rim. | Photo by Susanne Martinus on Unsplash |
| Summer monsoon lightning over the canyon. | Photo by Amanda Murphy on Unsplash |
Zion
| Sunrise over Zion in the fall. | Photo by Millie Olsen on Unsplash |
| Sunset from Angels Landing. | Photo by Varun Yadav on Unsplash |
| Looking across Zion Canyon from an overlook. | Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash |
| Prickly pear below the cliffs. | Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash |
| A starry night in Zion. | Photo by Natalie Chaney on Unsplash |
| The road into Zion. | Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash |
Great Smoky Mountains
| Layer after layer of Smoky Mountain ridges. | Photo by Joshua Burdick on Unsplash |
| The view from Clingmans Dome. | Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash |
| The smoke that gives the park its name, at sunset. | Photo by NATHAN MULLET on Unsplash |
| Laurel Falls. | Photo by Joshua Woods on Unsplash |
| Carter Shields Cabin in Cades Cove. | Photo by Michael Chambers on Unsplash |
| Ridgelines from near Clingmans Dome. | Photo by Travis Wyatt on Unsplash |
Rocky Mountain
| Dream Lake and Hallett Peak at sunset. | Photo by Abby Santurbane on Unsplash |
| A quiet lake below the Continental Divide. | Photo by Lauren Lopes on Unsplash |
| Chasm Lake below Longs Peak. | Photo by alyssa teboda on Unsplash |
| Snow lingers on the high peaks into summer. | Photo by Pablo Lara on Unsplash |
| An alpine lake in early season. | Photo by William King on Unsplash |
| Longs Peak from the Dream Lake trail. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
Acadia
| Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain. | Photo by Ran Ding on Unsplash |
| Granite ledges above the bay. | Photo by Rachel C on Unsplash |
| Jordan Pond and the Bubbles. | Photo by Benjamin R. on Unsplash |
| Jordan Pond in November. | Photo by Nanda Firdaus on Unsplash |
| Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. | Photo by James Coffman on Unsplash |
| A long lake framed by fall color. | Photo by Adrian Hernandez on Unsplash |
Glacier
| A trail above a turquoise glacial lake. | Photo by Harrison Steen on Unsplash |
| Lake Josephine in the Many Glacier valley. | Photo by David Morris on Unsplash |
| Trail views on a summer day. | Photo by Cole Allen on Unsplash |
| Iceberg Lake, a classic Many Glacier hike. | Photo by David Banning on Unsplash |
| St. Mary Lake in the morning. | Photo by Janne Simoes on Unsplash |
| Clear glacial water below the peaks. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
| Snowmelt waterfalls in early summer. | Photo by Nikolay Maslov on Unsplash |
| A snowy ridge above the forest. | Photo by Nikolay Maslov on Unsplash |
Grand Teton
| The Tetons just after sunrise. | Photo by Brady Stoeltzing on Unsplash |
| Sunrise at Schwabacher Landing. | Photo by Cora Leach on Unsplash |
| Mount Moran from Oxbow Bend. | Photo by Terence Burke on Unsplash |
| Fall color below the range. | Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash |
| Alpenglow over the Moulton Barn on Mormon Row. | Photo by Nate Foong on Unsplash |
Arches
| Delicate Arch in the last light of day. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| Delicate Arch at midday. | Photo by Ben Stiefel on Unsplash |
| Broken Arch. | Photo by NOAA on Unsplash |
| Courthouse Towers near the park entrance. | Photo by NOAA on Unsplash |
| A climber for scale under a giant arch. | Photo by Lauren Pandolfi on Unsplash |
| Delicate Arch with the La Sal Mountains beyond. | Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash |
Mount Rushmore
| The full sculpture from the viewing terrace. | Photo by Christopher Osten on Unsplash |
| The faces at sunset. | Photo by Ronda Darby on Unsplash |
| A clear-day view of the memorial. | Photo by caleb weiner on Unsplash |
| The Avenue of Flags. | Photo by Sebastian Enrique on Unsplash |
| Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. | Photo by Uniq Trek on Unsplash |
Bryce Canyon
| Bryce Amphitheater hoodoos. | Photo by Oleg Chursin on Unsplash |
| Sunrise over Bryce Canyon. | Photo by Tim Golder on Unsplash |
| Hikers among the hoodoos. | Photo by Ellis Dieperink on Unsplash |
| Hoodoo spires below the rim. | Photo by Alex Povolyashko on Unsplash |
| Bryce Canyon from the rim. | Photo by Oleg Chursin on Unsplash |
| Hoodoos in morning light. | Photo by Arnaud STECKLE on Unsplash |
| Thor's Hammer. | Photo by Ryan Jones on Unsplash |
Capitol Reef
| Cathedral Valley. | Photo by Brady Stoeltzing on Unsplash |
| The Castle near the visitor center. | Photo by Aiden Guinnip on Unsplash |
| Sunset over Capitol Reef. | Photo by Lori Stevens on Unsplash |
| Park entrance sign. | Photo by Karin Kim on Unsplash |
| Hickman Bridge. | Photo by Lori Stevens on Unsplash |
| Canyon country along Highway 24. | Photo by MARIOLA GROBELSKA on Unsplash |
Canyonlands
| Sunrise over Island in the Sky. | Photo by Kush Dwivedi on Unsplash |
| Mesa Arch at sunrise. | Photo by Andrey Grinkevich on Unsplash |
| Canyon rims and mesas. | Photo by Christoph von Gellhorn on Unsplash |
| White Rim country below Island in the Sky. | Photo by Dominik Schröder on Unsplash |
| Mesa Arch framing the canyon. | Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash |
| Layered canyons to the horizon. | Photo by Joshua Case on Unsplash |
Olympic
| Misty morning at Ruby Beach. | Photo by Brianna Parks on Unsplash |
| Sunset at Second Beach, La Push. | Photo by Brianna Parks on Unsplash |
| River valley and forested peaks. | Photo by Nick Da Fonseca on Unsplash |
| Olympic Mountains from a high viewpoint. | Photo by Beau Horyza on Unsplash |
| Hoh Rain Forest. | Photo by Georg Eiermann on Unsplash |
| Sea stacks at Ruby Beach at sunset. | Photo by Brianna Parks on Unsplash |
| Rain moving over the Olympic Mountains. | Photo by Robert Ritchie on Unsplash |
Mount Rainier
| Trail toward Mount Rainier. | Photo by Stephanie Bergeron on Unsplash |
| Rainier from the Tolmie Peak Trail. | Photo by Rianna Lloyd on Unsplash |
| Mount Rainier on a clear summer day. | Photo by Peter Emery on Unsplash |
| Rainier from the Silver Forest Trail at Sunrise. | Photo by Laura Briola on Unsplash |
| Overlook in Mount Rainier National Park. | Photo by Brianna Parks on Unsplash |
| Sunrise view from Naches Peak. | Photo by Devin H on Unsplash |
| Snow-covered Mount Rainier. | Photo by Kurt Von on Unsplash |
Joshua Tree
| Joshua trees at sunset. | Photo by Cedric Letsch on Unsplash |
| Boulders near Arch Rock. | Photo by john ko on Unsplash |
| Evening in Joshua Tree. | Photo by James Lee on Unsplash |
| Night sky over the desert. | Photo by Austin Human on Unsplash |
| Early morning among the Joshua trees. | Photo by William Foley on Unsplash |
| Cholla Cactus Garden. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
| Joshua trees and granite boulders. | Photo by Tyke Jones on Unsplash |
Death Valley
| Zabriskie Point at sunrise. | Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash |
| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at sunrise. | Photo by Steve Gribble on Unsplash |
| Badwater Basin at sunrise. | Photo by Oscar Aguilar on Unsplash |
| Zabriskie Point badlands. | Photo by Sung Shin on Unsplash |
| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. | Photo by Nick Möllenbeck on Unsplash |
| Temporary lake in Badwater Basin (2023). | Photo by Steve Gribble on Unsplash |
| Artist's Palette. | Photo by Carter Baran on Unsplash |
| Salt polygons at Badwater, 282 ft below sea level. | Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash |
Sequoia
| Giant sequoias. | Photo by Haci on Unsplash |
| General Sherman Tree. | Photo by Nils Rasmusson on Unsplash |
| Sierra foothills from above. | Photo by Thomas Haas on Unsplash |
| River through the sequoia forest. | Photo by Thomas Haas on Unsplash |
| View from the Generals Highway area. | Photo by Cameron Chey on Unsplash |
| Sequoia National Park forest. | Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash |
| Giant sequoia trunks. | Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash |
| Sequoia forest in snow. | Photo by Jun Yu on Unsplash |
Kings Canyon
| Highway 180 into Kings Canyon. | Photo by Deepak Adhikari on Unsplash |
| General Grant Tree. | Photo by Anagha Varrier on Unsplash |
| Pines in Kings Canyon. | Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash |
| Waterfall in Kings Canyon. | Photo by Nick Rickert on Unsplash |
| High Sierra backcountry from Black Rock Peak. | Photo by Max Gotts on Unsplash |
| Sequoias at Grant Grove. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
Crater Lake
| Wizard Island on a calm morning. | Photo by Robert Gray on Unsplash |
| Crater Lake from near the south rim. | Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash |
| Crater Lake. | Photo by Forsaken Films on Unsplash |
| View from Watchman Overlook. | Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash |
| Deep blue Crater Lake. | Photo by Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson on Unsplash |
| Wizard Island vista. | Photo by James Morden on Unsplash |
| Crater Lake rim view. | Photo by A Hubbs on Unsplash |
Shenandoah
| Fall color from Blackrock Summit in the park's South District. | Photo by Durul Dalkanat on Unsplash |
| The view from Stony Man, one of the park's highest peaks. | Photo by Taylor Wright on Unsplash |
| Skyline Drive heading toward Mary's Rock Tunnel. | Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash |
| Autumn hillsides along the drive through Shenandoah. | Photo by Naveen Naidu on Unsplash |
| A cascade on one of the park's mountain streams. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| Green mountains along the Blue Ridge in summer. | Photo by Girma Nigusse on Unsplash |
| An empty stretch of Skyline Drive. | Photo by René DeAnda on Unsplash |
| Rolling Blue Ridge hills under a clear sky in Shenandoah. | Photo by Girma Nigusse on Unsplash |
New River Gorge
| Fall foliage around the New River Gorge Bridge. | Photo by Janeson Keeley on Unsplash |
| The New River Gorge Bridge seen from Fayette Station Road. | Photo by Ian Pearthree on Unsplash |
| The New River winding through the forested gorge. | Photo by Marmi Sica on Unsplash |
| The New River below the gorge bridge near Fayetteville. | Photo by Tasha Penwell on Unsplash |
| Sandstone Falls on the New River. | Photo by Michael Barrick on Unsplash |
| A winding road through the forest in New River Gorge. | Photo by Marmi Sica on Unsplash |
| Whitewater rafting on the New River. | Photo by Jackalope West on Unsplash |
| A road through the woods in New River Gorge. | Photo by Marmi Sica on Unsplash |
Cuyahoga Valley
| The Cuyahoga River flowing over rocks through the valley. | Photo by Benjamin Lehman on Unsplash |
| Blue Hen Falls, photographed in infrared. | Photo by Benjamin Lehman on Unsplash |
| A train on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. | Photo by James Quinn on Unsplash |
| Locomotives of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. | Photo by James Quinn on Unsplash |
| Snow on the sandstone Ledges in winter. | Photo by Benjamin Lehman on Unsplash |
| Blue Hen Falls in a long-exposure vertical panorama. | Photo by Travis Essinger on Unsplash |
Indiana Dunes
| Beach grass and sand along Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes. | Photo by Gigin Krishnan on Unsplash |
| Dune grass above the Lake Michigan shoreline. | Photo by Adam Bouse on Unsplash |
| Lake Michigan from Indiana Dunes State Park, which is surrounded by the national park. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| A dune trail in Indiana Dunes State Park, next to the national park. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| Indiana Dunes Beach on an autumn afternoon (likely the state park beach inside the national park). | Photo by Steven Van Elk on Unsplash |
| Lake Michigan seen from Porter Beach. | Photo by Steven Van Elk on Unsplash |
| Dune grass on the sand dunes of Indiana Dunes National Park. | Photo by P Mantha on Unsplash |
Hot Springs
| Bathhouse Row seen from the Grand Promenade. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
| The domed Quapaw Baths on Bathhouse Row. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
| The Lamar Bathhouse, home of the park store, on Bathhouse Row. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
| Thermal spring water at the Hot Water Cascade. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
| Forested Ouachita ridges from the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
| A stone overlook shelter framing the forested hills. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
| The city of Hot Springs seen from inside the national park. | Photo by Shelby Cohron on Unsplash |
| Sunlight through oaks and pines on a ridge trail. | Photo by Yash Mannepalli on Unsplash |
Mammoth Cave
| The Historic Entrance. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Chief City, one of the largest rooms in the cave. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Broadway, a wide main passage. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Doyel Valley Overlook in winter. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Fog over the Historic Entrance. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Shower Bath Springs near Frozen Niagara. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The passage near Giant's Coffin. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Congaree
| The Boardwalk Loop winds through lush old-growth floodplain forest at Congaree National Park. | Photo by Hannah Cole on Unsplash |
| The elevated boardwalk passes between towering trees in Congaree's bottomland forest. | Photo by Leslie Cross on Unsplash |
| A rare coat of ice covers the swamp forest at Congaree after a winter storm. | Photo by Katie Ruocco on Unsplash |
| A road runs between tall trees in late-day light at Congaree National Park. | Photo by Leslie Cross on Unsplash |
| Tall, straight trunks crowd the old-growth forest floor at Congaree. | Photo by Jessica Taylor on Unsplash |
| A barred owl perches on a branch above the swamp at Congaree National Park. | Photo by Hannah Cole on Unsplash |
Everglades
| Open sawgrass marsh and water stretch to the horizon at dusk in Everglades National Park. | Photo by Erne Mtz on Unsplash |
| The Mahogany Hammock boardwalk crosses wetland toward a tropical hardwood hammock. | Photo by Hannah Cole on Unsplash |
| An American alligator rests in the grass in Everglades National Park. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| A quiet pond ringed by trees and grass glows in golden light in the Everglades. | Photo by Brice Cooper on Unsplash |
| Lotus and lily pads blanket a pond in Everglades National Park. | Photo by Hannah Cole on Unsplash |
| A purple gallinule walks across lily pads at sunrise in Shark Valley. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| The sun sets behind tall pine trees in Everglades National Park. | Photo by Hannah Cole on Unsplash |
| A swallow-tailed kite soars against a blue sky over Everglades National Park. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
Biscayne
| Boca Chita Key Lighthouse. | Photo by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash |
| Boca Chita Key from the water. | Photo by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash |
| Boca Chita Key with the Miami skyline in the distance. | Photo: Judd Patterson, National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Sunset at Adams Key. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Boca Chita Key harbor. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Mangrove shoreline. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Kayaking on Biscayne Bay. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The 1930s ornamental lighthouse on Boca Chita Key, Biscayne National Park. | Photo by Natali Quijano on Unsplash |
Dry Tortugas
| Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, surrounded by turquoise water. | Photo by RP C O N C I E R G E on Unsplash |
| Clear shallow water off Garden Key with Fort Jefferson beyond. | Photo by Nick Rickert on Unsplash |
| The brick walls of Fort Jefferson rising behind the beach on Garden Key. | Photo by Christopher Osten on Unsplash |
| Fort Jefferson's brick walls and the Garden Key harbor light. | Photo by Nick Rickert on Unsplash |
| Loggerhead Key Lighthouse, about 3 miles west of Garden Key. | Photo by Bryan Goff on Unsplash |
| A seaplane from Key West pulled up on the beach at Fort Jefferson. | Photo by Nick Rickert on Unsplash |
| A wide panorama of Garden Key and the Fort Jefferson harbor light. | Photo by RP C O N C I E R G E on Unsplash |
Badlands
| Layered, banded rock formations in the Badlands. | Photo by Gary Yost on Unsplash |
| Sunrise light on the Badlands formations. | Photo by Frank Thiemonge on Unsplash |
| Late-day sun breaking through clouds over the Badlands. | Photo by Mary Stahl on Unsplash |
| Rugged Badlands peaks under a blue sky. | Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash |
| Bighorn sheep grazing near a park road. | Photo by Alyssa Teboda on Unsplash |
| A bighorn ram with large curled horns beside a rock in the Badlands. | Photo by Zachary Lancaster on Unsplash |
| Brown and gray badlands ridges under a blue sky. | Photo by Veronika Bykovich on Unsplash |
| The Badlands National Park entrance sign on the open prairie. | Photo by Everett McIntire on Unsplash |
Wind Cave
| A bison rests in a prairie dog town as a pronghorn walks past. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Bison graze the mixed-grass prairie above the cave. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Boxwork in the Assembly Room, the cave's signature formation. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A bison calf, born orange, in a prairie dog town. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A bull bison grazing alone on the prairie. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Honeycomb-like boxwork along a cave passage. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A prairie dog feeds beside its burrow. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A pronghorn crosses the park's grassland. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Theodore Roosevelt
| The Little Missouri River winding through the badlands. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| Bison grazing in the sagebrush. | Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash |
| A female pronghorn on the prairie. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| A wild horse foal, part of the park's free-roaming herd. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| A park road curving through the grassy badlands. | Photo by Vasilis Karkalas on Unsplash |
| Layered clay and sandstone of a badlands butte. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| The stone entrance sign for Theodore Roosevelt National Park. | Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash |
| Sunlight breaking through clouds over the badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. | Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash |
Voyageurs
| Islands and channels of the park seen from the air. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Northern lights over the park's dark skies. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Rocky shoreline and forested islands. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The view from one of the park's boat-in campsites. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Kabetogama Lake from the Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail. | Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Islands on Kabetogama Lake. | Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Cross-country skiers on a frozen lake in winter. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Isle Royale
| A cow moose swims ahead of her calf in the Rock Harbor channel. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Kayakers paddle past the rocky Lake Superior shore. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| An overlook of Tobin Harbor with a bench. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A backpacker rests on a rock outcrop along the Minong Ridge Trail. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The historic Ishpeming Fire Tower. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A red fox, one of the island's resident predators. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A lakeside cabin on the island. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The park's Ranger III ferry docked on the Portage Canal in Houghton. | Photo by Michael Loftus on Unsplash |
Gateway Arch
| The Arch lit up at night. | Photo by Kenny Nguyễn on Unsplash |
| The Gateway Arch rising over downtown St. Louis. | Photo by Sara Kozak on Unsplash |
| The Gateway Arch towering over the riverfront park. | Photo by Everett Dragert on Unsplash |
| The Arch and city skyline at sunset in 1982. | Photo by Dwayne Pounds on Unsplash |
| The Arch seen from the park grounds on a summer day. | Photo by Chris Hardy on Unsplash |
| The Arch's curve against a clear blue sky. | Photo by Johnson on Unsplash |
| The Gateway Arch illuminated on a quiet night. | Photo by Deepak Adhikari on Unsplash |
| The Arch's two legs under construction beside the Mississippi in 1965. | Photo by Dwayne Pounds on Unsplash |
Great Sand Dunes
| Afternoon shadows on the dunes, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains beyond. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
| Wind-sculpted ridges in the main dunefield at Great Sand Dunes. | Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash |
| Grassland at the edge of the dunefield, with dunes rising behind. | Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash |
| The dunes under moonlight; the park is a certified Dark Sky Park. | Photo by Andrew Gloor on Unsplash |
| Rippled sand slopes in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. | Photo by Emmanuel Appiah on Unsplash |
| A visitor on top of a dune, the best way to take in the park's scale. | Photo by Joshua Woods on Unsplash |
| Hikers crossing the dunes, dwarfed by the sand and mountains around them. | Photo by Isa on Unsplash |
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
| The Painted Wall, Colorado's tallest cliff at 2,250 feet. | Photo by Josh Berendes on Unsplash |
| The Gunnison River bending through the canyon far below the rim. | Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash |
| The Gunnison River curving around a bend in the gorge. | Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash |
| The Gunnison River at the bottom of the canyon's steep cliffs. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
| Sheer walls of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. | Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash |
| The river snaking through the depths of the Black Canyon. | Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash |
Mesa Verde
| Cliff dwellings tucked into a sandstone alcove at Mesa Verde. | Photo by Wallace Bentt on Unsplash |
| Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America. | Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash |
| Sandstone cliffs and pinyon-juniper forest at Mesa Verde. | Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash |
| Sandstone cliffs in Mesa Verde National Park. | Photo by MARIOLA GROBELSKA on Unsplash |
| Forested mesa slopes under a blue Colorado sky. | Photo by Yaroslav Muzychenko on Unsplash |
| Looking across a canyon to cliff dwellings from an overlook. | Photo by Deepak Adhikari on Unsplash |
| A wide view across the mesas and canyons of the park. | Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash |
Petrified Forest
| Banded purple, blue and red badlands in the Blue Mesa area. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| A petrified log beside the Blue Mesa trail. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| Snow-dusted badlands seen from the Blue Mesa trail. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| Close-up of the colorful grain in a petrified wood stump. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| A petrified log lying in the desert sand. | Photo by Jeff DeWitt on Unsplash |
| A historic building beside the desert in Petrified Forest National Park. | Photo by R B on Unsplash |
| The Blue Mesa road winding through the badlands, seen from an overlook. | Photo by Leon Wu on Unsplash |
Saguaro
| A paved path winding through saguaros toward distant mountains. | Photo by Christoph von Gellhorn on Unsplash |
| Saguaros in the Rincon Mountain District. | Photo: J. Wallner, National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A saguaro silhouetted at sunset. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Saguaros around Javelina Rocks in the Rincon Mountain District. | Photo by Fern Dweller on Unsplash |
| Saguaros below a granite peak. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A cactus flower in bloom. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A lone saguaro on a desert slope. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The Saguaro National Park entrance sign among desert cacti. | Photo by Royce Fonseca on Unsplash |
White Sands
| Two yuccas in the dunes at sunset, with the San Andres Mountains behind. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| Sunlight over rippled gypsum dunes on a quiet day. | Photo by Greg Bulla on Unsplash |
| A yucca on the white sand under an overcast sky. | Photo by Larry Costales on Unsplash |
| Photographers lined up on a dune to catch the sunset. | Photo by Andy Staver on Unsplash |
| Bright white gypsum dunes under a blue sky. | Photo by Halie West on Unsplash |
| A small plant anchored in the shifting dunes. | Photo by Sara Cottle on Unsplash |
| Dry grasses on the edge of the white dunes. | Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash |
| The White Sands National Park entrance sign. | Photo by Royce Fonseca on Unsplash |
Carlsbad Caverns
| The Caveman formation in the Big Room. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Cave formations along the trails of Carlsbad Cavern. | Photo by Hoyt Roberson on Unsplash |
| The Natural Entrance amphitheater, where visitors watch the evening bat flight. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The Hall of Giants in the Big Room. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The Chandelier formation in the Big Room. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Looking up and out of the Natural Entrance. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Bats leaving the cave at dusk. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Stalagmites along the cave trail. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The rim of the Natural Entrance seen from the trail down into the cave. | Photo by Cason Asher on Unsplash |
Guadalupe Mountains
| The Guadalupe Mountains rising above the Chihuahuan Desert. | Photo by Ryuta F. on Unsplash |
| Looking out over cliffs and canyons from the Guadalupe Peak Trail. | Photo by BENOIT LAMARCHE on Unsplash |
| The view across the range from high on Guadalupe Peak. | Photo by BENOIT LAMARCHE on Unsplash |
| Desert grassland below the cliffs of the Guadalupe Mountains. | Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash |
| The highway approach to the Guadalupe Mountains. | Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash |
| Clouds over the high country near Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. | Photo by BENOIT LAMARCHE on Unsplash |
| An interpretive sign and railing at an overlook in the park. | Photo by Gower Brown on Unsplash |
Big Bend
| The Rio Grande flows out of Santa Elena Canyon, with Mexico on the left and Texas on the right. | Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash |
| The Chisos Mountains rise above the desert along the main park road. | Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash |
| Rugged desert peaks in Big Bend National Park. | Photo by Sara Cottle on Unsplash |
| The towering cliffs at the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon. | Photo by Murali Raju on Unsplash |
| The Rio Grande winding through Santa Elena Canyon. | Photo by Dennis Lamberth on Unsplash |
| Blooming cactus with the twin Mule Ears peaks in the distance. | Photo by Katie Polansky on Unsplash |
| Evening light over the Rio Grande with the Chisos Mountains in the distance. | Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash |
| Big Bend after dark in one of the darkest parks in the lower 48. | Photo by David Morris on Unsplash |
Great Basin
| Wheeler Peak, the park's 13,063-foot high point. | Photo by John Bewlay on Unsplash |
| An ancient bristlecone pine under the night sky. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| An alpine lake below the peaks of the South Snake Range. | Photo by Meina Yin on Unsplash |
| The Milky Way over Wheeler Peak. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A mountain meadow and forest in Great Basin National Park. | Photo by Chris Kofoed on Unsplash |
| Stars over Stella Lake on the Alpine Lakes Loop. | Photo by Abhinav Choudhary on Unsplash |
| Fall color in the aspens of Great Basin National Park. | Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash |
| The historic Rhodes Cabin near the visitor center. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Lassen Volcanic
| A calm lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. | Photo by Anna French on Unsplash |
| Lake Helen, at the foot of Lassen Peak along the park highway. | Photo by Yang Liu on Unsplash |
| A steaming blue pool in Bumpass Hell, the park's largest hydrothermal area. | Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash |
| Cinder Cone rising above the forest in the park's northeast corner. | Photo by Thomas Fields on Unsplash |
| Snow lingering along the Bumpass Hell Trail. | Photo by Y S on Unsplash |
| A view from the Cinder Cone Trail toward snowy peaks. | Photo by Christopher Moran on Unsplash |
| Steam rising from the ground at Bumpass Hell. | Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash |
Redwood
| Fog and sunbeams in an old-growth redwood forest in Redwood National Park. | Photo by Zetong Li on Unsplash |
| Tall coast redwoods in Redwood National Park. | Photo by Rini Susan V S on Unsplash |
| Roosevelt elk grazing in a field near Redwood National Park. | Photo by Everett McIntire on Unsplash |
| A car on Howland Hill Road among the redwoods of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. | Photo by Tatonomusic on Unsplash |
| Old-growth redwoods, some over 1,000 years old, at a trailhead in Redwood National and State Parks. | Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash |
| Ferns on the forest floor in Redwood National Park. | Photo by Micah & Sammie Chaffin on Unsplash |
| Big Tree, a giant coast redwood in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. | Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash |
Pinnacles
| Rugged rock formations of the Pinnacles under a clear sky. | Photo by Cyrus Crossan on Unsplash |
| Rocky cliffs rise out of the surrounding oak and chaparral. | Photo by Hayleigh B on Unsplash |
| Volcanic rock spires rise above green chaparral in spring. | Photo by Moriah Bender on Unsplash |
| A rocky cliff face softened by green brush. | Photo by Macarena Ollarzú on Unsplash |
| Still water tucked among the rocks and trees of Pinnacles. | Photo by Mo on Unsplash |
| Jagged volcanic rock framed by spring greenery. | Photo by Hayleigh B on Unsplash |
| Craggy peaks seen from a trail high in the park. | Photo by Ben Guernsey on Unsplash |
| A rocky outcrop looks out over a hazy valley. | Photo by Macarena Ollarzú on Unsplash |
Channel Islands
| Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island, looking west toward Middle and West Anacapa. | Photo by Priya Karkare on Unsplash |
| Arch Rock, the natural bridge off the east end of Anacapa Island. | Photo by Priya Karkare on Unsplash |
| Sunset over low fog on Santa Cruz Island. | Photo by Dylan Taylor on Unsplash |
| A sailboat anchored in a rocky island cove. | Photo by Jolea Schwindt on Unsplash |
| Clear water over kelp, popular with snorkelers and kayakers. | Photo by Jolea Schwindt on Unsplash |
| A rock arch over the water, a classic Channel Islands sight from the boat. | Photo by Hayleigh B on Unsplash |
| Sunset over the water at the Channel Islands. | Photo by Jared Murray on Unsplash |
North Cascades
| Diablo Lake's turquoise water, framed by forested peaks along the North Cascades Highway. | Photo by Rich Martello on Unsplash |
| A mountain lake below Trappers Peak in the park's Skagit district. | Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash |
| Sunset at the Sahale Glacier camp, high above Cascade Pass. | Photo by Atanas Malamov on Unsplash |
| Ross Lake seen from the Desolation Peak trail. | Photo by Craig Kerwien on Unsplash |
| A kayaker on Ross Lake in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. | Photo by K Lee Corey on Unsplash |
| Diablo Dam, which holds back Diablo Lake on the Skagit River. | Photo by Brewing Cats on Unsplash |
| Liberty Bell Mountain at Washington Pass, just outside the park on Forest Service land. | Photo by Mark Raptapolus on Unsplash |
| Diablo Lake beside the North Cascades Highway (SR 20). | Photo by Wallace Bentt on Unsplash |
Denali
| Denali rising above the forest on a clear day. | Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash |
| A park bus crosses the Savage River bridge at Mile 15 in fall color. | Photo by Corey Simoneau on Unsplash |
| A moose on the trail near Horseshoe Lake, close to the park entrance. | Photo by Stephen Crane on Unsplash |
| The colorful Polychrome Mountains along the Denali Park Road. | Photo by Patrick Federi on Unsplash |
| The Savage River valley, reached by an easy loop trail at Mile 15. | Photo by Stephen Crane on Unsplash |
| First light on Denali on a winter morning at 30 below. | Photo by Landon Arnold on Unsplash |
| A braided river winding through a green valley in the park. | Photo by Stephen Crane on Unsplash |
| Denali on a late September day, when snow returns to the peaks. | Photo by Patrick Federi on Unsplash |
Wrangell-St. Elias
| The Kennecott concentration mill stands several stories high beside the Kennicott Glacier. | Photo by Jim Witkowski on Unsplash |
| Red-and-white mine buildings at Kennecott, a National Historic Landmark. | Photo by Patrick Federi on Unsplash |
| A flightseeing outfitter's hangar in McCarthy. | Photo by Patrick Federi on Unsplash |
| The Copper River with the Wrangell Mountains in the distance. | Photo by Corey Simoneau on Unsplash |
| Mount Drum, a 12,010-foot volcano in the Wrangell Mountains, above a lake. | Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash |
| The highway toward Mount Drum on the park's western edge. | Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash |
Glacier Bay
| A tidewater glacier flows from snowy peaks into Glacier Bay. | Photo by Cai Photography on Unsplash |
| Icebergs drift past the mountains of Glacier Bay. | Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash |
| Margerie Glacier at the head of Tarr Inlet. | Photo by Frank Thiemonge on Unsplash |
| Mountains reflected in calm water on a gray day in Glacier Bay. | Photo by Phil Reaves on Unsplash |
| A boat passes a large iceberg in Glacier Bay. | Photo by Eric Hooper on Unsplash |
| Mounts Wilbur and Orville rise above the waters of Glacier Bay. | Photo by Frank Thiemonge on Unsplash |
| Mountains around Glacier Bay seen from a cruise ship in July. | Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash |
| Floating ice in Glacier Bay. | Photo by Eric Hooper on Unsplash |
Kenai Fjords
| Glaciers and blue water along the Kenai Fjords coast. | Photo by William VanBuskirk on Unsplash |
| A glacier pours down from the mountains in Kenai Fjords National Park. | Photo by Ella Deane on Unsplash |
| Aialik Glacier flows between dark mountains into ice-dotted Aialik Bay. | Photo by Shino Nakamura on Unsplash |
| Three sea otters in the waters of Kenai Fjords. | Photo by Kedar Gadge on Unsplash |
| Two hikers look out over snow and ice in Kenai Fjords National Park. | Photo by Cam Fattahi on Unsplash |
| Jagged cliffs and evergreens on the Kenai Fjords coast. | Photo by Heather Steffey on Unsplash |
| Snowy peaks above green slopes in Kenai Fjords National Park. | Photo by Ella Deane on Unsplash |
| A boat on a misty morning in Kenai Fjords National Park. | Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash |
Katmai
| A sow and her cub at Brooks Falls, the park's most famous bear-viewing spot. | Photo by Carol Highsmith's America on Unsplash |
| Naknek Lake and the Brooks River area seen from Dumpling Mountain. | Photo by Emilio Borraz Ortega on Unsplash |
| Two brown bears face off in the water, a common sight along the Brooks River. | Photo by Emilio Borraz Ortega on Unsplash |
| A mother brown bear and her cubs at the edge of Naknek Lake. | Photo by Paxson Woelber on Unsplash |
| Backcountry tents pitched high on Dumpling Mountain above Brooks Camp. | Photo by Emilio Borraz Ortega on Unsplash |
| A brown bear swimming in Katmai's salmon-rich waters. | Photo by Emilio Borraz Ortega on Unsplash |
| A brown bear swims toward the camera at Katmai. | Photo by Emilio Borraz Ortega on Unsplash |
Lake Clark
| Mountains above the lakeshore at sunset. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Lake Clark from the air. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A bush plane takes off from Port Alsworth, the park's gateway on Lake Clark. | Photo by Daron Kuzina on Unsplash |
| The Chulitna Bay watershed from the air. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A satellite view of Redoubt Volcano erupting in March 2009. | Photo by USGS on Unsplash |
| Small planes and mountains at Port Alsworth, where most visits begin. | Photo by Daron Kuzina on Unsplash |
Gates of the Arctic
| The Alatna River winding through a long valley. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The granite spires of the Arrigetch Peaks. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Low clouds over a mountain pass in Gates of the Arctic in August. | Photo by Sauvage on Unsplash |
| Gates of the Arctic from the air in summer. | Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A small tarn in Oolah Valley in the Itkillik Preserve. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Dall sheep rams seen from the air. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The North Fork of the Koyukuk River. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A hiker crossing open tundra below the Brooks Range. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Kobuk Valley
| The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes beside the boreal forest. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The edge of the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Wind-rippled sand in the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes from the air. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Wetlands along the Kobuk River. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| The Kobuk River winding through the valley. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Lakes and wetlands along the Kobuk River. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Haleakalā
| Clouds pouring into Haleakalā Crater near the 10,023-foot summit. | Photo by NOAA on Unsplash |
| Cinder cones and colorful ash on the floor of Haleakalā's summit crater. | Photo by NOAA on Unsplash |
| Early light over Haleakalā's crater at sunrise. | Photo by Aly Crouse on Unsplash |
| Cinder cones inside Haleakalā's summit crater. | Photo by Jonathan Saleh on Unsplash |
| A waterfall at the Pools of ʻOheʻo in the Kīpahulu District. | Photo by Meredith Fingarson on Unsplash |
| Soft morning light on the slopes of Haleakalā. | Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash |
| Haleakalā Crater at the end of the long, winding summit road. | Photo by Carol Highsmith's America on Unsplash |
| Looking down into Haleakalā Crater from the summit area. | Photo by Char Beck on Unsplash |
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
| Lava fountains at Halemaʻumaʻu during episode 26 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in 2025. | Photo by James Lee on Unsplash |
| Lava glowing at night in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. | Photo by Zongnan Bao on Unsplash |
| A Kīlauea eruption plume rising over the summit in 2025. | Photo by James Lee on Unsplash |
| A lava flow at sunrise in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. | Photo by Jack Ebnet on Unsplash |
| Lava sea cliffs along the park's coastline. | Photo by Jerry Jiang on Unsplash |
| Kīlauea's summit caldera with the plume from the 2021 eruption. | Photo by Oskar Holm on Unsplash |
| Nēnē, Hawaii's state bird, grazing in the park. | Photo by Rachel LaBuda on Unsplash |
| Kīlauea lava pouring into the ocean in 2017, when flows reached the park's coast. | Photo by Marc Szeglat on Unsplash |
American Samoa
| Ofu Beach on Ofu Island, in the park's Manuʻa Islands unit. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Ofu and Olosega, separated by a narrow strait. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Porites and Acropora corals in the park's reef flat pools. | Photo: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| White sand and a calm lagoon at Ofu Beach. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Peaks above Pago Pago Harbor on Tutuila, home to the park's largest unit. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| Matafao Peak, the highest point on Tutuila. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
| A rainbow over the green mountains of Tutuila. | Photo: National Park Service (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
Virgin Islands
| Aerial view of white sand and green forest at Trunk Bay. | Photo by Braden Egli on Unsplash |
| A small cay off Trunk Bay surrounded by clear blue water. | Photo by Cyrus Crossan on Unsplash |
| Green hillsides and clear water at Trunk Bay, home of the park's snorkel trail. | Photo by Josh Duncan on Unsplash |
| White sand and blue water at Cinnamon Bay, St. John's longest beach. | Photo by Brittany Stone on Unsplash |
| Trees beside the blue water of Trunk Bay. | Photo by Hans on Unsplash |
| Aerial view of Honeymoon Beach and its turquoise water. | Photo by Wadé on Unsplash |
| A wide panorama of the beach at Trunk Bay. | Photo by Josh Duncan on Unsplash |