It's certainly no secret that the United States’ 58 National Parks are home to some of the most incredible landscapes in the world. The sheer number of parks alone is quite impressive, but the vast range of diversity is even more notable. From the towering rock faces of Zion Nation Park in Utah to the endless mountain ranges housed by Alaska’s Denali National Park, the United States contains breathtaking parks no matter what corner of the country you happen to reside in. In what is most likely aimed to regain visitors to these often overlooked gems, the United States Department of the Interior runs a very well maintained Instagram account to showcase our national treasures. Here are just 20 of their awe-inspiring images.
Yosemite National Park
Photo by Kari Cobb
Grand Teton National Park
Photo by Christina Adele
Yellowstone National Park
Photo by Cameron Patrick
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Photo by Katie McVey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
Sequoia National Park
Photo by Steven M. Bumgardner
Canyonlands National Park
Photo by Greg Sager
Glen Canyon National Recreation Center
Photo by Sylvia Zarco
Crater Lake National Park
Photo by Fstoppers' very own Michael Bonocore
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photo by Christopher Ewing
Bryce Canyon National Park
Photo by Steve Perry
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Photo by Bob Wick
Yosemite National Park
Photo by Toby Harriman
Photo by Ethan Killian
Grand Canyon National Park
Photo by Steve Perry
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Glacier Bay National Park
Badlands National Park
Photo by Harlan Humphrey
Crater Lake National Park
Photo by Greg Nyquist
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Photo by David Lane
Death Valley National Park
Photo by Mahendiran Mohan
If you’re itching to go outside and capture some landscapes of your own, consider hopping on the National Park Service’s website and locating a park near you. Grab your friends, some sleeping bags, and your camera and go have yourself an adventure. Just watch out for bears.
For more extraordinary photos, follow the US Department of the Interior on Instagram as well as several of the parks’ individual accounts.
[via PRI]
Hey thanks for including me Sam! :)
Overdone a bit in the HDR department don't ya think?
Hey mine is a 400 exposure star trail photo! :)
Hey Michael. That is a VERY nice image. As I'm sure you know, not what I was referring to. I mean look at the last one -'Death Valley National Park. And Crater Lake National Park. And Grand Canyon National Park. And the most egregious example - Canyonlands National Park. These images may as well be on a poster for "Examples of the overuse of HDR processing"
HDR can be cool when it's used correctly but it is easily overdone. IMHO