In All Their Glory: Spring in America's National Parks

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 20, 2015 with the caption, "Happy first day of spring! Now is the perfect time to start planning a visit to America's gorgeous public lands. Pictured here is a meadow of wildflowers at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington at sunset. Photo by Danny Seidman".

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 19, 2015 with the caption, "The journey through Zion National Park's The Subway is like no other. Without any trails, hiking The Subway requires route finding, rappelling and even swimming. Photo by Korey Taylor."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 15, 2015 with the caption, "Lake Clark National Park is a land of stunning beauty where volcanoes steam, salmon run, bears forage, craggy mountains reflect in shimmering turquoise lakes, and local people and culture still depend on the land and water of their home. Solitude is found around every bend in the river and shoulder of a mountain. Venture into the park to become part of the wilderness."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 20, 2015 with the caption, "Sunset at EvolutionLake at Kings Canyon National Park in California is truly beautiful. The last light of the day makes the mountains surrounding the lake glow - a phenomena that is known as alpenglow. Photo courtesy of Greg Owens"

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 27, 2015 with the caption, "MesaArch at Canyonlands National Park is one of the most photographed arches in southeast Utah. This location is especially popular at sunrise, when groups of photographers often lay in wait for the glow of sunrise on the bottom of the arch. Even with the crowds, it's an incredible experience."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 9, 2015 with the caption, "El Capitan makes its first appearance as an early morning fog burns off in the valley at Yosemite National Park in California. Photo courtesy of Michael Bonocore."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 14, 2015 with the caption, "Male mountain bluebird along Upper Beaver Meadows Road in Rocky Mountain National Park late this week. Photo by NPS/VIP Schonlau"

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on Nov. 20, 2014 with the caption, "Named one of the must-see places for 2015 by National Geographic Travel, the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington is full of rich history and natural beauty. Visit in March and April to see the park's iconic cherry blossoms at their peak."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 23, 2015 with the caption, "Discover Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. The monument is best known for its geologic amphitheater -- a brilliantly colored limestone coliseum that plunges a half-mile deep. Surrounding the canyon are lush meadows and one of the world's oldest trees, the bristle cone pine. Sunset photo by Bud Walley".

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 24, 2015 with the caption, "The scenic Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area in Colorado is known for its mountains, multi-colored rock formations, diverse vegetation and vast, open vistas. The area is home to Handies Peak, which rises 14,048 feet over the area -- plus 12 other peaks that are more than 13,000 feet, three major canyons, glacial cirques and three alpine lakes. This landscape makes Handies Peak WSA a perfect getaway for hiking, backpacking, camping, mountain climbing and photography. Photo by Bob Wick"

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 24, 2015 with the caption, "Stargazing is out of this world at Arches National Park in Utah. Photo of the Milky Way over one of the park's many rock formations by Manish Mamtani."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 25, 2015 with the caption, "Muir Woods National Monument is a remnant of ancient coast redwood forests that blanketed many northern #California coastal valleys before the 1800s. A short drive from San Francisco, Muir Woods is home to massive redwoods that are hundreds of years old. The tallest tree is more than 250 feet tall and over 14 feet wide. Photo courtesy of Duane Jurma"

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 25, 2015 with the caption, "This isn't the view at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming today, but it will be come summer. Scotty Perkins captured this shot of the Teton Range and the meandering Snake River at dawn - a shot that was made famous by Ansel Adams."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 26, 2015 with the caption, "A gorgeous early spring morning shot of Yosemite National Park in California. Pictured here is part of the YosemiteValley, which is home to many of the park's famous cliffs and waterfalls. Photo by Douglas Croft."

The US Dept. of the Interior posted this photo to Instagram on March 27, 2015 with the caption, "The sky is ablaze with color at the Jefferson Memorial -- which is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington".