In the wake of massive cuts to the U.S. National Park System, I am left feeling dismayed and, quite frankly, outraged. About 10 years ago, I wrote a couple of posts (here and here) lauding the NPS and sharing my favorite photos taken in National Park lands in honor of its 100th anniversary. This post will contain a lot of those same photos, plus some new ones. I am sharing my favorite photo from each of 39 National Park lands I’ve visited. As a gesture of support towards maintaining these cherished lands, if you order a print of one of these photos between now and March 31, I will donate 50% of my profit to the National Parks Conservation Association. Click here to view my previous NPS posts.
Acadia National Park, Maine – 2021
This photo depicts Long Porcupine Island in the Mt. Desert Narrows. I took this photo during a stunning sunset cruise. Click here to see more photos from that evening. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Alcatraz Island, California – 2010
This photo depicts the island, home to the former Alcatraz Penitentiary Center, from San Francisco Bay. Back in 2010, I took a fascinating evening tour of the island. While I took a lot of neat photos on the island itself, my favorites are actually of the island from a distance, such as this one.
Arches National Park, Utah – 2017
This photo depicts the impressive Double Arch. Wow, what an amazing trip that was (and you’ll see more photos from the trip in subsequent photos below). There was just something about getting up close to the Double Arch that I thought was so impressive. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Boston National Historical Park, Massachusetts – 2018
This photo depicts the Bunker Hill Monument, part of the Freedom Trail. When visiting a friend in Boston in 2018, we walked the entire Freedom Trail, which includes this monument and the park. After climbing to the top of that, your legs definitely feel like jelly!
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah – 2017
This photo depicts a stunning sunrise witnesses from the Navajo Loop Trail, with Thor’s Hammer visible in the foreground. This is another photo from that incredible trip to the American Southwest. Taking a sunrise walk partway down the Navajo Loop Trail to get this photo was probably the highlight of the entire trip. It’s not for the faint of heart, though: there are no railings! Click here to order a print of this photo.
Canaveral National Seashore, Florida – 2010
This photo depicts an overcast day at Playalinda Beach in Titusville. When my grandmother lived in Florida, we used to visit this beach all the time when we went to visit her. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts – 2012
This photo depicts a long exposure at dusk at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham. I’ve taken hundreds of photos on the beaches of Cape Cod, but the light and the color of the clouds in this one still sticks out to me as a favorite. The sun sets on the bay, but that doesn’t mean it’s not pretty on the ocean side. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Saint Augustine – 2011
When I took this photo, I was kind of disappointed that there were two people in it, but now I think it makes a cool silhouette and enhances the photo.
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, New York – 2014
This photo depicts Val-Kill, the private residence of Eleanor Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York. I visited Hyde Park in 2014 to explore the historical landmarks there.
Ellis Island, New York – 2015
This photo depicts the Registry Room, where thousands of immigrants awaited medical and legal inspection daily in the early 20th century. You learn about this in history class, but then to stand there in person and imagine the decades of history that transpired there is a very moving experience.
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Virginia – 2006
This photo depicts the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington. It’s a rather unorthodox angle, but when something’s been photographed a million times, it’s nice to see what kind of different take you can do on it.
Glacier National Park, Montana – 2015
This photo depicts a long exposure of Swiftcurrent Lake from the Many Glacier Hotel at dusk. Watching the sunset from the balcony of the Many Glacier was a beautiful experience. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona – 2017
This photo depicts a view of Lake Powell from the Wahweap Overlook. I love the way there is a huge shadow cast by the cloud. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – 2017
This photo depicts the South Rim of the Grand Canyon at sunset. This remains probably my favorite photo of the Grand Canyon. It’s honestly pretty hard to take a bad photo of this place. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming – 2013
This photo depicts the T.A. Moulton Barn on Mormon Row, one of the most photographed barns in the world. While I was there taking photos, I ran into Jeff Clow, a photographer I follow on Flickr! Small world.
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, New York – 2014
This photo depicts a guest room at Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s childhood home in Hyde Park. I like using my fisheye lens for shots like this when you aren’t allowed to actually go in the room.
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, Oregon – 2016
This photo depicts a classic view of the Columbia River Gorge and the Crown Point National Natural Landmark from the Portland Women’s Forum Viewpoint. This viewpoint has been photographed thousands of times, but there’s something about being able to witness and photograph it for yourself. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Oregon – 2016
This photo depicts Fort Clatsop, a recreation of the outpost Lewis and Clark set up in Oregon at the end of their expedition before heading back home. Here, they stopped for several months to make supplies to last their way back.
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Washington – 2016
This photo depicts the view from Dismal Nitch, near the Oregon-Washington state line, where the Lewis & Clark Expedition got stuck for five nights. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado – 2017
This photo depicts Cliff Palace, one of the ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. Cliff Palace was closed when I was at Mesa Verde, so this was actually photographed from Balcony House. While getting a tour of Balcony House, I fell down some steps and sprained my ankle. I didn’t care too much, because my camera was okay and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington – 2022
This photo depicts the breathtaking Tatoosh Mountains at twilight, photographed from the Paradise Inn. I was lucky enough to actually be able to see Mount Rainier, as clouds can often obscure it for days on end, but still this photo is my favorite that I took in the park. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Muir Woods National Monument, California – 2010
This photo depicts my parents walking along the trail in Muir Woods. If you enjoy tall trees, northern California is the place to be. It really evokes a sense of wonderment.
National Mall and Memorial Parks, District of Columbia – 2006
This photo depicts a view looking down the National Mall towards the Washington Monument and United States Capitol. I spent a lot of time in Washington, DC in the 2000s, and I used to love walking up and down the National Mall and visiting all the museums and monuments.
Olympic National Park, Washington – 2022
This photo depicts a long exposure of Madison Creek Falls. You don’t often think of a telephoto lens as a landscape lens, but zooming in on these falls gave me a field of view I really liked. I took a wide angle shot as well, and I didn’t like it nearly as much. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Oregon National Historic Trail, Oregon – 2016
This photo depicts a view of Lyle, Washington from across the Columbia River in Rowena, Oregon. It almost looks like a little miniature town. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site, District of Columbia – 2006
This photo depicts a street sign at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, the address of the White House.
Point Reyes National Seashore, California – 2014
This photo depicts the famous Cypress Tree Tunnel, looking towards the Point Reyes Receiving Station. The building is now the Point Reyes National Seashore’s North District Operations Center.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Massachusetts – 2021
This two shot panorama depicts the Pedrick Store House and Friendship of Salem. I had wanted to visit Salem for years, and what a cool town it is.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California – 2012
This photo depicts building on the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, which was used in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and a number of other productions. Since visiting the ranch in 2012, I have looked up and watched several of the films and TV shows shot here. It’s fun to watch a production when you’ve actually been to the filming location. Sadly, much of the ranch burned down in the 2018 Los Angeles wildfires.
Saratoga National Historical Park, New York – 2014
This photo depicts a sunrise at the Neilson House at Saratoga Battlefield. Sunrises are usually very beautiful, but on this particular August morning, it was simply spectacular, and that light peeking through the trees felt like something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting.
Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, District of Columbia – 2006
This photo depicts the United States Capitol. I was lucky enough to take several tours of this beautiful building during my visits there in the 2000s. It’s hard to look at this photo, or any photo of the Capitol Building, and not think of the horrific events that took place there on January 6, 2021. I know I do every time.
Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York – 2015
This photo depicts Lady Liberty as seen from the Upper Bay. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, reminds us that America has a long history of welcoming immigrants.
The White House, District of Columbia – 2006
This photo depicts the north façade of the White House. I was lucky enough to get a tour of the White House in 2008, but unfortunately, at the time, cameras were not allowed inside the building.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, New York – 2014
This photo depicts the sitting room of the Vanderbilt Mansion. This is another example of using a fisheye lens to make the most of photographing a room from the entryway. This also happens to be one of my most stolen photos.
Washington Monument National Memorial, District of Columbia – 2006
This photo depicts the Washington Monument on a pleasant late spring evening.
World War II National Memorial, District of Columbia – 2006
This photo depicts the World War II Memorial fountain with the Washington Monument visible in the background.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming – 2013
This photo depicts a long exposure of Lower Yellowstone Falls, known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, as seen from Artist Point. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Yosemite National Park, California – 2014
This photo depicts El Capitán at night, taken during a moonlight tram tour of the Yosemite Valley. For this shot, I had about a minute to get it right before the tram kept going. I set up my tripod right next to me on the seat and took a few exposures until I captured this one. I like how the tram lights illuminated the trees. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Zion National Park, Utah – 2017
This photo depicts the magical looking light produced by the setting sun at Court of the Patriarchs. Click here to order a print of this photo.
The National Parks are national treasures and need to be accessible to all and preserved for future generations. If you felt this post helps showcase the beauty and history of America’s National Park lands, please consider sharing it, and/or consider purchasing a print.
To see more of my travel photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “A Tribute to America’s National Park Lands”
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Love our National Parks and love these photos!