The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is one of the country’s great hidden gems. For photographer Kate Wright, it’s a place to escape and be inspired. Refreshing as a bubbly beverage, the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers flow through 255 miles of the most scenic and undeveloped country in the Upper Midwest, winding through Minnesota and Wisconsin. Each winter, persistently cold temperatures lead to the thickening of ice on the lakes and river backwaters. The scenic beauty, recreation and wildlife habitat that this place provides makes it a breath of fresh air. Photo courtesy of Kate Wright (@ski.kc).

A new dawn on a new day at Acadia National Park in Maine. From the middle of October through early March, Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain is the first place where the sun appears each day in the continental United States. The wonders don’t stop after sunrise, though. Visitors can marvel at the fall colors and explore the forests, ponds, meadows and coastline on 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads. You’ll never want to leave. Photo by Roy Goldsberry (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Just a moment of calm and peace for your social media feeds.  

Enjoy this virtual escape to Glacier National Park in Montana. Photo by National Park Service.

This bison is enjoying a cool fall morning at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Although it looks calm, the best description of a bison’s temperament is unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. To a casual observer, a grazing bison appears slow and clumsy, but they can outrun and out-maneuver all but the fleetest horses. They can move at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and cover long distances at a lumbering gallop. So, be safe and watch them from a distance. Photo by Duane Weber, National Park Service.

Not all the trees are changing color. With highs in the 80s expected to persist for quite a while, you won’t think it’s fall at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges. With terrific fishing and the chance to see tiny key deer, we doubt you’ll be disappointed with the blue water, green plants and white sand. But if you really need to see bright yellow and orange, the sunrises and sunsets could help you out. Enjoy! Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

At Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, autumn brings changing colors, the exciting return of fall migratory birds like sandhill cranes and northern harriers and welcomed cooler temperatures. Just south of Albuquerque, Valle de Oro has transformed a dairy farm into a vibrant wildlife refuge. As the Southwest’s first urban national wildlife refuge, it holds the stunning backdrop of the Sandia Mountains and is an oasis for people and wildlife. Long-term plans aspire to make a mosaic of native Middle Rio Grande Valley habitats and continue to bring the area to life. A visit here, and you’re sure to find a few moments of peace, opportunities to learn more and an inspiring community with a lot of heart. Photo of sandhill cranes with the Sandia Mountains in the background by Anthony Temer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Texas might not be on your list of places to see amazing fall colors, but McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of the best spots in the state to enjoy watching the leaves shift from lush green to spectacular shades of yellow and orange. If that can’t convince you to visit, the park also has the four highest peaks in Texas, an ancient fossil reef, desert, dunes, canyons and remarkable wildlife. With so much to explore under a gorgeous blue sky, breathing in the fresh air, you’ll never want your walk in the woods to end. Photo by National Park Service.

Overlooking a dramatic view of crashing waves and rugged cliffs, it’s always a surprise how much exhilarating views can put the mind at ease. At Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii, the place offers a beacon of hope for wildlife and people alike. Photographer Ryan Fitzsimons explains “out of all of the places on the Hawaiian islands, the Northern side of Kauai is my favorite. It’s quiet, tropical and beautiful. It’s like stepping into the past with minimal people and lots of great birds and other wildlife.” Sometimes, we all need a bit of a break. Why not go where the waves break? Photo courtesy of Ryan Fitzsimons.

A mosaic of terrains and vegetation, Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area in Virginia is a wonderful place for an autumn adventure. The Bureau of Land Management maintains a network of 13 miles of hiking trails, 7 miles of horseback riding trails and 6 miles of thrilling mountain biking trails, which means you can pick your pace as you enjoy the fall colors of the rich hardwood forests. See you on the trails! Photo by Bureau of Land Management.

It’s only October, but Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is already getting some snow. These first flakes are just the beginning. Due to the park’s location at the crest of the Cascade Mountains, the area gets a tremendous annual average of 42 feet of snow. Because Crater Lake is fed entirely by snow and rain, the pure and deep water shines with an intense blue color. Surrounded by cliffs, the lake rests in the belly of a dormant volcano. The volcano once stood 12,000 feet tall, but it collapsed after a major eruption 7,700 years ago. Later eruptions formed Wizard Island, a cinder cone that rises from the water. Photo by National Park Service.