Did you know how beautiful national parks are in winter?

While many national parks are at their busiest in the summer months, they're arguably at their most beautiful (and serene) in the heart of winter. Not convinced? Feast your eyes on these winter photographs from the @USInterior Instagram page.

Milky Way over Crater Lake National Park

 

The #MilkyWay creates a rainbow of stars above #CraterLake #NationalPark in #Oregon. On a cold, clear night, photographer Majeed Badizadegan captured multiple vertical shots to create this panoramic image, where the foreground is lit entirely by starlight. Photo courtesy of Majeed Badizadegan (@majeedbadizadegan). #find yourself #usinterior

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on May 6, 2016 at 4:15pm PDT

Awe-inspiring views from Four Mile Trail in Yosemite National Park

 

Breathtakingly beautiful views of #YosemiteValley await hikers on Four Mile Trail at #Yosemite #NationalPark in #California. For Jess Dales (@jess.wandering) pictured here, "Some places always feel like coming home." Be sure to check with the visitor center for hiking conditions. Photo @yosemitenps courtesy of Quin Schrock (@everchanginghorizon).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Apr 4, 2016 at 4:15pm PDT

A snowy scene in Grand Teton National Park

 

A gorgeous snowy scene of #GrandTeton #NationalPark in #Wyoming. Josh Packer (@packtography) took this photo at @grandtetonnps's Schwabacher's Landing. After hiding behind thick clouds for several hours, the #Tetons decided to make an appearance right at #sunset, creating this magnificent view! Photo courtesy of Josh Packer (@packtography).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Apr 1, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT

Backcountry winter wonderland in Mount Rainier National Park

 

#MountRainier stands as a icon in the #Washington landscape. Scott Kranz (@scott_kranz) captured this striking pic of the mountain in January while backcountry skiing the nearby #TatooshRange in Mount Rainier #NationalPark. "Clouds were in and out the whole day, and so when we were able to see the mountain, it was quite the sight." Photo courtesy of Scott Kranz (@scott_kranz). #pnw

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Mar 28, 2016 at 4:19pm PDT

Northern lights at White Mountains National Recreation Area

 

Picture yourself under the #NorthernLights at White Mountains National Recreation Area in #Alaska. Bob Wick – who caught this dramatic green display – describes his first experience photographing the #auroraborealis: "It was interesting to see how dynamic and fickle the display was, going from a dim glow to bright, dancing molten light pouring from the skies in a matter of 30 seconds. I have never seen or photographed anything in the #nightsky that compares!" Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Mar 15, 2016 at 8:29am PDT

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Desert sunrise at Canyonlands National Park

 

#Sunrise, snow and clouds mingle in this spellbinding photo of Canyonlands #NationalPark in #Utah. Photographer and freeskier Simon Dumont (@simondumont) woke up at 5:30 AM to capture this gorgeous view beneath the curving arm of @CanyonlandsNPS's iconic Mesa Arch – arriving in time to catch what he describes as "some of the best sunrise shots of my life." Photo courtesy of Simon Dumont (@simondumont).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Feb 19, 2016 at 3:47pm PST

Playful red foxes at Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge

 

#Alaska Peninsula National #WildlifeRefuge is a land of towering mountains, active volcanoes, broad valleys, fjords, tundra and glacially formed lakes. The @usfws refuge provides an important habitat for fish and #wildlife, like the brown bear, moose and these playful red foxes. Photo courtesy of Robert Dreeszen. 🐺🐺

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Jan 14, 2016 at 4:10pm PST

Ice caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

 

Over thousands of years, #LakeSuperior carved out caves in the sandstone cliffs of the #Wisconsin lakeshore. Today, when conditions are right, you can hike or paddle out and see these remarkable formations clad in snow and ice at #ApostleIslands #NationalLakeshore. For current information, go to http://www.nps.gov/apis. Photo of "The Keyhole" by Michael DeWitt (www.sharetheexperience.org).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Dec 29, 2015 at 8:31am PST

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Frosty hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park

 

#BryceCanyon National Park (@brycecanyonnps) in #Utah shimmers in sunlight and snow. We love how the snow clings to the trees and hoodoos (odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion). What a terrific #winter scene. Photo by Curtis Kautzer (www.sharetheexperience.org).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Dec 28, 2015 at 8:24am PST

Snow-covered sequoias in Sequoia National Park

 

Happy holidays from all of us at @usinterior! We're celebrating the day with this beautiful pic of snowy sequoias from Sequoia #NationalPark in #California. 🎄 #Sequoia (@sequoia_kingscanyon_np) is home to the world's largest trees, and there's no better place to see them than at the park's Giant Forest. Pictured here are Ned by Ed in the Round Meadow. Photo courtesy of Steve Bumgardner (@yosemitesteve).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Dec 25, 2015 at 8:07am PST