A photograph taken at Thorofare Mountain Overlook on September 9, 2012 in Shenandoah National Park. The dead tree in the foreground was one of the most beloved subjects in the park because of the great composition that it set up: a compliment of old life and new sunrises. This was the last picture that we captured of this iconic tree before it fell over. It’s amazing how much of a connection you can feel towards something that would be quickly overlooked in a different setting.

Photo: National Park Service

This is the perfect time of year to catch a sunrise at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia wouldn’t you agree? 

Photo: National Park Service

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia includes more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Within a workday’s access to millions of people, Chincoteague Refuge is one of the most visited refuges in the United States, providing visitors with outstanding opportunities to learn about and enjoy wildlands and wildlife.

Photo: USFWS 

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The refuge consists of over 112,000 acres of forested wetlands. Lake Drummond, at 3,100 acres and the largest natural lake in Virginia, is located in the heart of the swamp.

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge trails are open everyday for hiking and biking from sunrise to sunset unless otherwise posted. The refuge headquarters is located at 3100 Desert Road in Suffolk, Virginia, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. The headquarters is closed on weekends and federal holidays, the hiking and biking trails remain open.

Photo: Brian Hawkins, USFWS 

Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island  has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent. 

Photo: National Park Service 

This January 2012 photo captures morning light on the Pines Trail at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge along the North Carolina - Virginia border. The refuge consists of over 112,000 acres of forested wetlands. Lake Drummond, at 3,100 acres and the largest natural lake in Virginia, is located in the heart of the swamp.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Fort Monroe, a 19th century former Army post in Hampton, Virginia that is integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military - became the 396th park in the National Park System in 2011. This photo is of the bridge leading up to Postern Gate. Learn more about the park here.

Photo by Robert Kelly