"About 1.2 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created a 13-mile-wide circular depression in the earth now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history."

"High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes."

"Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world."

How about those trees! Taller than tall, "A forest with giant sequoias, the largest trees in the world, is a feast for the senses. The giant sequoias’ red/orange bark is distinct among the grey and brown bark of other trees. And if you stand beneath one of these giants, you can gaze all the way up its tall trunk and through its high branches to see sky above. The treetop is often hidden above the highest branches.

Who says geology is boring or dull? "Dinosaurs once roamed here. Their fantastic remains are still visibly embedded in the rocks. Today, the mountains, desert, and untamed rivers flowing in deep canyons support an array of life. Petroglyphs hint at earlier cultures. Later, homesteaders and outlaws found refuge here."

"The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park!" Arrive before dark with your camera to photograph the sunlight bathing dunes and peaks as the sun sets.

According to the NPS, "The skunkbush sumac, also known as lemonade bush, forms pedestals by binding gypsum sand grains into a compact mass around its roots, branches, and trunk. In the spring before the leaves appear, clusters of yellow and white flowers make the plant stand out. The plant also produces red and orange berries used by American Indians to make a tart lemonade-like drink. The flexible stems of the plant were used for basketry and binding. The branches contain tannin, which is useful in producing dyes.

Rugged, colorful landscape and bison roaming that landscape will greet the viewer upon a visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. According to the NPS, "When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today."

Happy New Year, Travelers! Where will the trail take you for 2024? Perhaps to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California?

The Traveler asked contributing photographer and writer Rebecca Latson what parks she might want to visit that she'd never traveled to before and this month's Park Photo of The Week is a photographic list of the parks in which she'd like to photograph this year or in the coming years. Maybe these parks are places you've already visited, or places to which you'd like to travel, yourself.

As the sun sets on another year, this is a reminder for you to always be a National Parks Traveler. Stick to the trails and boardwalks, pack out what you pack in, don't pet the fluffy cows or feed the wildlife, and practice the Leave No Trace Principles. Ensure these public landscapes are left in pristine condition for future generations.