THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL PARKS WEEK, and the National Parks are kind of our jam here at Matador. They are, as writer Wallace Stegner once said, “America’s Best Idea.” They are our most beautiful swaths of wilderness, and may well be our most precious resources. We’ll be featuring National Parks content all week here, but today, we decided to do something special. We asked the Matador Creators Community to submit their best ever photos of America’s National Parks.
Photo by Tom Archer
20 Beautiful Pictures of Our National Parks From the Matador Creator's Community
The Creator’s Community is a network of both aspiring and professional travel writers, videographers, and photographers. Naturally, a lot of the photographers have taken some of their most beautiful pictures in America’s most beautiful places. So we asked them for their favorite shots, and got flooded with responses. We narrowed it down to 20 photos from 13 of America’s 59 National Parks. We also let through a photo from one of America’s 129 National Monuments. It fudged the rules a little bit, but we thought the picture was neat. Here are the winners. 
The Grand Canyon
Desert View Point at Sunset, one of the most beautiful viewpoints at the Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Travelling Dany
Photo: Carrie Speaking
As the sun set for the day, the Canyon and the Colorado River shone to its glory. The magnanimity of Grand Canyon is justified by the tiny person calling out for attention. Photo by Richa Joshi
Grand Tetons
The Snake River Overlook provides a wonderful view of the mountain range and river in Grand Teton National Park. Photo: Photo Jeepers
Photo: Carrie Speaking
Yosemite National Park
A view of Half Dome from Yosemite Valley at Yosemite National Park.
Photo by Amber Locke
Photo by Tom Archer
Rocky Mountain National Park
Hallett Peak over a frozen Dream Lake in January, 2016. Photo by Brian Lewis
Colorado National Monument
Headlights illuminate the entrance road of Colorado National Monument, outside Fruita, Colorado. Photo by Brian Lewis
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
The Gunnison River carves its way through the Black Canyon, 2000 feet below the rim. Photo by Brian Lewis
Badlands National Park
The Milky Way over the Badlands. Photo by Brian Lewis
Arches National Park
Delicate Arch, the iconic landmark at Arches National Park, at sunset with the snow-capped La Sal mountains in the background. Photo: Photo Jeepers
Yellowstone
Moose Falls in Yellowstone National Park with rays of morning sunlight streaming down. Photo: Photo Jeepers
This is a shot from Mammoth Hot Springs which is often overshadowed by some of its more famous peers in the park such as Grand prismatic and Old Faithful. Mammoth Hot Springs provide a contrasting landscape with dead trees
on solidified white calcium carbonate floor. Photo by Richa Joshi
Bryce Canyon National Park
Thor’s Hammer hoodoo viewed from the Navajo Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo: Photo Jeepers
Canyonlands National Park
Red and white sandstone formations dominate the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Photo: Photo Jeepers
After a hiking day, a rewarding double rainbow at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Photo by Bruna Cazzolato Ribeiro
Joshua Tree National Park
“Had a shoot for a couple in Joshua Tree and came across a lot of trees on the way home. The clouds were perfect in casting a diffused light on everything. I wanted a single tree to be the focus with others in the background to help add depth.” Photo by Corey Kennedy Photography
Shenandoah National Park
Layers of rolling hills with a backdrop of sunset is a magical sight to watch at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Photo by Richa Joshi
Olympic National Park
Taken at Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, Washington by Richard Bruschi.