It’s hard to estimate where the adventure travel industry would be without Instagram. The professional and amateur photography of the thousands of National Park Instagram users is one of the best ways to spend a few minutes in the grocery line or on the bus ride into work. In 2015, the National Park Service recognized the explosion of park-themed content on Instagram and created the hashtag #findyourpark. More than 250,000 posts on Instagram now support the tag. More than 1 million entries have tagged a photo #nationalpark.
Today Park Chasers compiled a list of 15 National Park themed Instagram accounts we think you should follow in 2017. Some are affiliated with the National Park Service while others are fellow Park Chasers trying to visit all 417 units. Either way, these 15 National Park Instagram accounts are guaranteed to fill your feed with plenty of stories and photos to carry you over until your next vacation. And while you’re adding these, don’t forget to follow us @ParkChasers
1. @NationalParkService
There’s no better way to get up to date park news and information than from the NPS account. Here you’ll find popular re-posts from other National Park Service Instagram feeds and any updates on National Park Centennial events.
2. @GlacierNPS
The ranger team at Glacier National Park was one of the first to embrace social media. With more than 500 posts they continue to provide some of the most regular and engaging updates of any park in the park system. And who could ever get tired of sunsets like this:
3. @NationalParkGeek
While National Park Geek carries a fun line of t-shirts and gear especially for those of us who like to nerd-out at the parks, the company has a pretty spectacular Instagram feed. Tag your own National Park posts with the hashtag #nationalparkgeek and your photos may be reposted.
4. @LegoParkRanger
As part of the 2016 Centennial celebration, Lego fans have been creating special vignettes and Lego scenery dedicated to the National Parks. Follow along to see where the Lego Park ranger might turn up next!
5. @tbcmikah
We are so excited to watch Mikah Meyer from Travel Beyond Convention. In April 2016 he started out on a record-breaking adventure to become the youngest person to travel to all the National Park Service units. Within days of starting his trip Mikah’s Instagram feed already included stops in Washington D.C. and a visit to Good Morning Washington.
6. @MidwestNationalParks
Midwest National Parks represents all of the park units “from the Great Lakes to the Great Plains” and is one of ParkChaser’s favorite Instagram feeds. The rangers and staff that manage the park-affiliated social media accounts post updates and reposts from area parks on a daily basis. But what sets them apart are those share-able graphics and National Park memes. No one else is putting out content like it right now about the parks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BD_wWvrBqEE
7. @59NationalParks
In 2015 Don and Shelly of 59 National Parks completed an epic road trip adventure to visit all 59 of the National Parks. While they no longer blog about Park Chasing, they still maintain a steady posting on Instagram of photos from current and past park visits. They are also professional photographers (which makes these feed extra easy on the eyes!)
8. @OhRanger
While Oh Ranger! is mostly in the app business, providing a handy cell phone guide to nearby parks and public lands, they also post user images from around the National Parks.
9. @HotRangersofNPS
Started in 2015, this is one of the more ‘eclectic’ Instagram accounts you’ll find about the National Park Service. Users can submit photos of the best looking park rangers they encounter for the chance to have them featured in this group of good looking men and women in gray/green.
10. @NationalParksUSA
With more than 22,000 followers, this is by far one of the largest online photo albums of National Park sites.
11. @The59Parks
Filled with amateur and professional photographers who tag posts with #the59parks, more than 20,000 followers check out the national park instagram photos that land here. And it’s a good spot to see those lone-traveler-standing-in-the-center shots that have become so popular around the web.
12. @goParks
Go Parks is the official Instagram account for The National Park Foundation, the charitable partner of the National Park Service. Throughout the entire centennial celebration in 2016 they’ll be posting visitor information, tips, and unique ways to #findyourpark.
13. @TheHundredYearsTour
Why not celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service by embarking on a tour of all 411 sites in the park service. That’s just what the couple of The Hundred Years Tour decided this year. Follow along as they make their way across country and share highlights from their visits.
14. @NPExperience
National Park Experience has been producing films during the Centennial year about how young people and people of color experience the National Parks. The stories they have shared are powerful reminders of how we each are shaped by the parks in a unique way.
15. @christinaadelephoto
When she’s not out on her regular park ranger duties, Christina Adele Warburg is behind the camera capturing some of the best sights and scenes in Grand Teton and Yosemite National Park. Her photos have been featured in TIME and around the web for inspiring us all to spend more time outdoors and in the parks.
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