10 Instagram photos Los Angeles nature lovers will love

It’s the National Park Service’s 100th birthday today, and to celebrate, we’ve rounded up 10 breathtaking Instagram photos of the federally-protected parks and sites within a four-hour drive of Los Angeles. President Obama said today that areas within the NPS, "capture our history and our sense of wonder." The latter is especially true in and around Los Angeles whose diverse landscapes include the desert, mountains, and ocean.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Joshua Tree National Park

Channel Islands National Park

Mojave National Preserve

"Soda Lake Winter" by Bob Killen. Art photography created on Soda Lake of the #MojaveNationalPreserve for the National Park Service Artist in Residence Program. Join Bob Killen, National Park Service Artist-in-Residence, for the first Landscape Master Class of 2017: Mojave National Preserve Photographic Expedition, February 8-12. #NPPEMasterClass ~~~~~~ #photography #NationalPark #NationalParkService #landscapephotography #landscape_lovers #59NationalParks #landscape #artphotography #nature #scenery #photoexpedition #traveling #travelphotography #photo #camera #beinspired #vibrantcolors #USInterior #education #photoeducation #instagood #picoftheday #ig_bestshotz #livecolorfully #repostbestpictures #amazingartofearth #wilderness #backpacking

A photo posted by Landscape Master Class (@nppemasterclass) on Aug 7, 2016 at 11:01am PDT

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Happy 100th birthday to the @NationalParkService! Which National Park is your favorite? #NPS100 #FindYourPark :@scottyfivecent

A photo posted by Tillys (@tillys) on Aug 25, 2016 at 7:35am PDT

A grove of #giantSequoia trees frame a fellow tree, illuminated by a light painting at night. These massive trees are remarkably tough, with fire retardant bark that is over 30 inches thick and can live over 3,000 years. The California draught is beginning to show on the Sequoia's, which are showing signs of stress from lack of water. The large trees can require over 500 gallons of water per day. Photographed #onassignment for @natgeo for a story on #climateChange and its affects in America's #nationalparks / #sequioanationalpark @3stringsproductions

A photo posted by Keith Ladzinski (@ladzinski) on Jul 29, 2016 at 9:39am PDT

Death Valley National Park