Crystal Lake in the Enchantments, Washington, United States Sep 3, 2024

Sometimes it"s nice to get away. Thanks to environmentalist Howard Zahniser, Americans can do that in one of the country"s many wildernesses—areas sheltered from human activities. Pictured in today"s image, Crystal Lake is one such protected area. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington, the Enchantments has more than 700 lakes and ponds and some of the best rock climbing in the Western United States. It"s also home to mountain goats, ptarmigan, pikas and numerous types of alpine flowers. If you want to see Alpine Lakes Wilderness yourself, however, be prepared to wait. Few permits are granted for day hikes, and of the 40,000 people who entered last year"s lottery for overnight permits, only 2,558 received one.

© Mitch Pittman/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Sep 3, 2023Skyscrapers in Manhattan
Sep 3, 2025Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 2, 2025Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, United States
Jan 24, 2024Diamond Beach, Iceland
Dec 19, 2024Sibiu Christmas Market, Romania
Dec 16, 2023Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
Mar 29, 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
Aug 15, 2025Spotted eagle rays
Oct 28, 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
May 18, 2025Pont St-Pierre across the Garonne River, Toulouse, France
Aug 4, 2025Great grey owls
Jul 1, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse, Colwood, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 21, 2025Eurasian red squirrel
Apr 3, 2025Saguaro National Park, Arizona, United State
Sep 18, 2024Gujō Hachiman Castle
Nov 7, 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
May 30, 2024Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Sep 27, 2025Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
Apr 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Mar 17, 2025Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
Dec 22, 2023Castlerigg Stone Circle, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Feb 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Sep 20, 2025Swing carousel at Oktoberfest, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Apr 25, 2024Adélie penguins, Antarctica
Feb 8, 2024Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Nov 18, 2024Porthcawl lighthouse, Wales
Aug 27, 2025Sørvágsvatn lake, island of Vágar, Faroe Islands
Dec 23, 2023Chinstrap penguins
Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada
Oct 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States