A Virginia man died in a canyoneering accident at Zion National Park when he missed a small rock ledge and wound up suspended high above the canyon floor and below the perch he needed to reach.

There are, across the United States, gems hidden, and some not so hidden, that reflect the richness of America's landscape that remains more than two centuries past the birth of the country. Here in the 21st century, where sprawl is pressing more and more across many states, these places preserved as a collection of national monuments capture the imagination of a time many no doubt thought was long past and protect wild America.

America's first national river is closing in on its 50th anniversary in 2022, and a series of special events is coming together for the year.

Time has a way of altering viewpoints with vegetative growth, while countless foot falls create a need for trail repairs. You can help fund repair and restoration work with a donation to the Blue Ridge Parkway on Giving Tuesday, November 30.