From the Field

National parks get all the love (well, at least most of them). And national wildlife refuges draw the birders and the field guide crowd.

National monuments? Well, most people have trouble defining what they are exactly. Do they protect historical sites? Geological wonders? Biodiversity hotspots?

Well…yes.

National monuments also happen to be great — and often overlooked — spots for naturalists. Whether you have a thing for fossils, rare plants, coral reefs or cave creatures, there’s a monument with your name on it.

With so many options, we’re betting there are a few fabulous national monuments you’ve never heard of. Check out our cool green picks and share your favorite monuments with us in the comments.