Have you heard? It’s National Park Week! With over 400 amazing places to visit, you’re sure to discover incredible views, fascinating history and outstanding recreational opportunities. Another great reason to visit national parks is to observe wildlife. So take the kids and see if you can enjoy the parks as much as these mountain goats at Glacier National Park in Montana. Photo by Rick Sheremeta (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Is there a better feeling than sunrise on your face after a long, cold night? Photo of Thor’s Hammer at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah by Jeremy Johnson (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Take a little break from the hustle and bustle of Zion National Park to explore the ascending red cliffs and trails of nearby Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. This public land is sure to be a rewarding detour! Check out Red Cliffs National Conservation Area as well as other neighboring attractions: https://on.doi.gov/SideTrips

Photos by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management (@mypubliclands).

It’s the best time of year! The first baby bison of spring was recently spotted at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. Calves are orange-red in color and can walk within 3 hours of birth. Before long, nursery groups of calves will romp around together, but never far from their mothers’ watchful eyes. Check out more bison facts: http://on.doi.gov/1Oc7VXg Photo by Doreen Van Ryswyk, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area in California includes expansive rolling hills of blue oak and lush forests surrounding the Sacramento River and its tributaries. The beautiful and diverse habitat – home to bald eagles, osprey, deer and salmon – offers natural beauty and solitude paired with numerous recreation opportunities. You can explore the area by foot, horseback, boat and bike, and then pitch a tent at the end of the day for stunning sunsets on your public lands. Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management (@mypubliclands).

Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of the best kept secrets in California. Only a few hours from Los Angeles, Carrizo Plain offers visitors a rare chance to be alone with nature. This remote monument – traversed by the San Andreas Fault, which has carved valleys, and created and moved mountains – is seen in subtle alignment of ridges, ravines, and normally dry ponds. When conditions are right (like this year), numerous wildflowers carpet the valley floor. Although short lived, it can be breathtaking. Check out a few tips for planning a trip: https://on.doi.gov/2o5lICE.  

Photo of Monday’s full moon 🌝  + 🌼 by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management (@mypubliclands). #TrackTheBloom

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida was once a part of the 140,000 acres of land acquired by NASA for the John F. Kennedy Space Center. In 1963, the wildlife refuge was established on some of the unused land. Today, the refuge is home to over 1,000 species of animals and plants, making it an ideal place for birdwatching, hiking and fishing. If you plan it just right, you can see a rocket launch. Photo by Mike Ballard  (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl). Check out other public lands side trips: https://on.doi.gov/SideTrips

From the bottom of the deepest glacial fjord to the summit of its highest peak, Glacier Bay National Park encompasses some of our continent’s most amazing scenery and wildness. If we need a place to intrigue and inspire us, this is it. Alaska’s Glacier Bay is a living laboratory, a designated wilderness, a biosphere reserve and a world heritage site. It’s a marine park, where great adventure awaits by boating into inlets, coves and close to its dynamic, namesake glacier. It’s also a land park, with its snow-capped mountains, spectacular glaciers and vast forests. Photo by National Park Service.

Of the seven sets of dunes in Death Valley National Park, Mesquite Flat Dunes are the most famous and easiest to visit. If you look closely, you can see visitors enjoying a hike along the ridgeline of the dunes. Photo courtesy of Josiah Roe.

Yellowstone National Park boasts 4 mountain ranges and at least 70 peaks over 8,000 feet tall. At almost 11,000 feet tall, Electric Peak is the third tallest mountain in Yellowstone. With its snow-covered face catching the day’s last sun rays, it’s a majestic sight to behold. Photo by Neal Herbert, National Park Service.