Traffic in Denali National Park in Alaska can sometimes look like this – a bear ambling along a winding road surrounded by incredible vistas of mountains and wildflowers. The park’s one ribbon of road runs through low-elevation taiga forest to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America’s tallest peak – Denali – at 20,310 feet. Photo courtesy of Jacob Frank.

The variety of natural features and ecosystems found within Great Basin National Park in Nevada is surprising to many first time visitors. The Great Basin has often been called barren and uninteresting, but it doesn’t take long to discover that this rugged landscape – with its desert valleys and snow covered peaks – is more than meets the eye. Don’t forget to catch a sunset and see the ancient bristlecone pines. Photo by Thomas Sikora (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Spectacular sunrises are a fantastic way to start an adventure in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Photographer Elliott Cliborne captured this brilliant photo at the top of Mary’s Rock, where a 3.7-round trip hike along the Appalachian Trail leads to expansive views. Of the experience, says Cliborne: “It was by far the best sunrise I experienced in over 400 miles of hiking last summer.” Photo courtesy of Elliott Cliborne.

Happy American Eagle Day! As a national symbol, this majestic bird appears on everything from money to memorials, but decades ago, it almost disappeared completely. Because of the ban on the pesticide DDT and habitat protection, the bald eagle is now flourishing across the nation and no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act. It’s a great Wildlife Win and one more reason to celebrate eagles and all they represent. #Merica Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest.

Happy Fathers Day! A father’s love runs as deep as the Grand Canyon. Thanks to all the dads for being such great teachers, providers and comedians. Enjoy your day (and if you’re heading outdoors, be sure to bring plenty of water – it’s going to be HOT)! Photo of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona by W. Tyson Joye, National Park Service.

Wilderness areas are places untamed by humans. They protect America’s pristine wild lands from development so they will not disappear. Of Yosemite National Park’s 1,200 square miles, nearly 95 percent of it is designated as wilderness and many consider the park the gateway to California’s other unspoiled wilderness areas. Pictured here is Cathedral Peak along the John Muir Trail glowing with the setting sun.

This weekend, President Obama and the First Family are exploring the wonders of Yosemite. Follow along @whitehouse. 

Photo by Vivek Vijaykumar (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area in Colorado is breathtaking in the summer. Handies Peak rises 14,048 feet over the area, and this vibrant wilderness also hosts three major canyons, glacial cirques and three alpine lakes. Handies Peak is one of more than 500 wilderness study areas – lands unspoiled by roads or other development that provide outstanding opportunities for solitude. Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

Similar to national parks, national conservation areas are designated by Congress and feature scientific, cultural, historical and recreational features. They’re places like California’s King Range National Conservation Area, where the dominate feature is a spectacular meeting of land and sea. Mountains seem to thrust straight out of the surf. King Peak, the highest point at 4,088 feet, is only three miles from the ocean. Showing dazzling spring colors, the unique landscape and abundant wildlife make this fascinating place perfect for everything from scientific study to extreme recreation.

Learn more about the different types of public lands: on.doi.gov/1PpdkFx

Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

Our week of explaining the different types of America’s public lands and why they’re all so special continues with national battlefields and military parks. These historic places act as memorials to the fallen and powerful classrooms to help us understand important stories of courage and sacrifice. Long after the guns fell silent, you can still hear their echoes on these peaceful fields. The landscape, artifacts and living history demonstrations connect us to the past struggles that shaped our nation. Visiting places like Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, the site of the bloodiest day of the Civil War, will leave you humbled.

Learn more about the different types of public lands: on.doi.gov/1PpdkFx

Photo by National Park Service.

If national parks are America’s best idea, then national wildlife refuges are America’s best kept secret. Wildlife refuges conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats – and often provide amazing recreation opportunities. Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is one of 7 national wildlife refuges at the heart of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. While Johnston Atoll is hard to get to – it may be the most isolated atoll in the world – the refuge is an oasis for coral reef and bird life. Several dozen coral species and hundreds of different fish species reside in Johnston’s offshore reefs, and onshore plants provide essential nesting habitat and cover for seabirds from the extreme heat and wind. Learn more about the different types of public lands: on.doi.gov/1PpdkFx. Photo by Laura M. Beauregard, USFWS.