In southern New Mexico, Dripping Springs Natural Area not only has stunning natural beauty, it also tells the story of the western frontier. Homesteaders settled here along stagecoach routes, later the springs supported a resort during the time of Billy the Kid and it served as a sanatorium before it was eventually abandoned. Now the area is managed by @mypubliclands and is known for hiking through desert scrub, lovely low elevation woodlands and excellent wildlife viewing. Photo by Ria Cabral (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Wispy clouds and a star-filled night sky make for a dreamy backdrop to Owachomo Bridge at Natural Bridges #NationalMonument in #Utah. Home to some of the darkest skies in the country, #NaturalBridges is a stargazer’s paradise and was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky Park. On a given night, it’s possible to see up to 15,000 stars! Photo by Ryan McGinley (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Pastel pinks and turquoise paint the sky above two of the three rocks found at Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, offering 15 acres of wildness and mystery in Oregon. Designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, Three Arch Rocks is the first Pacific Coast refuge and the oldest refuge west of the Mississippi River. Photo by Stefanie Crivella Bloomer (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

North Cascades National Park in Washington is home to animals with fins, fur, feathers and scales; but the higher you go, the fewer animals you see. Up in this dramatic and beautiful environment, the mountain goat rules. Thanks to their specialized hooves and body shape, they can easily travel over the cliffs and mountains where few predators will follow. Photo by Andy Porter (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).