From a population of 30 to 60 million animals roaming across North America, bison reached a low of about 100 in the wild in the late 1800s. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established the National Bison Range in Montana to maintain a representative herd of bison under natural conditions. Today, approximately 400 bison live in the refuge, enjoying the rolling grasslands. Photo by Justin Schöen (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is 6 millions acres of wild lands with a single, 92-mile long road traveling through it. The places to go for adventure, solitude and recreation are nearly endless. Rainbow over Polychrome Overlook by Ken Conger, National Park Service.

Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is 6 millions acres of wild lands with a single, 92-mile long road traveling through it. The places to go for adventure, solitude and recreation are nearly endless. Rainbow over Polychrome Overlook by Ken Conger, National Park Service.

Instead of the glass and steel skyscrapers of New York City, Park Avenue at Arches National Park in Utah leads you by natural towers of stone, glowing in the desert light. With great names like Courthouse Towers, Three Gossips, the Organ and the Tower of Babel, these dramatic rock formations line the 1-mile trail near the park’s entrance. Photo by Robert Caton (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Instead of the glass and steel skyscrapers of New York City, Park Avenue at Arches National Park in Utah leads you by natural towers of stone, glowing in the desert light. With great names like Courthouse Towers, Three Gossips, the Organ and the Tower of Babel, these dramatic rock formations line the 1-mile trail near the park’s entrance. Photo by Robert Caton (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge’s dramatic backdrop of steep cliffs plunging to the ocean is one of the best places in Hawai’i to view wildlife and take in the amazing island scenery. Home to large populations of nesting seabirds, visitors also have a chance to view spinner dolphins, monk seals, lush coastal plants and Hawai‘i’s state bird – the nēnē or endangered Hawaiian goose. Photo courtesy of Andre Raine, Kaua’i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project.

The wild beauty of the North Dakota badlands inspired a young Theodore Roosevelt to build a ranch and create his personal western getaway near the Little Missouri River. Despite the failure of his attempts to raise cattle, the land enchanted and challenged Roosevelt, forever changing the way he approached life. Visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park can experience the unique landscape as Roosevelt did and honor his memory. Photo by Abhilash Itharaju (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Perched on bluffs 400 feet above Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is a great place for lake vistas and sunset viewing. With 65 miles of shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is perfect for lovers of aquatic fun. Put it on your summer bucketlist! Photo by Ben Wynsma (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

From the glacier-covered peak to waterfalls running through mountain valleys carpeted in wildflowers, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington will shock you with its natural beauty. Spread over 235,625 acres, the park has over 260 miles of hiking trails and an unlimited number of amazing views. Photo by Joe Kunesh (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Need something to get you through Monday? Here’s a pic of an adorable clutch of baby peregrine falcons on banding day at Cabrillo National Monument in California. At birth, peregrine chicks weigh about 1.5 ounces, but they grow quickly – they can double their weight in just six days. They reach nearly full size after only seven weeks. Cool fact about peregrine falcons: They are among the fastest birds, flying at up to 55 mph and diving at more than 200 mph when striking avian prey in mid-air. Photo by National Park Service.