The 30-mile highway through Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has opened for the summer season, though sections might seem like winter. A higher-than-average snowpack slowed operations, but through the hard work of National Park Service and Caltrans road crews, the road has been fully cleared. Visitors to the park should prepare for winter conditions at higher elevations, and possible delays due to ongoing road work.

Just a handful of days old, the Piping Plovers looked like cotton balls on toothpicks as they merrily darted around the foredune exploring the marram grass in the June sun. They were going at full tilt, though, so it was tough to get a good look with binoculars and even harder to capture a decent photograph.

Parks Canada will kick off Canada Day celebrations with its annual sunrise event at Signal Hill National Historic Site.

A number of closures are taking place Wednesday in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas due to the ongoing heatwave that has greatly increased fire danger.