Erratic winds have blown up the Cow Creek fire in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park to at least 800 acres, forcing the closure of a ranch road and leading fire bosses to keep firefighters off the front lines.

Among the units of the National Park System that are offering special events to mark the Fourth of July are Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky and Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

A relatively small forest fire was burning Friday in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park. A small contingent of firefighters, aided by helicopter and air-tanker support, were battling the flames.

The Ride The Rockies bicycle tour takes several thousand cyclists on a week-long ride through the Colorado Rockies each June. The first stage of this year's RTR showcased one of America's most popular mountain biking routes, the spectacularly scenic Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument .