A search for a backpacker from Germany who vanished when he tried to retrieve his hiking boots from the Lethe River has been suspended for lack of clues, according to Katmai National Park and Preserve officials.

While the big five -- Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion -- get most of the attention in Utah, Cedar Breaks National Monument is certainly no slouch. With Methuselah trees and a colorful amphitheater that would embarrass Crayola, Cedar Breaks should be on your itinerary.

Major road construction along the only route that crosses Glacier National Park apparently is not going to deter visitors from traveling to this craggy park in northern Montana. During July a near-record 673,359 visitors entered the park.

While a bison recovery plan for Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was just launched last fall, and with only 13 bison, the project recently marked a significant milestone with the birth of a calf.