Parks Canada is asking water recreationists to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species across the mountain national parks.

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.

Congress needs to pass more effective policies for battling, and managing, wildfires, according to the Outdoor Alliance, which points out that nearly 24,000 miles of trails across the country have been impacted by fires over the past five years.