It’s International Dark Sky Week, and we’re celebrating some of the public lands that are awesome stargazing destinations. Some of the last harbors of dark skies, public lands provide unspoiled views of the stars glittering above. Named the first International Dark Sky Park in 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah contains three beautiful natural bridges. At night, the bridges form a window into the sky, giving visitors a view of thousands of stars that are bright enough to cast a shadow. Visitors here can see up to 15,000 stars throughout the night. Photo of the Milky Way and Owachomo Bridge by Manish Mamtani (www.sharetheexperience.com).

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is not only one of the most beautiful places in the country but also one of the snowiest. Park staff work hard to keep the road to the Rim Village open year round, but all of Rim Drive won’t be open for months. Free guided snowshoe walks will continue through the end of April and cross country skis are recommended for those who want to explore the park off plowed roads. With views like this, how can you not want to see more? Photo by Eric Valentine (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Far from the sights and sounds of civilization is the rugged, isolated island of Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. Surrounded by Lake Superior, Isle Royale offers unparalleled solitude and adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers. Here amid stunning scenic beauty, you'll discover a new world and make memories that last a lifetime. Photo courtesy of Carl TerHaar. #PureMichigan

Too cute! These baby goats aren’t just adorable, they’re a wonderful link to the past at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. The North Carolina park preserves the home of one of America’s greatest wordsmiths, Carl Sandburg. At their idyllic farm, the Sandburgs operated a premier goat dairy for 20 years, selling milk to stores in the community. Today, the park service raises goats that represent the three breeds of goats Mrs. Sandburg raised, keeping the tradition alive. Stop by and see the goats on your next visit. Photo by National Park Service.

It’s the best time of year! The first baby bison of spring was recently spotted at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Calves are orange-red in color, earning them the nickname “red dogs.” They can walk within 3 hours of birth, and before long, nursery groups of calves will romp around together, never far from their mothers’ watchful eyes. Check out more bison facts: https://www.doi.gov/…/15-facts-about-our-national-mammal-am… Photo by National Park Service.

From watching the sunrise over the Atlantic from the top of Cadillac Mountain to feeling the mist as waves crash against the rocky shoreline, you’re never far from water at Acadia National Park in Maine. You can watch raptors swooping down to pull fish from the park’s ponds or see strange and colorful animals in shallow intertidal pools. Photographer J.K. Putnam often prowls the park, looking for the perfect combination of waves and light. Photo courtesy of J.K. Putnam.

Happy birthday, Arches National Park! This red-rock wonderland is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches -- in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. You’ll be amazed by the park’s world-famous landscape, including Delicate Arch pictured here. Photo courtesy of Duane Jurma.

The night sky is a glittering dome peppered with stars, planets, and passing meteors—but most people no longer get to see it. For many who visit public lands like Joshua Tree National Park, it is where they discover the starry night and views of the Milky Way for the first time. Check out five easy tips for exploring the park after dark: https://bit.ly/2q5aP7O Photo by Dana McMullen (www.sharetheexperience.org).

After years of population declines, the Kirtland’s warbler -- often called Michigan’s Bird of Fire -- is rising from the ashes of near-extinction. In the early 1970s, there were fewer than 200 known pairs of the small songbird in existence, but decades of conservation partnerships has led to population rebounds with an estimated 2,000+ pairs today. More about this #WildlifeWin: https://on.doi.gov/2IN9dX5

The calendar says it’s spring, but it still looks like winter at Illinois River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge Complex in Illinois. The snow and fog glow in the purple gloom on this April morning. Despite the chill, the wetlands, forests and prairies of the refuge are great places to see migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. Listen for their calls in the morning. Photo by Mitchell Baalman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Here’s another gorgeous photo of the cherry blossoms on the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. We’re six days in and the cherry blossoms still look spectacular! Cold temperatures are keeping the flowers in place, slowing the emergence of the leaves that will ultimately replace the blossoms. It’s looking like temperatures will be in the 70s and 80s by week's end, which will certainly hasten that process. Sunrise photo on April 8 courtesy of Brent Brooks.

Did You Know: Public lands have been the hidden star of countless films? From Star Wars to Superman, blockbuster movies have been filmed on public lands. Find out what other films were set on public lands: on.doi.gov/2EFKff0