The Best State Parks

Few places rival the iconic beauty of Big Sur, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park showcases it at its finest. The park’s most famous sight, McWay Falls, is an 80-foot waterfall that cascades directly into the Pacific Ocean—a rare natural phenomenon. Coastal trails wind along rugged cliffs, offering panoramic ocean views and a chance to spot migrating gray whales in December through April.

In the heart of Maine’s wilderness lies Baxter State Park, a ruggedly beautiful park that’s kept “intentionally wild” with no electricity and virtually no cell service. Baxter is most famous for being home to Katahdin, the state’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. To preserve Katahdin's wilderness, parking is limited at the three roadside trailheads that lead to the mountain, and reservations are strongly recommended.

If you want to escape the Katahdin crowds, there are over 40 other mountain peaks in the park to explore, with over 200 miles of trails ranging from gentle forest walks to challenging alpine climbs. Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot moose, black bears, and loons in their natural habitat.

Step into another world at Valley of Fire State Park, where 40,000 acres of blazing red sandstone formations glow under the desert sun. Ancient petroglyphs and petrified trees dating back more than 2,000 years add a sense of history to the surreal landscape. Photographers, hikers, and stargazers alike will find endless inspiration in Nevada’s oldest and arguably most spectacular state park.

Lake Tahoe is stunning in every season, and Emerald Bay is its crown jewel. This alpine state park dazzles with turquoise waters, granite cliffs—it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most photographed destinations in the world.

Visitors can kayak across the bay, tour Vikingsholm (a replica of a Scandinavian castle), or hike up to Eagle Falls for a postcard-perfect view.

Perched high above the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park offers jaw-dropping overlooks reminiscent of the Grand Canyon—without the crowds. The park’s dramatic mesas and cliffs are popular with photographers, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Don’t let the name discourage you from visiting. The exact origin is uncertain, but legend has it that cowboys once drove wild mustangs onto the narrow point of the mesa. The horses were corralled without access to water, and tragically died within sight of the river far below.

The most famous of the Finger Lakes state parks, Watkins Glen draws visitors to its winding gorge, where a series of 19 waterfalls tumble over 200-foot cliffs. The park’s stone bridges and staircases give hikers the sense of wandering through a storybook landscape. It’s a cool, lush escape that provides a lovely respite on hot summer days.

Covering nearly half a million acres, Chugach State Park is one of the largest in the United States and is situated just outside Anchorage, making it an easy and popular day trip destination. Visitors come for the park’s signature Alaskan landscapes—towering glaciers, sparkling alpine lakes, and snow-dusted peaks.

With more than 280 miles of maintained trails, it’s a paradise for hikers and bikers in the warmer months. If you visit in August or September, you’ll also catch peak blueberry season, when the hillsides are dotted with wild berries ripe for picking straight off the bush. Come winter, over 110 miles of routes transform into playgrounds for skiing, snow machining, and fat-tire biking, ensuring year-round adventure.

Wildlife is just as much of a draw—keep an eye out for Dall sheep perched on cliffs, bull moose roaming the valleys, bears foraging in the brush, and bald eagles soaring overhead.

Nicknamed the “crown jewel” of Oregon’s state park system, Silver Falls is best known for its Trail of Ten Falls. This 7.2-mile loop allows hikers to walk behind several of the park’s spectacular waterfalls, including the iconic South Falls, a 177-foot curtain of water.

In addition, the park offers more than 35 miles of backcountry trails to explore by mountain biking, hiking, or horseback riding. Visitors venturing into the more remote areas of the park might even spot a bear or cougar.

The highlight of Wisconsin’s 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Devil’s Lake State Park offers nearly 30 miles of hiking to explore.

The park’s namesake lake is surrounded by quartzite cliffs perfect for hiking, rock climbing, or simply soaking in the view. In summer, the sandy beaches and calm waters make it a favorite for swimming, kayaking, and picnics.