Everyone knows about the national parks, but the US has a ton of underrated state parks as well that often aren’t well known.

32 comments

  1. Turkey Run in Indiana

    Katahdin in Maine

    Mt. Washington in NH

    Sleeping Bear Dunes in MI

    Sandy Point in MA

    Edit: take that back Sleeping Bear is a National Lakeshore

  5. I haven’t been to many, but Percy Quin in Mississippi is pretty nice from what I remember. Tickfaw State Park here in Louisiana isn’t all that special, but I have lots of fond memories there, so it probably edges it out.

  7. Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio. I have fond memories of it from childhood.

    This may be cheating, but I want to mention Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. It’s just as spectacular as Canadian national parks like Banff and Jasper but more wild because no roads access the park.

  10. In California, some of my favorites include Salt Point, Russian Gulch, Big Basin, Point Lobos, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Montaña del Oro, Calaveras Big Trees, and Emerald Bay.

  11. Adirondacks in NY by a long shot. Incredible up there, some of my favorite hikes I’ve ever done.

  12. Custer SP, SD.

    Chugach and Denali SP, AK.

    Porcupine Mtns SP, MI. Old Mission Peninsula SP, MI.

    Holly River SP, WV.

    These were the first to come to mind. I wouldn’t have any idea how to trim my list. I love so many more not listed here.

  14. Palouse Falls(WA), Ecola (OR), and Watkins Glenn (NY) are the first to spring to mind.

  16. The various parks making up/surrounding the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and they should STAY THAT WAY!!!!

  17. [Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park](https://ashfall.unl.edu/)

    Ash from a Yellowstone volcanic eruption about 10 to 12 million years ago at a watering hole. So many fossils just everywhere. So many very extinct animals. Very cool.

  18. Jay Cooke in MN. Pattison in WI. Both near Duluth. I like old rocks and waterfalls.

  21. It’s a county park, but the Sourlands in NJ. It’s massive (relative to the size of NJ and county parks) at 6,300 acres. Absolutely beautiful hiking trails and massive boulders you aren’t supposed to climb but everyone does anyways

    [Here’s pictures](https://www.google.com/search?q=sourlands+preserve&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&prmd=minv&sxsrf=ALiCzsbeVvYJd-0ZJTvYb7DFg9hYiWcn7g:1660325002525&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsvPLP6MH5AhXBEmIAHaG5CKMQ_AUoAnoECAIQAg&biw=412&bih=780&dpr=1.75)

  23. -Out of state I’d recommend Ashfall Fossil Beds (Neb.), Custer (S. Dak.) is a beautiful chunk of the Black Hills. John Pennekamp Coral Reef (Fla.) has some beautiful snorkel and dive spots.

    In MN I’d recommend Itasca, Tower Soudan Mine, and anywhere along the North Shore of Lake Superior and near Duluth/Superior like Split Rock, Gooseberry Falls, Jay Cooke, and honorable mention for Manitou Falls in Wisconsin.

  24. I’ve literally only been to one, but Brown County State Park in southern Indiana is very pretty, it needs a mention.

  29. You could easy spend months in the Adirondacks exploring. Thatcher park in NY is great! Easy for little kids and beautiful enough to enjoy for a lifetime 🙂

  30. Nothing can really touch the Adirondacks in scale or variety of experiences in all seasons.

  31. World’s End State Park in Pa. We used to go there for vacation (or at least when it wasn’t the shore) all the time as a kid. I was always impressed on how CLEAN it was. No trash anywhere, crystal clear blue water, lots of hiking and places to swim. So many good memories there.

  32. The two that come to mind…

    Hocking Hills in Ohio.

    Mackinac Island in Michigan.
    (Mackinac was the second national park after Yellowstone, but control and ownership was given to the state of Michigan. Now a state park.)

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