There’s understandably a lot of love for the 63 amazing national parks across the United States. But you can find some real magic in the thousands of state parks in our country as well.
I’ll never forget visiting Custer State Park in South Dakota and feeling such awe at the sight of the granite formations, pine-speckled hills and herds of free-roaming bison. I couldn’t believe I’d barely heard of the park before my trip. The experience made me wonder, what other state parks have people been sleeping on?
With that in mind, I asked parks experts and outdoor enthusiasts to share the underrated state parks they believe more people should visit. Keep scrolling for some travel inspiration for your next adventure.
“If you want to see giant sequoias without the crowds that come with the national park namesake, then Calaveras Big Trees State Park is where you want to go,” said Jim Pattiz, cofounder of the conservation-focused publicationMore Than Just Parks. “Just two hours west of Sacramento nestled in eastern slopes of the Sierras, Big Trees has beautiful trails through groves of giants that will take [your] breath away.”
Former park ranger Andrea Lankford also recommended Calaveras Big Trees State Park for the opportunity to see giant sequoia trees in a “quieter, more serene environment” — conveniently in proximity to great vineyards.
“After basking in the forest grandeur, stop by nearby Murphys for some California wine tasting,” she said.
“The mighty Mississippi River begins its winding journey to the Gulf of Mexico as a mere 18-foot-wide knee-deep river in Itasca State Park,” said national parks travel expert Mikah Meyer.
He pointed to the popular Indigo Girls song “Ghost,” which features the lyrics, “And the Mississippi’s mighty / But it starts in Minnesota / At a place that you could walk across / With five steps down.”
Visitors to Itasca State Park can hop from rock to rock to cross the river at its narrowest point.
“Beyond just looking at it, or crossing it on the popular rock steps, I liked wading in the water as it flowed beyond that point and walking further down the river past the horde of tourists — knowing that those same waters eventually flow to my home near downtown Minneapolis, on to the city of Memphis where I went to college, and eventually to New Orleans where the Super Bowl just happened,” Meyer added.
Amicalola Falls State Park in north Georgia is another underrated state park for Pattiz.
“It’s the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi and makes for an incredibly impressive site near the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail,” he said.
Meyer believes Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah deserves more love.
“If you’re over the crowds at nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, this state park also near the city of Moab, provides much of the same landscape,” he said.
“I don’t know if ‘underrated’ is fair, as I feel like it pretty much blows people’s minds when they go,” Meyer said. “But Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park in Hawaii is likely ‘under-visited’ since it’s on the less-touristy island of Kauai compared to the many flights going into Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.”
He also recommended visiting Kauai’s Waimea Canyon State Park, which is known as “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”
Lankford’s first park ranger job was at Cumberland Mountain State Park, where she worked as a summer naturalist in her early 20s and soaked up the beauty of the Tennessee landscape.
“In addition to all the canoeing, hiking, swimming you can do here, you’ll see a lovely bridge made of local Crab Orchard stone, the largest masonry bridge ever built by the [Civilian Conservation Corps],” she noted.
“While Smith Rock State Park is well-known among Oregonians, it often flies under the radar outside the Beaver State,” said Will Pattiz, the other cofounder of More Than Just Parks.
He praised the incredible hiking opportunities, like Misery Ridge Trail, and the sweeping views of the Cascade Range from its summit.
“Nestled on the edge of Oregon’s high desert, this park feels like a miniature national park, packed with striking natural features in a compact space,” Pattiz said. “Towering rock formations rise dramatically from the desert floor, with the Crooked River winding gracefully around their base. “
“This park along the southern border of Alabama is truly a year-round getaway, even making for a nice coastal and solitary retreat during winter, while bustling with beachfront activity during spring and summer,” said Derek Wright and Amy Beth Wright, outdoor enthusiasts and creators of the public lands-themed publicationParks and Points.
They praised the park’s complimentary bike rental program, allowing visitors to explore the 28-plus miles of trails.
“Beach bikes and Segways are also available, as is fishing, camping, cabin and cottage rentals at the beachfront property, along with resort accommodations at The Lodge,” the Wrights said. “Gulf State Park is also near Gulf Islands National Seashore.”
“Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia’s western mountain and valley region, impresses with a massive limestone arch that towers 215 feet overhead,” the Wrights noted. “As the trail to the arch is quite tranquil, it’s easy to be taken aback by the 90-foot arch’s austerity and scale when you it comes into view — it’s a stunning sight, taller than Niagara Falls.”
They recommended hiking the miles of easy-to-moderate trails, enjoying the night sky stargazing programs and hitting up the disc golf course.
“The arch and the park have been a favorite of many painters and writers, for centuries, who ‘draw’ inspiration from the encompassing greenery, forests, trail within the James River valley, karst topography and enveloping natural beauty,” the Wrights added.
“I would say a very underrated state park is Whitewater State Park in southern Minnesota,” said Jack Steward, host of the adventure-themed YouTube channel “Tiny Cabin Life.”
As the name suggests, the park is famous for its river landscape, which also makes it a great spot for trout fishing.
“It’s in the Driftless Area of the Midwest, containing steep bluffs and rocky outcrops that make you feel like you’re out West in the mountains,” Steward added.
“Everyone associates Nebraska with being flat and growing corn, but not in the Western panhandle of the state,” Meyer said. “This portion of Nebraska is much more like a Wild West movie than the cornfields you’ll see in ‘Field of Dreams’ or similar.”
He believes Fort Robinson State Park is a real gem,”providing soaring views of beautiful buttes, painted skies of high-desert dust, and hikes so secluded you’ll likely see no one else and have sunset to yourself!”
Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, Utah, is another destination worth a visit, according to Ben Sander, associate director of global product at the outdoor travel companies Austin Adventures and Active Adventures.
“This park offers great views, unique rock formations, and lava tubes to explore in addition to being able to walk on petrified sand dunes,” he said.
“Cottonwood Canyon is a little known, lesser traveled state park, even to Oregonians who have it right in the backyard,” Will Pattiz said. “Centrally located in northern Oregon, this park is very relaxed and harkens back to a different time. Rustic barns, wide-open vistas, and the rugged charm of Oregon’s high desert greet the few visitors who venture here.”
The park also boasts some excellent dark skies, making it ideal for stargazing.