20 US State Parks That Are Way Less Crowded Than the National Ones

Vizsla Dog with Woman Hiking outdoor aliaksei kruhlenia Shutterstock
image credit: aliaksei kruhlenia/Shutterstock

State parks offer a unique opportunity to connect with nature and discover each region’s natural beauty. From the lush landscapes of the East to the rugged terrains of the West, these parks preserve wildlife habitats, making them ideal destinations for adventurers and families. Let’s explore the top state parks in each state to inspire your next outdoor adventure.

Gulf State Park, Alabama

Dad, grandfather and teaching child fishing lake pond nature PeopleImages.com Yuri A Shutterstock
image credit: PeopleImages.com Yuri A/Shutterstock

Gulf State Park offers over 6,500 acres of diverse environments, including beaches, forests, and marshes. Visitors can explore 28 miles of trails, enjoy fishing and paddle boarding on Lake Shelby, or relax on miles of sandy beaches. It’s a haven for those who appreciate both coastal and inland natural beauty.

Denali State Park, Alaska

Polar Bear No Ice Winter Global Warming Climate Change Animals Nature Morpheus Szeto Shutterstock
image credit: Morpheus-Szeto/Shutterstock

Denali State Park is overshadowed by its national park counterpart but offers stunning views of Mt. McKinley and pristine, untouched wilderness. The park is a paradise for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts, with opportunities to see bears, moose, and caribou in their natural habitats. Campers can immerse themselves in a rugged landscape that’s both challenging and rewarding.

Slide Rock State Park, Arizona

Gila monster Arizona desert Evelyn D. Harrison Shutterstock
image credit: Evelyn D. Harrison/Shutterstock

Slide Rock State Park is nestled in Oak Creek Canyon. It’s not just a playground for adventurers but also a culturally significant area that preserves part of the region’s early agricultural development. Visitors love cooling off in the natural water slides.

Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

Hike Hiking Nature Sports Trail Running PeopleImages.com Yuri A Shutterstock
image credit: PeopleImages.com/Yuri A Shutterstock

Arkansas’s first state park, Petit Jean, is located atop Petit Jean Mountain and is known for its captivating geological features and ancient rock paintings. The park features the 95-foot Cedar Falls, one of the state’s most photographed waterfalls, making it a top destination for families.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California

Bixby Bridge (Rocky Creek Bridge) and Pacific Coast Highway at sunset near Big Sur in California Nick Fox Shutterstock
image credit: Nick Fox/Shutterstock

This state park is famous for its 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean below, a rare and stunning sight. The park’s trails offer serene walks through redwood forests and panoramic ocean views. It’s a jewel on the California coast, offering some of the most unforgettable sights along Big Sur.

Hammonasset Beach State Park, Connecticut

Family Picnic Ketchup Hot Dogs Dean Drobot Shutterstock
image credit: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock

Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, Hammonasset Beach, offers over two miles of beach to enjoy, along with a boardwalk, wetlands, and small dunes. The park is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and picnicking. Bird watchers and nature photographers will find plenty of interesting subjects in the diverse habitats.

Lums Pond State Park, Delaware

Senior climbing rocks outdoors in nature active lifestyle ground picture shutterstock
image credit: ground-picture/shutterstock

Lums Pond State Park is built around the largest freshwater pond in Delaware, offering a wide range of water-related activities and more. It’s a favorite for families due to its zip lines, climbing activities, boating, fishing, and horseback riding.

Myakka River State Park, Florida

rich family cruising on a yacht sir travel alot shutterstock
image credit: sir-travel-alot/shutterstock

One of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks, Myakka protects one of the state’s most diverse natural areas. Visitors can explore wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands via boat or the canopy walkway, a suspension bridge high above the treetops. The park’s river and two lakes provide ample opportunities for kayaking and fishing.

Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia

A young woman finding a geocache in the forest nature Tyler Olson Shutterstock
image credit: Tyler Olson/Shutterstock

Home to the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall at 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is more than just a natural wonder. The park serves as a gateway to the Appalachian Trail and offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, geocaching, and bird watching. Its accessibility for both strenuous adventures and leisurely visits makes it ideal for all types of travelers.

Waimea Canyon State Park, Hawaii

Akaka falls close to Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii Francesco Carucci Shutterstock
image credit: Francesco Carucci/Shutterstock

Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon offers a dramatic and colorful landscape that’s unlike anything else in Hawaii. The park features rugged terrain with deep valley gorges painted in earthy reds and greens. For a breathtaking experience, visitors can hike the trails that offer views of the canyon and distant waterfalls.

Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho

Family Enjoying Camping Holiday outdoors monkey business images shutterstock
image credit: monkey-business-images/shutterstock

Located near Yellowstone National Park, Henrys Lake is known for its high-altitude trout fishing. The park’s beautiful location, surrounded by mountains, makes it a peaceful spot for hiking, boating, and wildlife observation. Camping here offers serene evenings under starry skies, making it a perfect getaway for nature lovers.

Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

Hiking Walking Nature Mature Senior Couple Ground Picture Shutterstock
image credit: Ground Picture/Shutterstock

Famous for its fascinating rock formations and waterfalls, Starved Rock State Park is a geological wonder. The park offers more than 13 miles of trails to explore, providing views of canyons and waterfalls along the Illinois River. It’s particularly stunning in the fall when the foliage turns vibrant hues of orange, red, and yellow.

Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana

German Shorthaired Pointer Dog in Lake Maksym Fesenko Shutterstock
image credit: Maksym Fesenko/Shutterstock

Bordering Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes offers more than three miles of beach and 15 miles of sandy trails. The park’s unique landscape features towering dunes that have been formed over thousands of years. It’s a favorite for those who enjoy sunbathing, hiking, and bird watching.

Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa

Cozumelan golden bat flying in cave Griffin Gillespie Shutterstock
image credit: Griffin Gillespie/Shutterstock

Known for its stunning system of caves, Maquoketa Caves State Park is Iowa’s most unique state park. Visitors can explore the caves on guided tours to see natural wonders such as stalactites, stalagmites, and rare cave species. The park also offers hiking trails that wind through beautiful woodlands and over scenic bluffs.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas

Male Outdoor Relax Meditation Self Care maxpetrov Shutterstock
image credit: maxpetrov/Shutterstock

This national preserve protects one of the last remaining tallgrass prairies in the world, offering a glimpse into what much of the Midwest looked like in pre-settlement days. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about the prairie ecosystem and its role in American history. It’s a crucial sanctuary for diverse flora and fauna, as well as a place for quiet contemplation.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Kentucky

Photographer Camera for Starry Night Sky, Astro Photography in the Desert Nightscape. Nature Photo male Gorodenkoff Shutterstock
image credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

Nicknamed the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls is known for its 125-foot-wide curtain of water. This park is also one of the few places in the world where visitors can see a moonbow, a nighttime rainbow visible during a full moon. The surrounding area offers hiking trails and accommodations, making it a great location for a weekend getaway.

Baxter State Park, Maine

Grizzly Bear Scott E Read Shutterstock
image credit: Scott E Read/Shutterstock

At over 200,000 acres, Baxter State Park is a vast wilderness area offering the chance to see Maine’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin. The park is a hiker’s paradise, with over 200 miles of trails ranging from accessible to challenging, home to moose and black bears.

Assateague State Park, Maryland

Couple Picnic Lake Date Bicycle bbernard shutterstock
image credit: bbernard/shutterstock

Assateague State Park is famous for its wild horses that roam the beaches. This barrier island park also offers sandy beaches for swimming and sunbathing, along with trails for hiking and biking. It’s an excellent place for wildlife photography and bird watching.

Custer State Park, South Dakota

American Bison South Dakota Tim Malek Shutterstock
image credit: Tim Malek/Shutterstock

Custer State Park is known for its herds of bison that roam freely throughout the park, offering visitors a chance to witness these majestic animals in their natural habitat. The park’s scenic drives and trails provide opportunities to see not just bison but also pronghorns, elk, and mountain goats. Its annual bison roundup, where visitors can watch cowboys herd bison.

Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wisconsin

young friends hiking travel outdoors monkey business images shutterstock
image credit: monkey-business-images/shutterstock

Whitefish Dunes boasts some of Wisconsin’s most beautiful sand beaches along Lake Michigan. The park also protects the largest and most significant dunes in the state. Visitors can explore the dunes, swim in the clear waters of Lake Michigan, or hike one of the many trails.

Total
0
Shares
128 comments
  1. I must voice my gratitude for your kind-heartedness for people that absolutely need help with this important content. Your personal dedication to getting the message around had become exceptionally important and have consistently empowered regular people much like me to reach their ambitions. Your entire warm and helpful report means a lot to me and additionally to my peers. Regards; from everyone of us.

  2. Its such as you read my mind! You seem to understand a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the e book in it or something. I believe that you can do with a few to force the message home a little bit, but instead of that, that is great blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.

  3. I do accept as true with all the concepts you have introduced to your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for novices. May you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

  4. What i don’t realize is in reality how you are no longer really much more smartly-liked than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You understand thus considerably in the case of this topic, made me in my opinion believe it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women are not interested until it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. At all times deal with it up!

  5. Can I simply say what a reduction to seek out someone who truly is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know how to bring a problem to mild and make it important. Extra individuals must learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant consider youre no more common because you positively have the gift.

  6. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one these days..

  7. Excellent site you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get feedback from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Kudos!

  8. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

  9. Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; many of us have developed some nice methods and we are looking to trade techniques with others, please shoot me an email if interested.

  10. You can definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

  11. Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in web explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a large section of other people will pass over your excellent writing because of this problem.

  12. I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂

  13. I feel that is among the so much important information for me. And i am glad studying your article. However want to remark on some common issues, The web site taste is wonderful, the articles is in point of fact excellent :D. Just right activity, cheers

  14. Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in internet explorer, would test this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a good element of other folks will miss your excellent writing because of this problem.

  15. The subsequent time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, however I truly thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could possibly fix should you werent too busy looking for attention.

  16. I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?

  17. I was very pleased to find this web-site.I needed to thanks in your time for this wonderful learn!! I undoubtedly enjoying each little little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

  18. Regards for helping out, wonderful information. “If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see.” by Henry David Thoreau.

  19. Wow, superb blog layout! How lengthy have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The whole glance of your site is fantastic, as neatly as the content!

  20. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little evaluation on this. And he actually bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If potential, as you grow to be expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with more particulars? It’s highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this weblog put up!

  21. This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

  22. What i don’t realize is if truth be told how you are not actually a lot more neatly-appreciated than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably in terms of this topic, produced me in my view consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men are not interested until it’s one thing to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding. Always take care of it up!

  23. Very wonderful info can be found on web blog. “We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe.” by Oliver Wendell Holmes.

  24. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  25. Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What a great website.

  26. Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great web site.

  27. Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

  28. Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.

  29. Hello this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

  30. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such wonderful info being shared freely out there.

  31. hi!,I like your writing so much! proportion we keep up a correspondence extra about your post on AOL? I need an expert on this area to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Having a look forward to see you.

  32. Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb work!

  33. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the page layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

  34. We are a bunch of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive process and our entire community will be grateful to you.

  35. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such excellent info being shared freely out there.

  36. I’m curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be working with? I’m having some small security issues with my latest site and I’d like to find something more safe. Do you have any solutions?

  37. Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.

  38. There are certainly lots of details like that to take into consideration. That could be a nice point to deliver up. I supply the thoughts above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you deliver up the place a very powerful factor might be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, however I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both girls and boys feel the impression of just a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

  39. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say great blog!

  40. Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.

  41. I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road. Cheers

  42. Very interesting details you have observed, thankyou for putting up. “You can tell the ideas of a nation by it’s advertisements.” by Douglas South Wind.

  43. Hey there this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  44. Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, awesome blog!

  45. Thanks for each of your work on this web site. My daughter enjoys participating in investigation and it’s obvious why. Many of us know all of the dynamic mode you offer advantageous techniques through the blog and increase response from other individuals on that theme while our own daughter is without question starting to learn a lot of things. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You have been carrying out a very good job.

  46. A formidable share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in truth purchased me breakfast because I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I really feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If possible, as you change into experience, would you mind updating your blog with extra particulars? It is extremely helpful for me. Large thumb up for this weblog put up!

  47. Merely wanna remark on few general things, The website style is perfect, the content material is very great. “War is much too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military.” by Georges Clemenceau.

  48. Hello! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics? Many thanks!

  49. Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Thanks!

  50. It’s really a cool and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  51. Hi I am so excited I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while I was searching on Digg for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a fantastic post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.

  52. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  53. I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?

  54. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation however I in finding this topic to be really something that I think I might never understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely huge for me. I am having a look forward in your next put up, I will try to get the hold of it!

  55. Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.

  56. Olxtoto adalah agen terpercaya untuk situs toto dan bandar togel yang melayani pemain di Indonesia dengan komitmen tinggi terhadap kepuasan pelanggan.

  57. I believe that is among the most important information for me. And i’m happy reading your article. However want to statement on few general things, The website style is ideal, the articles is in point of fact great :D. Just right activity, cheers

  58. Whats up very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to seek out a lot of helpful information right here in the post, we need work out more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  59. I simply had to say thanks yet again. I do not know the things that I would’ve handled in the absence of the type of strategies documented by you concerning such area. This was a very distressing case in my position, nevertheless seeing a skilled tactic you handled that made me to leap over contentment. I will be happy for your guidance and then trust you recognize what a great job you are always carrying out educating people using a web site. I’m certain you have never come across all of us.

  60. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really realize what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally talk over with my website =). We may have a link change contract between us!

  61. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!

  62. After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  63. Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

  64. Wow, amazing blog structure! How lengthy have you been blogging for? you made running a blog glance easy. The overall look of your web site is excellent, let alone the content material!

  65. I like the helpful information you supply for your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check once more here regularly. I’m fairly certain I will be informed lots of new stuff right right here! Good luck for the next!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Post
Prisoner handcuffs police law BortN66 Shutterstock

Legal Quirk Could Land Minnesota Woman in Prison For Up to 30 Years After Routine Stop Finds Residue-Laden Water in Car

Next Post
Decorative plates shopping BearFotos Shutterstock

23 Major Brands That Bit the Bullet in Recent Years

Related Posts