50 State Parks That Put National Parks To Shame

Nature is all around us!

1. Alabama — Gulf State Park

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What's there to do? Gulf State Park is home to two miles of beaches, hiking trails, campgrounds, a conference center, and more.

2. Alaska — Kachemak Bay State Park

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What's there to do? Since it's only accessible by boat or plane, the state park boasts a variety of wildlife like otters and whales, as well as panoramic views of forests, mountains, and glaciers. You can also hike, ski, and camp at the park.

3. Arizona – Kartchner Caverns State Park

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What's there to do? Aside from taking a cave tour and seeing these for yourself, visitors can also go hiking, camp out, spot wildlife, and stargaze.

4. Arkansas — Moro Bay State Park

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What's there to do? Camp in some of the prettiest cabins in the state that include modern amenities like WiFi and overlook the river. You can also hike, boat, and picnic.

5. California — Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

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What's there to do? Well, you'll be among ancient trees, which you can view along 20 miles of trails, from your car, or you can camp out next to them. You can also fish, snorkel, and kayak in the Smith River.

6. Colorado — Roxborough State Park

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What's there to do? Hiking, wildlife viewing, and trail running are a few of the many activities you can do while navigating the huge rock formations around you.

7. Connecticut — Sleeping Giant State Park

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What's there to do? Hike through the mountain trails, or enjoy the view from the lookout tower. While you're there, enjoy fishing, picnicking, and scenic lookouts.

8. Delaware — Cape Henlopen State Park

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What's there to do? Well, there's a two-story touch tank at the Seaside Nature Center, there's cabins to camp in, beaches to play on, a lighthouse to see, trails to walk, and a museum where you can learn about Delaware's role in WWII.

9. Florida — Henderson Beach State Park

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What's there to do? In this protected strip of beach, you can fish and lounge shoreside, or you can camp in one of the 60 campsites connected by boardwalk to the beach.

10. Georgia — Amicalola Falls State Park

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What's there to do? Well as you can see from the picture, this state park has a gorgeous waterfall. Aside from that, there is a beautiful lodge and private cabins to stay in, hiking, 3D archery, ziplines, wildlife meet-and-greets, and a tomahawk challenge.

11. Hawaii — Waimea Canyon State Park

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What's there to do? Since it's nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, there are plenty of panoramic vistas and scenic lookouts to find. There are also challenging hunting and hiking trails offered throughout the park.

12. Idaho — Ponderosa State Park

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What's there to do? Aside from the normal hiking, fishing, and camping, visitors can also mountain bike, play horseshoes, snowshoe, ski, and partake in a guided walk.

13. Illinois — Matthiessen State Park

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What's there to do? Trails wind through this state park to give visitors a taste of the lush vegetation, unique rock formations, and waterfalls in the park. Picnics and horseback riding are also available.

14. Indiana — Spring Mill State Park

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What's there to do? Four unique areas of the park showcase how its landscape has changed over the years. Pioneer Village consists of 20 historical buildings that have been restored, the nature center gives a glimpse of the flora and fauna found inside the park, the Twin Caves Boat Tour takes visitors through a stream passage and highlights cave formations, and the Grissom Memorial honors Virgil Grissom, America's second man in space.

15. Iowa — Maquoketa Caves State Park

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What's there to do? The caves serve as a great backdrop for a picnic, hike, or wildlife viewing. Beyond that, campgrounds are available, as well as a museum, playground, and interpretive center.

16. Kansas — Milford State Park

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What's there to do? Milford State Park has a variety of wildlife, as well as a fish hatchery and nature center with exhibits and information about the park's residents. Fishing, hiking, and camping are also popular recreation activities here.

17. Kentucky — Natural Bridge State Resort Park

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What's there to do? Aside from birding, camping, and hiking, this state park has hoedowns every Saturday from May to October to teach visitors Appalachian square dancing, line dancing, the two-step, and polka.

18. Louisiana — Fontainebleau State Park

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What's there to do? Birding trails and campgrounds make this a perfect place for nature lovers, and the water playground and beach create fun for the whole family.

19. Maine — Quoddy Head State Park

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What's there to do? Five miles of hiking trails lead visitors through winding views of rocky shores, the Quoddy channel, and the red cliffs of Manan Island. Be sure to stop by the historic West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, which was built in 1808 and still stands today.

20. Maryland — Swallow Falls State Park

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What's there to do? Camping, fishing, and hiking are all popular recreation activities here. Make sure to hike to Muddy Creek Falls, a 53-foot waterfall that dominates the landscape.

21. Massachusetts — Halibut Point State Park

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What's there to do? Hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing are all popular activities here, as well as an observation tower where you can see the park's rocky shores, mountains, and tide pools.

22. Michigan — Presque Isle Park

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What's there to do? Hiking and biking are two of the most popular activities at this park, but there's also a scenic drive. Make sure you stop to savor the view at Sunset Point while you're there.

23. Minnesota — Itasca State Park

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What's there to do? This is where the Mississippi River starts its 2,552 mile voyage. Take a photo with the historic marker at the head of the river; go fishing, swimming, or tubing in it's shallow waters; or follow hiking trails to explore the area.

24. Mississippi — Paul B. Johnson State Park

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What's there to do? There's a visitor center, picnic tables, game room, splash park, disc golf, fishing and boating opportunities,

25. Missouri — Ha Ha Tonka State Park

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What's there to do? Trails and boardwalks lead you through the park to the natural springs, castle ruins, and rocky glades. Fishing, kayaking, and swimming are also popular activities in the park.

26. Montana — Bannack State Park & Ghost Town

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What's there to do? Explore a real ghost town! The town was founded in 1862, but residency dwindled by the 1950s. Today, you can pan for gold, take a ghost tour, and ice skate in the winter.

27. Nebraska — Smith Falls State Park

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What's there to do? Biking, hiking, and horseback riding are available here, but the main showstopper is Smith Falls, the highest waterfall in Nebraska. It can be accessed by hiking established trails and crossing a footbridge over the river.

28. Nevada — Valley of Fire State Park

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What's there to do? These impressive red rocks emerge from the landscape in fascinating formations, making it a popular spot to climb, hike, and go biking. While on the trail, try and spot the 2,000 year old petroglyphs in the stone.

29. New Hampshire — White Mountain National Forest

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What's there to do? Biking, fishing, camping, and hiking are all popular recreation activities here. If none of those are your speed, try taking a drive down the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, or visiting one of the historic sites that are open to the public.

30. New Jersey — Tyler State Park

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What's there to do? Playgrounds and disc golf fields are there for your enjoyment, as well as spots to ride horses, hike, mountain bike, canoe, and catch some rays under the sun.

31. New Mexico — Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

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What's there to do? Admire some of the most interesting rock features in the region. Hike, camp, ride horses, and take plenty of photos while exploring the area.

32. New York — Watkins Glen State Park

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What's there to do? The stream winds through the glen, making a 400-foot descent and creating 16 waterfalls along the way. Visitors can also bike, hike, and cross-country ski here.

33. North Carolina — Jockey's Ridge State Park

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What's there to do? The impressive sand dunes open up to the Roanoke Sound. Visitors can enjoy kite flying, sightseeing, and watching the sunset here.

34. North Dakota — Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

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What's there to do? Scenic trails are perfect for sightseeing, while Fort Abraham Lincoln and the reconstructed military buildings are a great way to learn the region's history. If you can't do it all in one day, campsites and tipis are available for rental.

35. Ohio — Hocking Hills State Park

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What's there to do? Paths lead explorers through caves, gorges, and past waterfalls to offer a stunning view. Beyond that, archery, disc golf, playgrounds, fishing spots, biking and hiking trails, picnic areas, and WiFi are available in the park.

36. Oklahoma — Robbers Cave State Park

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What's there to do? Rappel down a rugged cliff, hike through the historical hideouts of outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr, or camp in a lodge, cabin, yurt, or tent.

37. Oregon — Silver Falls State Park

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What's there to do? Definitely find time to hike the Canyon Trail. The 7.2 mile loop takes hikers through the park and passes a handful of cascading waterfalls. Also, be sure to stop by South Falls, where visitors have the chance to view the waterfall from behind the curtain of rushing water.

38. Pennsylvania — Ricketts Glen State Park

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What's there to do? Visit one of the 21 waterfalls along the Falls Trail, snowmobile or snowshoe in the winter months, relax on the beach at Lake Jean, and enjoy panoramic views from Grand View Trail.

39. Rhode Island — Colt State Park

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What's there to do? The western border of Colt State Park opens up to the Narragansett Bay. Bicycle trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a museum are just a few of the things offered here.

40. South Carolina — Huntington Beach State Park

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What's there to do? This is a great park for bird watching, as over 300 species have been spotted here. Walk along the coastline or visit Atalaya, the historic home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.

41. South Dakota — Custer State Park

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What's there to do? Paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, boating, bird watching, swimming, hiking, and rock climbing are all popular activities. There's also a beach, lodge, campgrounds, and a resort.

42. Tennessee — Roan Mountain State Park

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What's there to do? Swim, hike, and bike the trails or try your hand at catching trout in the Doe River.

43. Texas — Palo Duro Canyon State Park

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What's there to do? Mountain bike, horse ride, hike, geocache, and bird watch. Stop by the Visitor's Center on the rim to learn more about this region's geographic features.

44. Utah — Snow Canyon State Park

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What's there to do? Lava flow and sandstone formations make for interesting nature trails that are accessible on foot or on bike. Wildlife viewing, camping, ranger talks, and over 15 miles of equestrian trails are also at the park.

45. Vermont — Smugglers Notch State Park

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What's there to do? Ice climbing, cave exploring, and camping are available for visitors, as well as hiking trails, a scenic highway, and a boardwalk.

46. Virginia — Grayson Highlands State Park

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What's there to do? Aside from a view of the 5,000 foot peaks, the hiking trails lead to waterfalls and overlooks. Other recreation activities include horse trails, camping, and biking.

47. Washington — Moran State Park

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What's there to do? Hike, bike, boat, or camp in this 5,424 acre park. Over 30 miles of hiking trails leading up to panoramic viewpoints and dotted with local flora are available for visitors, as well as spots to fish, kayak, and swim.

48. West Virginia — Grandview State Park

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What's there to do? Experience the magnificent rhododendron bloom that happens every spring, take in views of the New River Gorge National River from the Main Overlook, and take in an outdoor drama show in the summer.

49. Wisconsin — Copper Falls State Park

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What's there to do? Hiking, biking, fishing, and swimming are all available to visitors here. Lava flows, gorges, and waterfalls are all must-sees on your visit.

50. Wyoming — Sinks Canyon State Park

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What's there to do? Hike past the abundance of wildflowers that grow here, as well as the falls, the Popo Agie River, the widening cascades, the canyon, and the foothills.