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This restored Illinois wetland refuge offers birdwatching trails, prairie hikes, fishing lakes, and sweeping marsh views filled with migrating wildlife.
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Herons, egrets, and sandhill cranes, as well as prairie, wetlands, and wildflowers, are among the attractions at this park just 40 miles from downtown Chicago.
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Not only does this lake near Bend, Oregon, feature clear waters, but you'll find scenic hiking trails, stunning views, and a cozy campground for extended trips.
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This restored Indiana prairie preserve offers sweeping grassland views, birdwatching, wetland trails, and one of the Midwest's few free-roaming bison herds.
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In western Colorado, this desert lake state park offers swimming beaches, boating, mesa views, birdwatching wetlands, and scenic camping beneath open skies.
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In Iowa, this secluded woodland preserve features rugged ravines, rare fern-covered cliffs, and a hidden waterfall reached by an adventurous forest trail.
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Deep in Idaho's mountain wilderness, this new state park features riverfront cabins, access to vast hiking trails, and fishing along a snow-fed river.
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Near Gatlinburg in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, this unusual and picturesque waterfall spreads across dark rock ledges beside a forested driving trail.
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In eastern Nebraska, this forested state park features rocky creek trails, a picturesque waterfall, panoramic observation towers, and overnight stays.
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Filled with historic museums and an abundance of charming local restaurants, this small city in Pennsylvania offers visitors a unique mix of amenities.
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In Kentucky's Appalachian Mountains, this protected old-growth forest features towering ancient trees, sandstone overlooks, and secluded trails.
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Along Minnesota's Lake Superior North Shore, this state park features roaring waterfalls, rocky river overlooks, accessible hiking trails, and sweeping views.
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This delightful state park in the Keystone State is the perfect place to enjoy a spot of hiking, fishing, or simply admire the charms of Pennsylvania.
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On the California-Oregon border, this large wetland region offers birdwatching along the Pacific Flyway, marsh and forest habitats, and bald eagle sightings.
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In eastern Washington, this wildlife refuge features wetlands, ponderosa pine forests, hiking trails, wildflowers, and excellent birdwatching opportunities.
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In Washington's Cascade foothills, this mountain lake state park offers shoreline camping, trout fishing, a swimming beach, and rail-to-trail biking routes.
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Those who thrive in the verdant, rugged backcountry will revel in this region of the Pennsylvania Wilds, known for exquisite camping, hiking, and scenery.
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This Lake Huron state park in Michigan's Lower Peninsula offers a sandy swimming beach, sunrise shoreline views, nature trails, and lakeside camping.
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When you think of the scenic beauty of the typical state park, you probably aren't imagining it nestled inside a city, but that's just what Alapocas Run offers.
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This remote canyon in California features red rock cliffs, a rare surface stretch of the Mojave River, slot canyon hikes, and primitive desert camping.
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The Keystone State is packed with spectacular state parks, and the trails and views in this stunner put it right up there with the best of them.
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Not far from Portland, Oregon, this state park in Washington offers some of the country's best windsurfing and kiteboarding away from the ocean.
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This Old San Juan museum set inside a historic home features Spanish colonial furnishings, Taíno artifacts, historic gardens, and sweeping views.
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Utah happens to boast a state park that takes advantage of a primitive style. It doesn't have many amenities, but there's still plenty to do.
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In South Carolina's Oconee County, this riverside destination features an easy-access waterfall, tubing rapids, forest paths, and overnight camping.
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Home to the highest point in Alabama, this national forest has hiking trails with mountain views and primitive and modern campgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts.
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While everyone else heads to Mount Rainer, head to Washington's Mt. St. Helens for one of the coolest state parks, where you can even sleep in a yurt.
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