Unearth The Voyage
Ever wonder where you can find jaw-dropping scenery without fighting the crowds of a famous national park? State parks across America deliver big landscapes, wild trails, and stunning natural features that rival their federal cousins. From desert canyons to waterfall gorges, these 12 state parks prove you don’t need a national park pass to experience nature at its most epic.
1. Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Big desert vistas don’t get much better than this. Dead Horse Point sits on a dramatic mesa 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, offering some of the most jaw-dropping canyon views in the entire Southwest.
Miles of trails wind across high desert terrain, giving hikers endless opportunities to explore red rock formations and sweeping overlooks. The park feels immense, with that signature Utah combination of rust-colored cliffs, deep canyons, and endless sky.
Whether you’re catching sunrise over the gorge or hiking the rim trails, the scale here rivals any marquee national park. It’s the kind of place where you can stand at the edge and feel genuinely small.
Bring your camera, pack plenty of water, and prepare for scenery that looks straight out of a postcard.
2. Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Fiery red sandstone dominates the landscape here, creating a surreal desert world that feels otherworldly. Valley of Fire earned its name from the brilliant crimson Aztec sandstone formations that seem to glow under the desert sun.
Ancient petroglyphs cover rock walls, offering glimpses into cultures that lived here thousands of years ago. Petrified trees and twisted rock formations add to the park’s geologic drama, making every trail feel like a journey through time.
The scale and color intensity rival anything you’d find in a national park. Photographers flock here for the epic light, especially during golden hour when the rocks practically ignite.
If you love desert geology and want big scenery without big crowds, this Nevada gem delivers in spades.
3. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
California’s largest state park sprawls across more than 600,000 acres of raw desert wilderness. Anza-Borrego offers the kind of wide-open spaces that make you feel like you’ve stepped into Death Valley or Joshua Tree, but with even more elbow room.
Tons of dirt roads and miles of trails crisscross the park, leading explorers through badlands, palm oases, and slot canyons. Spring wildflower blooms transform the desert into a carpet of color, drawing visitors from around the world.
Wildlife sightings include bighorn sheep, roadrunners, and desert iguanas. The night sky here is legendary, with minimal light pollution revealing thousands of stars.
If you crave solitude and epic desert scenery, Anza-Borrego delivers an experience that feels genuinely untamed and vast.
4. Custer State Park, South Dakota
Wildlife fans, this one’s for you. Custer State Park is famous for its scenic drives where bison roam freely, often stopping traffic as they cross the road in massive herds.
The park feels Yellowstone-adjacent, with that same mix of granite peaks, pine forests, and charismatic megafauna. Besides bison, you might spot pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs throughout your visit.
Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop Road rank among the most beautiful drives in America, winding through tunnels carved into rock and past towering granite spires. The landscape shifts from rolling grasslands to rugged mountain terrain, offering constant visual variety.
Without the logistical headaches of Yellowstone, Custer delivers an authentic wildlife and scenic drive experience that feels just as epic and memorable.
5. Watkins Glen State Park, New York
The gorge trail at Watkins Glen is pure magic. Nineteen waterfalls tumble through a narrow canyon, creating one of the most dramatic waterfall corridors in the eastern United States.
Stone steps and bridges guide you through the gorge, passing behind cascades and alongside rushing water. High cliffs tower overhead, draped in moss and ferns that thrive in the constant mist.
Every turn reveals another waterfall, each with its own character and beauty. The trail feels like a national park highlight reel condensed into a single, spectacular hike.
Summer brings crowds, but the experience remains unforgettable. Wear shoes with good grip since the stone pathways can get slippery, and bring a rain jacket because you will get wet from the spray and mist throughout your journey.
6. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan
Michigan’s Porkies deliver true wilderness on a massive scale. With 60,000 acres of old-growth forest, this park protects one of the largest remaining tracts of virgin timber in the Midwest.
Roaring waterfalls plunge down rocky escarpments, while ridges offer sweeping views over forested valleys. The Lake Superior shoreline adds dramatic coastal scenery, with rocky beaches and crashing waves.
Miles of backcountry trails and rustic cabins make this a paradise for backpackers and wilderness lovers. The landscape feels big, rugged, and surprisingly cinematic for a Midwest destination.
Fall colors here are legendary, painting the forest in brilliant reds, oranges, and golds. Whether you’re hiking to waterfalls or camping by the lake, the Porkies offer an authentic wilderness experience that rivals parks out West.
7. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California
Big Sur’s coastline reaches peak drama at this park. Julia Pfeiffer Burns offers that classic California question: how is this real?
Important update: the Overlook Trail to view McWay Falls is closed long term due to infrastructure damage. Right now, the only viewing spot is a small Highway 1 pullout, but the falls and coastline remain absolutely stunning.
Even without trail access, the scenery here is worth the stop. Towering cliffs plunge into turquoise waters, with waves crashing against rocky shores far below.
The park captures everything magical about Big Sur in one compact location. Plan for a quick visit rather than a long hike, but bring your camera because the coastal views are genuinely breathtaking and memorable, worthy of any national park postcard or travel magazine.
8. Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
Deep river canyons and iconic cliffs make Smith Rock a world-famous climbing destination. Even if you never touch a rope, the scenery here delivers pure national park postcard material.
The Crooked River winds through the canyon floor, creating a stunning contrast between the green water and rust-colored rock walls. Towering volcanic formations rise hundreds of feet, offering dramatic backdrops for hikers and photographers.
Trails circle the park, providing access to viewpoints and river crossings. Watch climbers scale seemingly impossible routes on the sheer cliff faces above.
Sunrise and sunset paint the rocks in brilliant colors, making early mornings and late afternoons especially magical. The high desert landscape feels expansive and wild, with that signature Oregon combination of rugged beauty and outdoor adventure opportunities around every corner.
9. Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Ohio might surprise you. Hocking Hills packs towering cliffs, thrilling waterfalls, and hemlock-shaded gorges into a landscape that feels way bigger and more dramatic than you’d expect.
Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave are the signature attractions, featuring massive rock shelters carved by water over millennia. Waterfalls cascade over cliff edges, creating misty grottos surrounded by lush vegetation.
The park’s dense forests and deep ravines create an almost primeval atmosphere. Trails wind through narrow gorges, past waterfalls, and along cliff edges with spectacular views.
Seasonal changes bring new beauty throughout the year: spring wildflowers, summer greenery, fall colors, and winter ice formations. Hocking Hills proves that Midwest landscapes can deliver national park-caliber scenery and outdoor experiences that rival destinations anywhere in the country.
10. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia
The name-brand feature here lives up to the hype. Blackwater Falls plunges 57 feet over sandstone cliffs, with water stained amber by tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.
The park is built around scenic overlooks and trails that showcase this Appalachian canyon atmosphere. Multiple viewing platforms offer different perspectives on the falls, from the top looking down to the base looking up.
Beyond the main waterfall, the park features miles of trails through mountain forests and along the canyon rim. Elakala Falls offers another stunning cascade just a short hike away.
Winter transforms the falls into a frozen wonderland, with ice formations creating surreal sculptures. The dramatic gorge setting and powerful waterfall make Blackwater Falls feel like a hidden gem with major national park appeal and authentic mountain wilderness character.
11. Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota
Lake Superior drama reaches its peak at Tettegouche. Rocky cliffs at Shovel Point jut into the massive lake, creating dramatic coastal scenery that rivals ocean shores.
The 60-foot High Falls of the Baptism River ranks as Minnesota’s highest waterfall, plunging over a rocky cliff in a spectacular display. Miles of trails connect overlooks, waterfalls, and shoreline vistas throughout the park.
Basalt cliffs and pebble beaches line the Superior coast, with waves crashing against ancient volcanic rock. The inland sections feature dense forests, cascading streams, and rugged backcountry terrain.
Hiking to Shovel Point offers panoramic lake views that stretch to the horizon. The combination of waterfalls, cliffs, and big-lake scenery creates an experience that feels genuinely epic and wild, capturing the raw beauty of Minnesota’s North Shore landscape.
12. Baxter State Park, Maine
True wilderness defines Baxter. This park was created specifically to protect a rugged landscape in Maine, preserving it in its natural, wild state forever.
Mount Katahdin dominates the park, with Baxter Peak marking the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Summiting Katahdin is a major bucket-list achievement for hikers, requiring stamina and scrambling skills on the exposed upper sections.
Beyond Katahdin, the park encompasses over 200,000 acres of forests, lakes, streams, and mountains. Wildlife includes moose, black bears, and loons calling across pristine lakes.
The park maintains strict rules to preserve its wilderness character, limiting vehicle access and requiring advance reservations. This commitment to conservation creates an authentic backcountry experience that feels increasingly rare in modern America, offering solitude and natural beauty on a truly grand scale.
