Must-Visit State Parks
When national park crowds overwhelm, head to these Tripadvisor traveler-loved state parks instead.
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California - Tripadvisor
Even though Joshua Tree National Park sees less crowds in the summer due to the heat, it’s popular year-round. The nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a stellar substitute, about an hour southwest. Make your first in-park adventure a drive along Borrego Springs Road to see the larger-than-life metal Galleta Meadows sculptures that take the shapes of a giant sea dragon, scorpion, camels, and more. As the largest state park in California, its 600,000 acres of desert terrain are filled with hikes, campsites, mountain biking trails, and horseback riding paths. Plus, you’ll see purple verbena and yellow desert dandelions, amongst other beautiful wildflowers, as well as palms and barrel and beavertail cacti.
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Harriman State Park, Idaho - Tripadvisor
Yellowstone is known for its dramatic landscapes and unique geysers that draw over 4 million visitors each year. Luckily—just 45 minutes west in Island Park, Idaho—Harriman State Park is a worthy trade where you can immerse yourself in incredible natural surroundings without fighting for space to take a photo. The 16,000-acre state park was previously a cattle ranch, so take it back to the park’s roots on a horseback ride with Dry Ridge Outfitters, which run between one and four hours long, depending on your skill level. (Consider the dusk ride to hear a chorus of elk bugling.) On your own two feet, you can expect forest, meadow, and river views with the occasional swans, elk, moose, and waterfowl sightings.
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8 must-visit state parks - Tripadvisor
While some of the most popular national parks like Yellowstone and Zion are certainly worth visiting, they tend to be the most crowded, especially come summer when parking lots are packed and nearby hotels are fully booked up. Nobody wants to be crammed onto a hiking trail with hundreds of other people when you’re trying to connect with nature. That’s where the country’s underrated state parks come in—the U.S. has more than 6,000 state parks comprising 14 million acres, and few of them are as trafficked as national park lands.
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Deception Pass State Park, Washington - Tripadvisor
Deception Pass State Park, located less than two hours north of Seattle, encompasses more than 4,000 acres along Washington's rugged coastline. It’s spread over the tips of Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island and is full of great photo opps. For the best views, drive over Deception Pass Bridge, stopping at various pull-offs to take in the scenery, or park in the lot on the Whidbey Island side and walk the narrow sidewalk—that is, if you’re not afraid of heights.
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Grandfather Mountain State Park, North Carolina - Tripadvisor
To escape the crowds, head to Grandfather Mountain State Park in Banner Elk, NC. Named after the state’s tallest mountain and an Appalachian icon, the park spans nearly 2,500 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is free to enter. The park is a haven for hikers looking to walk a wide range of trails with varying difficulties. The one-mile Black Rock Trail and 1.2-mile Nuwati Trail are good options for easy and moderate hikes. Book tickets in advance to visit Grandfather Mountain, a pedestrian-only suspension bridge that sits nearly a mile above the chasm below. It’s also where you’ll access the Grandfather Trail to Calloway Peak, a difficult 4.3-mile trail with cliff routes. It’s for hikers experienced in boulder scrambling—and it can be very slippery after rain.
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Shenandoah River State Park, Virginia - Tripadvisor
Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is an outdoor playground within the Blue Ridge Mountains that gets seriously crowded on summer weekends, thanks to its proximity to the D.C. area. If you can’t plan a mid-week visit, consider Shenandoah River State Park. Also called Andy Guest State Park, it skirts along almost six miles of the Shenandoah River and serves as a hub for hiking, camping, boating, biking, horseback riding, kayaking. The Downriver Canoe Company is located in the park as well, with rentals and guided kayak, canoe, and float trips available. And don’t miss hiking the Hemlock Hollow, Bluebell, and Overlook Trail Loop. The easy 2.8-mile gravel trail offers an overview of the park’s scenery, with river vistas, forests, and wildflowers.
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Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado - Tripadvisor
Situated south of Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour from Denver, the lesser-traveled Indian Peaks Wilderness area covers more than 70,000 acres and serves as a haven for hikers and backcountry campers (permit required). The forest scenery was gorgeous but the real treat was the alpine lake it led to—a dazzling spectacle against the Shoshoni, Apache, and Navajo peaks. Elsewhere in the park, Lone Eagle Peak is famous for its pointed top that often reflects into Mirror Lake at the base, making it the most coveted photography opp here. The viewpoint requires a 14-mile hike from Monarch Lake though, so stretch your legs.
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Goblin Valley State Park, Utah - Tripadvisor
Southwest Utah’s Zion National Park is home to deep red-rock formations, stunning canyon vistas, and the iconic Narrows trek through the Virgin River. But for an equally impressive and less-crowded scene, head to Goblin Valley State Park in Green River, a four-hour drive to the north. Photographers will find the unique mix of hoodoo rock formations, sandstone, buttes, and bedrock an endless stream of inspiration; it feels like you’ve landed on another planet. Explore the slot canyons, enjoy a sprawling look out over the Henry Mountains and Valley of the Goblins from the Curtis Bench Trail, or visit the famous Three Sisters, an easy-to-access trio of rock formations. Mountain biking and canyoneering are also popular, but the park is really known for its stargazing.
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Baxter State Park, Maine - Tripadvisor
About three hours north of Acadia National Park, you’ll find Baxter State Park. It’s a massive swath of rugged Maine wilderness and home to the state’s tallest and most well-known mountain—Mount Katahdin. The challenging but rewarding trek to the summit gains some 4,000 feet in elevation. While the summit hike is strenuous, there are trails suited for all skill levels here. Make sure to add the Chimney Pond trail on your itinerary, which features an out-and-back 6.2-mile moderate trek with pond and mountain views and some rock scrambling. And those interested in moose spotting should go to Stump Ponds at dawn and dusk. Keep an eye out for fresh Maine blueberries along most trails, too—they make for the perfect hiking snack.
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