There is something personal about a state park compared to national parks.
State parks are like your hometown sports team, you'll always root for them even if you have to drive hours just to get to them.
There are 50 state parks in the United States.
With its warm, light-blue waters, white sand beaches and endless horizon stretching over the Gulf of Mexico, the town of Gulf Shores is a kind of oceanside fantasy. There are two miles of beach, a nature center, a dog park, and 25 miles of hiking and cycling trails to be found here.
One of the largest state parks in the US can be found here. This state park is located in southcentral Alaska and has big lakes, ice fields and massive glaciers. On the western side of the park is the Chugach Mountain Range and on the southern side is the Turn Again Arm.
Alaska's national parks are being introduced.
Scout new ways to explore the planet's wildest places with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.Even though it was 330 million years in the making, it was Arizona's best kept secret until it opened as a park in 1999. On 90-minute educational tours through this underground Gothic fantasyland, you can hear the sound of bats in the Big Room cave or feel like a troll in the Throne Room. It's a good idea to make reservations. It is also an international dark sky park.
One of the few places in the world where visitors can find real diamonds and keep what they find is where 600 diamonds are found each year. The largest diamond ever found in the US is found at this park in Arkansas.
You can explore Arizona's natural beauty on this road trip.
Some of the world's best virgin redwood groves and unspoiled coastline can be found here, as well as 75 miles of shady hiking trails. The best time to see the herd of animals is early morning and around sunset.
This small lake, located in the mountains north of Steamboat Springs, backs up to aspen and evergreen forests, and has some excellent lake front campsites. It's best to get a lower campsite near the lake. There is a trail to Coulton Creek.
Colorado has national parks.
It makes sense that Connecticut doesn't have as many parks as other states. Small ones have their charm as well. There is a waterfall in the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut. It is a great place to enjoy fall foliage in New England.
There is a barrier island stretching for six miles with the ocean on one side and the bay on the other in the south of the beach. The calm waters of the bay are ideal for windsurfing. There is a beach club at the park.
How to see 10 of the most amazing waterfalls at the park.
Southwest Florida's Cayo Costa Island is almost completely preserved as a state park. Its pale, ash-colored sand is not as fine as that of other beaches, but its idyllic solitude and bathtub-warm waters are. A snorkel and mask is needed to help find shells and conchs.
The Little Grand Canyon is comprised of 16 gorges with a rainbow of oranges, pinks, reds and whites. It was created thanks to erosion-causing farming techniques in the 19th century. There is a park in Stewart County.
There are aquatic thrills in the state.
One of the world's natural wonders is the chasm of blood-red lava rock known as theWaimea Canyon. The Grand Canyon of the Pacific is 10 miles long and over 3000 feet deep. The longest river in Kauai is the Waimea River and is a great spot for kayaking.
The tallest sandhill in North America is located in Bruneau. The observatory has a telescope collection and a pristine night sky.
There is still a lot to see and do in the national park.
One of the state's most popular natural retreats is famous for its canyons, bluffs and waterfalls, which you can explore via 13 miles of trails. The Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby is a great place to stay if you want to eat under the stars.
The state park is located on the shore of the Indiana Dunes National Park at the end of Highway 49. There are more amenities than the rest of the lakeshore, but also more regulation and more people. The cross-country skiers and hikers come out during the winter and summer. There are seven trails that zigzag over the landscape.
One of Iowa's oldest state parks is also one of its most beautiful, with many outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, canoeing, beach volleyball, rock climbing and trout fishing. The Devil's Backbone, also known as the Backbone Trail, is a popular hiking trail in the heavily wooded area of rocky terrain.
There are designated areas for swimming and fishing in the 1000-acre area, which is located along the shoreline of the Cedar Bluff Dam.
The US national park has a lot of hot springs.
One of the few places in the world where you can see a moonbow is Cumberland Falls. There are dates on the park website for when the phenomenon happens. You can take a one-mile round-trip trail to the falls.
The natural beauty of Cajun country can be accessed here. The arboretum is fun for kids and informative for adults and deserves a lot of praise. There are miles of trails in the area. The sunsets over the Spanish-moss-draped trees that fringe Lake Chicot are superb.
There is a guide to the national park.
Maine is home to the tallest mountain in the country, Mt Katahdin, as well as the northernmost part of the Appalachian Trail. There is no paved roads, no electricity, or running water in the park. There is a good chance you will see animals.
The geographic feature of the region is the river valley. One of the oldest state parks in the state is called the Patapsco Valley State Park and it spans over 170 miles of trails.
The peak of this mountaintop park is 962 feet high. The panoramic views of the Connecticut River, the oxbow curve, the fertile valley and Mt Greylock can be seen from that high. The road to the top is open to hikers all year long. The park is in the north part of the state.
Visitors will be able to make a timed reservation at the park.
In the off-the-beaten-path wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, you can find beautiful fall foliage and numerous inland lakes. Bears are common in porkies.
You can walk across the Mississippi before it goes to the Gulf of Mexico in Itasca State Park. You can hop over a couple of stepping stones and boast that you strode over the Father of Waters.
It is possible to experience the Great Lakes on a road trip.
The park in Tishomingo is named for a Chickasaw chief and offers camping among the moss-covered sandstone cliffs and rock formations. It was once used by theChickasaw and their ancestors.
The large pink granite boulders in this state park look like a train of circus elephants. The park is made from 1.5 billion-year-old granite. Kids love clambering up and over the rocks on the mile-long trail.
Art, history, and culture can be found in museums and other places in Missouri.
Montana is home to a number of ghost towns, which arose from nothing and whose populations plummeted when nearby deposits were exhausted. One of the best preserved is Bannack in southwestern Montana. In the 19th century, it was established as the territorial capital for a time.
Crazy Horse was killed here in 1877, African American brigades were formed here and it was a POW camp. Pine Ridge scenery is offered in the greater park. There is a seasonal lodge in the old brick barracks at the campgrounds. There are displays in restored buildings.
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The park is located in eastern Nevada near the Utah border and has cathedral-like spires, stark eroded clay cliffs and slot canyons. The formations are best explored on the ridge trail.
The Old Man in the Mountain was a series of cliffs in the White Mountains that looked like a man. The landmark collapsed in 2003 due to natural fissures, but visitors still come to explore the amazing mountain pass that includes the Flume Gorge and an aerial tramway.
The New Jersey Pine Barrens contains over 37,000 acres of forest. The trails here go through the hardwood and Atlantic white cedar swamps, pitch pine lowlands and upland pine and oak forests.
There are 5000-year-old trees.
The second largest lake in New Mexico is home to this state park. It's a good launching point for fly fishing on the nearby San Juan River. The visitor center has exhibits and suggestions for things to do.
The main attraction here is the view of the Manhattan skyline from the 1303ft peak, but there's also ice skating in winter and boating in the summer. There are several scenic roads that lead past lakes with beautiful views.
Visitors to North Carolina's original state park will have a big decision to make. Do you drive up Mount Mitchell or hike to the top? You can make your mind up at the park office, which is next to the summit trail that can take up to 112 hours to complete.
A first timer's guide to a national park.
On-a-Slant Indian Village is the highlight of the park on the west bank of the Missouri. The fort was the last stop before the battle. It is seven miles south of Mandan. There are many hiking trails and summer tours.
There are miles of trails for hiking and biking past waterfalls and gorges at the Hocking Hills State Park. There are gorges and caverns in the rock formations. The Old Man's Cave is a great place to hike.
There are 12 new national parks in the US.
The park is named after the black lava rock that covered the area 30 million years ago. It is possible to stand in Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico at the same time.
There is no discussion of American sport climbing without mentioning this state park. The region's walls, gullies, gorges and spires are renowned for advanced climbing opportunities, but the 1800 marked routes include some easier ascents and there are hiking trails for those who arrive without chalk and harnesses.
You may be surprised to know that Pennsylvania has an International Dark Sky Park in the northern part of the state. The stars shine bright to amateur astronomer at Cherry Springs.
Colt State Park is the most scenic park in Rhode Island. There are more than 400 shaded picnic tables in the park, which is surrounded by four miles of cycling trails.
There are national parks in the US.
The barrier island has 5000 acres of maritime forest. The beach is clean and warm by the summer. You can paddle through the marsh or bike the lagoonside trail. The Vietnam War scenes were filmed here. It is the most popular state park in the state.
Some of the best American wildlife viewing can be found in the state park, as well as mountain drives and lakeside retreats.
There are waterfalls in this rugged 26,000-acre park that hugs the craggy surface of the Cumberland Plateau. Fall Creek Falls is the most eye-catching. It is one of the largest waterfalls in the east. The trail goes down to its base.
The best art galleries in Texas are located along the Rio Grande, and their works have been on view for thousands of years. The natural canvas of ancient rock art is known as Fate Bell Shelter. The pictographs are more than just images, they are windows into their creators' daily routines, dreams, hopes and fears.
There are unforgettable experiences in US national parks.
Do you mean a melted-rock fantasy, a valley of giant stone mushrooms, an alien landscape or the result of a cosmological acid trip? The park is just plain fun even if you think it resembles a stadium. The overlooks lead down to the valley floor. You can climb over the Goblins, which are up to 20 feet tall.
One of only two riverside state parks in Vermont, this park has hiking access to 125 feet of Hamilton Falls. It is particularly popular with kayakers and rafters.
A small state park with picnic areas, boat launches, hiking and biking trails and a host of other well-maintained amenities is called Belle Isle. The Georgian house feels like a dictionary illustration next to the word Mansion. The Bel Air House is one of the historic properties in the park and is available for overnight rentals.
Some of the best US national parks to visit with children.
Robert Moran donated seven square miles of his land to create this park. Mt Constitution is the highest point in the park. On a clear day, you can see Mt Rainier, Mt Baker, and a patchwork of tree-carpeted islands floating in the ocean. The observation tower was built in 1936 to allow people to see above the trees.
5 state parks are close to national parks.
One of the most photographed spots in West Virginia is the overlook at Cooper's Rock. There is a stone-and-log fence above the Cheat River Gorge. In fall, the drive to the viewpoint is ablaze with color. There is a one-way trail called the Rock City Trail.
Natural Bridge State Park in North Freedom is a good place to balance the tourist madness of the Wisconsin Dells. A remnant of the last Ice Age, the bridge is made of sandstone. The oldest documented site of human occupation in the Upper Midwest is near the rock shelter. It is an inspiration for a day out.
The Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River has a cave where the rushing water suddenly turns into a small cave. Although the water bubbles up a quarter-mile downstream, scientists have learned it takes nearly two hours for it to make the underground journey.
There are 63 national parks in the United States.
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