Author name: State Parks Team

The State Parks Team is a group of outdoor enthusiasts, researchers, and travel writers dedicated to showcasing America's state parks. Drawing on collective experience visiting parks in all 50 states, the team creates detailed guides, curated park lists, and practical tips to help visitors make the most of their state park adventures. Our mission: making America's state parks accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Benson State Recreation Area

✓Verified by America’s State Parks Editorial Team – Updated March 2026 Benson State Recreation Area is a public state park […]

Island Lake State Recreation Area

✓Verified by America’s State Parks Editorial Team – Updated March 2026 Island Lake State Recreation Area in Livingston County. Spanning

Brighton Recreation Area

✓Verified by America’s State Parks Editorial Team – Updated March 2026 Brighton Recreation Area is a public state park in

Dale Hollow State Park

Michigan’s Premier Sand Dune Park on Lake Michigan’s Shores P.J. Hoffmaster State Park is one of Michigan’s most beloved destinations

Hobbs State Park

Arkansas’ Largest State Park: 12,000 Acres of Ozark Trails and Monument-Class Mountain Biking Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area is Arkansas’ largest

Palo Pinto State Park

Texas’ Newest State Park: Opening in 2026 After 25 Years Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is the most anticipated state

Henry Coe State Park

Northern California’s Largest State Park: 87,000 Acres of Untamed Wilderness Henry W. Coe State Park is a behemoth — at

Patapsco State Park

16,000 Acres of River Valley Wilderness Minutes from Baltimore Patapsco Valley State Park is one of the oldest and most

Temperance River State Park

Billion-Year-Old Gorge, Hidden Waterfalls, and Carlton Peak Views Temperance River State Park is one of the most dramatic stops along

St. Croix State Park

Minnesota’s Largest State Park: 34,000 Acres of Rivers, Forests, and Wilderness St. Croix State Park is a colossus of the

Guntersville State Park

Alabama’s Premier Lakeside Destination: Eagles, Bass, and Mountain Trails Lake Guntersville State Park is the crown jewel of Alabama’s state

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Minnesota’s Most Iconic Landmark on Lake Superior’s North Shore Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is home to one of America’s

William O’Brien State Park

Twin Cities’ Gateway to the Wild St. Croix River William O’Brien State Park offers the easiest access to the St.

Whitewater State Park

Pristine Trout Streams in Minnesota’s Driftless Bluffs Whitewater State Park sits in the heart of Minnesota’s Driftless Area — a

Minneopa State Park

Where Bison Roam and Water Falls Twice Minneopa State Park, located just west of Mankato in southern Minnesota, offers two

Governor Dodge State Park

Wisconsin’s Driftless Area Gem: Waterfalls, Caves, and Twin Lakes Governor Dodge State Park sprawls across 5,270 acres of the scenic

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Minnesota’s Most Visited Waterfall Park on Lake Superior Gooseberry Falls State Park is the crown jewel of Minnesota’s North Shore

Frontenac State Park

Minnesota’s Premier Birdwatching Destination on the Mississippi Perched atop ancient bluffs overlooking Lake Pepin — a natural widening of the

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Oregon’s Hidden High Desert Wilderness Cottonwood Canyon State Park is Oregon’s second-largest state park, protecting over 8,000 acres of dramatic

Afton State Park

Rugged Bluffs and Quiet Prairies Along the St. Croix Afton State Park presents a rare combination of rugged terrain and

Cascade River State Park

Where a Mountain River Plunges 120 Feet to Lake Superior Cascade River State Park captures the wild essence of Minnesota’s

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Florida State Parks data, National Register of Historic Places records, and

Cheaha State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Alabama State Parks data, CCC historical records, Pinhoti Trail Association resources,

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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Florida State Parks data, NOAA coral reef monitoring reports, and Florida

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Cathedral State Park

Michigan’s Best-Preserved Ghost Town on the Upper Peninsula Coast Fayette Historic State Park is one of the most unique destinations

Big Spring State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department data, verified CCC historical records, and

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Blue Licks State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Kentucky Department of Parks data, verified battlefield records, and Robertson County

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Anasazi State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Utah Division of State Parks data and verified archaeological records from

Viento State Park

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Oregon Parks and Recreation Department data, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic

Sculptured Rocks Natural Area

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on NH Division of Parks and Recreation data and verified visitor experiences

Hill Country State Natural Area

🏆 Researched by State Park Experts — Based on Texas Parks & Wildlife Department data and verified visitor experiences across

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Montauk State Park

At the headwaters of the famed Current River, Montauk State Park is an angler’s holy grail. Located in the heart

Lumber River State Park

Flowing through the sandhills and coastal plains of southeastern North Carolina, Lumber River State Park protects 115 miles of the

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Hurd State Park

Rising from the east bank of the Connecticut River, Hurd State Park is a 1,000-acre haven for hikers and boaters.

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Osbornedale State Park

Overlooking the Naugatuck Valley in Derby, Connecticut, Osbornedale State Park combines rich industrial history with expansive natural beauty. Once the

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Placerita Canyon State Park

Just minutes from Santa Clarita but worlds away in spirit, Placerita Canyon State Park is a 350-acre sanctuary on the

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Placid Lake State Park

Located on a tributary of the Clearwater River in western Montana, Placid Lake State Park is a water-lover’s paradise. Just

Herrington Manor State Park

Tucked away in the rugged Garrett State Forest of western Maryland, Herrington Manor State Park is a four-season mountain escape.

Quaddick State Park

Located in the “Quiet Corner” of northeastern Connecticut, Quaddick State Park is a classic New England lakeside destination. Originally a

Reeds Gap State Park

Deep in the hemlock and white pine forests of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, Reeds Gap State Park is a tranquil wilderness

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J.P. Coleman State Park

Perched on a dramatic rocky bluff overlooking the Tennessee River in northeastern Mississippi, J.P. Coleman State Park is a full-service

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Lake Francis State Park

At the very tip of New Hampshire, where the wilderness grows thick and the night skies are vast, Lake Francis

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Lake Bistineau State Park

✓Verified by America’s State Parks Editorial Team – Updated March 2026 Lake Bistineau State Park is a 750-acre outdoor haven

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Lake Owyhee State Park

Deep in the high desert of eastern Oregon lies a landscape so dramatic it’s often called the “Grand Canyon of

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Long Branch State Park

In the rolling green hills of northern Missouri, Long Branch State Park offers a refreshing escape centered around the sparkling

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Merrick State Park

Located on the mighty Mississippi River north of Fountain City, Merrick State Park is an angler’s paradise and a haven

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Banning State Park

Where the Kettle River cuts a deep, churning gorge through precambrian sandstone, you’ll find Banning State Park. Located just off

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Apple River Canyon State Park

🏛️ Official Illinois State Park – Managed by Illinois DNR Apple River Canyon State Park protects one of the most

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