Author name: America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to the state parks of the United States. Our editorial team compiles and reviews each park profile from official state park agency sources and other primary references, and follows a published editorial and review methodology (see /editorial-review-methodology/). We update profiles and correct errors on an ongoing basis.

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Backbone State Park

Official Iowa State Park – Managed by Iowa Department of Natural
Resources

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Wailuku River State Park

Wailuku River State Park
Rainbow Falls & Boiling Pots • Hilo’s Waterfall Paradise

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Polihale State Park

Polihale State Park
Hawaii’s Longest Beach • Kauai’s Remote Paradise

⭐ 4.8/5…

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Pālāʻau State Park

Pālāʻau State Park
Molokai’s Scenic Overlook • Kalaupapa Peninsula Views

⭐…

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Mākena State Park

Mākena State Park
“Big Beach” — Maui’s Most Beautiful Beach

⭐ 4.8/5 (3,200+…

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Kōkeʻe State Park

Kōkeʻe State Park
Kauai’s Mountain Wilderness • 45+ Miles of Trails

⭐ 4.8/5…

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Kekaha Kai State Park

Kekaha Kai State Park
Secluded Lava Beaches • Big Island’s Hidden Coast

⭐ 4.7/5…

Kaʻena Point State Park (Hawaii)

Kaʻena Point State Park

Kaʻena Point State Park
Oahu’s Wild Western Tip • Hawaiian Monk Seals & Albatross

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Heʻeia State Park

Heʻeia State Park
Oahu’s Wetland Sanctuary • Ancient Fishpond Views

⭐ 4.5/5…

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Hāʻena State Park

Hāʻena State Park is Kauai’s crown jewel—the gateway to the legendary Nā Pali Coast
and home to the breathtaking Keʻe Beach. This sacred…

Rooster Rock State Park (Oregon)

Rooster Rock State Park

Columbia Gorge Gateway — Where the river meets the mountains,
Rooster Rock offers 3 miles of sandy beaches, world-class disc golf, and…

View from Observation Point at Wildcat Mountain State Park overlooking Kickapoo River Valley in fall colors

Wildcat Mountain State Park

Wisconsin’s Hidden Driftless Gem — Dramatic bluffs overlooking the
Kickapoo River Valley, 25 miles of horse trails, and paddling through…

Blue Mounds State Park (Minnesota)

Blue Mounds State Park

Minnesota’s Bison Prairie — Watch a free-roaming bison herd graze
across 1,800-year-old Sioux Quartzite bluffs. One of the last intact…

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Blue Mound State Park

Highest Point in Southern Wisconsin — Climb to 1,719 feet atop West
Blue Mound for panoramic views stretching across the Driftless Area….

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Fort Stevens State Park

Oregon’s Historic Coastal Fortress — Home to the iconic Peter Iredale shipwreck and a
Civil War-era fort that guarded the Columbia…

Hunting Island lighthouse surrounded by palmetto trees at golden hour sunset

Hunting Island State Park

Discover South Carolina’s most popular state park: 5 miles of pristine beaches, a historic lighthouse, world-class fishing, and camping just 15 miles from Beaufort. Your complete visitor guide to Hunting Island.

Byers Lake reflection in Denali

Byers Lake

Trusted Guide to Denali’s Premier Lakeside Retreat – Updated 2025

view of the lake at hungry mother state park in virginia

Hungry Mother State Park

Hungry Mother State Park is one of Virginia’s six original state parks, built by the
Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and listed on the…

clear blue water through the trees at Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park

Florida’s 4th Largest Spring — Pumping 400+ million gallons of
crystal-clear water daily. All info verified with Florida State Parks January…

Waterfall at McKinney Falls State Park

McKinney Falls State Park

Nestled in the serene landscape of Texas Hill Country, McKinney Falls State Park Texas is more than just a picturesque getaway—it’s an adventure…

A small wooden dock extends into a calm pond surrounded by green grass, trees, and bright foliage under a partly cloudy sky.

The Value of America’s State Parks

The Importance of State Parks: Cornerstones of Conservation, Economy, and Community Wellbeing State parks represent one of America’s most valuable

The dam on Rauchtown Run in Ravensburg State Park

Ravensburg State Park

The dam on Rauchtown Run in ravensburg state park. Photo: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite only being 78 acres in size, Ravensburg…

group of people whitewater rafting at Ralph Stover State Park

Ralph Stover State Park

At just a 20-minute drive from Doylestown, Ralph Stover State Park is a popular destination for those who want to escape into nature.

Occupying just…

fall foliage reflecting off of the lake at Raccoon Creek State Park

Raccoon Creek State Park

Situated just a 40 minute drive from Pittsburgh, Raccoon Creek State Park is one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania. It is also one of the most…

Fall Brook passes through Salt Springs State Park

Salt Springs State Park

[caption id="attachment_36047" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Fall Brook passes through Salt Springs State Park. Photo: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0, via…

Prouty Run at Prouty Place State Park

Prouty Place State Park

Prouty Run at Prouty Place State Park. Photo: Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a place within the Pennsylvania State…

View from the overlook on the Castle Vista Trail at Ole Bull State Park

Ole Bull State Park

Situated in the town of Cross Fork, which lies within Potter County, the park is right next to Susquehannock State Forest.
Spread over 132-acres within…

Man fishing at a Pennsylvania state park

Neshaminy State Park

Situated just a 30-minute drive from Philadelphia, Neshaminy State Park is a popular destination for those who want a city detox.
Sitting on the banks…

Lake Prompton at Prompton State Park

Prompton State Park

[caption id="attachment_36013" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Lake Prompton at Prompton State Park. Photo: Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia…

Small waterfall in Promised Land State Park

Promised Land State Park

Pocono Mountain Escape — Over 3,000 acres of pristine lakes,
forests, and hiking trails on Pennsylvania’s beautiful Pocono Plateau.

aerial photograph of Point State Park

Point State Park

Situated in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, Point State Park is a popular public recreation space for city dwellers to rest and relax.
Nestled at the…

Beach swimming area at Poe Valley State Park

Poe Valley State Park

[caption id="attachment_36004" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Beach swimming area at Poe Valley State Park. Photo: Park Facebook…

Entrance sign at Poe Paddy State Park

Poe Paddy State Park

[caption id="attachment_36001" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Entrance sign at Poe Paddy State Park. Photo: Park Facebook Page[/caption]

Although…

Spillway and dam at Penn-Roosevelt State Park

Penn-Roosevelt State Park

[caption id="attachment_35999" align="aligncenter" width="1203"] Spillway and dam at Penn-Roosevelt State Park. Photo: Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0, via…

Civilian Conservation Corps-built picnic shelter at Patterson State Park

Patterson State Park

Civilian Conservation Corps-built picnic shelter at Patterson State Park. Photo: User:Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
At just 10-acres…

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