When it comes to outdoor tourism adventures in the United States, the national park system gets all the glory. Millions of visitors turn out each year to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Grand Canyon N.P., Yellowstone, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia and other iconic sites. Even some of the more obscure national parks draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Often overlooked by even veteran travelers are the thousands of state parks in the country, many featuring scenery that is just as breathtaking as famous national parks nearby.
With travel season approaching, here are 10 of the most scenic state parks in America, all of which offer abundant activities. We’ve left off many popular parks that you’ve probably already heard about or visited, such as Niagara Falls and Mount Washington state parks, to find some lesser-known gems.
